The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-09-15
AN AWFUL WRECK
Five People Killed aud Many oihefs
SefiousI, Injured
WRECK OCCURRED on SEAS0ARD
No. 81, En- Route to Atlanta. En-
eoYntered Sinking Bridge Early
Friday MorninG-Raiis on One
Side Widen and the Entire Train
Plunged Down Into Hasine.

Catawba Junction. 5. C.. Special
Five dead and several in Z dying condi-
ton is the result OF the catastrophe
which took place at six minutes past
o'clock Friday morning. when the Sea
board passenger train No IL sped
eCrCss sinking bridge 300 yards sontn
CT the Catawba river and two miles
from Catawba Junction, and theF
plunged from the tracks down a steii
embankment about 30 feet high, only tc
bs followed by an extra freight engine,
No. 654. with a caboose attached.
mingling the two flyers in a mass OF
wood. steel and iron with about 40
pieces of human cargo. There was not
single soul among them that escape
urhurt.
It was said by trainmen OF long ex-
perience that more complete Ce-ol-
ishment of railroad equipment could
scarcely be imagined. So thoroughly
ruined were the engines and the coach
es that the trainmen were on the point
o: setting fire to the debris, but the
authorities of York county stopped
them The scene at the bridge beg
CARS description. The engines lie over
turned-huge. shapeless monsters OF
iron, with their helmet-shaped sand
boxes and other parts scattered within
a radius Of 100 feet. The coaches are
like crushed wooden shells. with their
red plush seats in indescribable confu-
sion; trucks, wrenched loose from the
bottom of the ccrs, are scattered
around; about the only part or parcel
Of the railroad equipment remaining
intact are the two red lanterns swing
ing from the rear Of the Pullman.
There were many theories advanced
as to the cause of the accident. The
railroad men fell in line with the opin
ION Of Mr.. George S. FitZwater, chief
detective of the Seaboard Afr Line, that
The collapse of the bridge and the tear
ing loose of the right hand rails, were
the result of the work of some mali
cious person or persons. Mr. Fitzwater
showed six spikes and several angle
bars which he picked up near the wrack
and said that they bore the marks of
having been tempered with. Upon this
theory, it was concluded that the pas
eenger train had struck weakened spots
On the lower half of the bridge. A speed
IF 40 miles an hour had enabled the
train to carry itself almost over the
sinking structure, but the rails had
widened; the Pullman, which did not
quite clear the chasm, acted as a draw
back, the engine careened, tearing
from their fastenings the rails on the
right hand side going south, causing
The train to be hurled over the en-
bankment. What motive there could be
fer anyone to bring about such slaugh-
ter, and who the guilty persons might
te, neither Mr.. Fitzwater, nor the other
railroad men attempted to explain. A
close examination of the rails, ties,
roadbed and bridge was not produc-
tive Of much light on the subject; all
appeared to be sound and solid. The
rails On the side where the train top
pied to destruction we're twisted to an
ere shape. The track is not in curve
10 the vicinity; it stretches straight
way for perhaps a mile.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
The killed are:
ENGINEER E. Y. BARKSDALE, Alb
heville, S. c..
FIREMAN ED ROBERTS, (colored)
Atlanta, Ga.
MRS. T. F. BLACK, of Ohio.
MRS. T. S. McMANUS, Of Whining
ton
The injured:
MRS. JAMES CLAY, Oakland, Tenn,
fractured jaw.
T. c. JEROME, Atlanta, Ca, slightly
bruised.
MRS. T. C. JEROME, Atlanta, Ca,
shoulder and head injured
DR.. EDWARD BANKS, Athens, Ca,
lack injured
MRS. SIDNEY HERBERT, Maitland,
Fla. foot amputated; may die.
MRS. JEROME SILVER. Atlanta.
bruised
G. W. HINsON, Lenox, Ga, jaw in
jured.
TOM MITCHELL, colored, brake
man, Abbeville, S. c., head and shout
Gers injured.
Q. S. COLEMAN, Bon Air. Va. arm
disiocated. head and chest injured.
PINK CARPENTER, Monroe, porter
head and body injured
Y. S. ELERBY, Atlanta, Ga. colored
Pullman porter.
j. C. CARPENTER, Atlanta. Ca,
Pullman conductor. -.....
G. H. MEAREs. Monroe, engineer;
bruised and wounded on the head.
}. j. DUNCAN, Abbeville, brakeman,
BADLY wounded on the head and shout
Gers. So ----
H. H. CHAPMAN. Abbeville, s. c.,
conductor; head seriously hurt.
G. H. DAVIS, Atlanta, Ca, express
messenger.
W. FAIRMAN, Atlanta, Ca, mail
clerk. -
B. F. WEST, Monroe, conductor:
slightly injured
F. c. TOPLEMAN, Henderson.
TOM JEFFERSON, fireman for No.
646; bruised On the head and shoulder.
+. c. TOPLEMAN, address unknown.
I. {. HORTON, address unknown.
I. f. BLACK. Ohio; Norfolk and
Western Railroad telegrapher.
ROBERT SIEGLE. address unknown
MOLLIE GRIFFIN, Tuskegee, Ala
A number of colored laborers also
were slightly hurt.
Suit Against Steamship companv.