Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-30


.YNCHBURG Va, Nov. a-samusl
encer. president OF the Southern Railway
npany and recognized as one OF the fore
Dst men in the development OF the South
states, and six other persons were killed
ly this morning In rear-end collision
tween two fast passenger trains ten
es south Of Lynchburg and mile north
Lawyers depot. Philip Schuyler a re-
hd capitalist OF New York, was among
killed, together with other guests, of
Spencer. or those on Mr. spencer's
only Mr.. Spencer's private secretary.
A. Merrill of New York, and one Of three
rters. survived the accident The dead;
AMUEL SPENCER, president Southern
HARLEs b FISHER, Baltimore
IHILTP SCHUYLER New York.
RANCIS T. REDWOOD, Baltimore.
w DAVIS, Alexandria, Va, private
patcher to President Spencer
w. SHAW, colored, Greensboro, N, C.,
man; crushed and both legs broken died
n UNKNOWN PERSON, whose head
ed to be the third porter on the private
who is missing. His name cannot be
-ned.
he injured:
1Illlam Pollard. negro porter on Presi-
ucretia Allen, colored, Danville. Va;
cut and arm broken
Garland Thomas, cOlOred Greensboro n.
II E. Vauls colorod, waynesboro, va
Cora Logan, colored. Shelby, N. c.; both
legs broken.
John ". Cruett, address unknown, su-
Preme organizer Of the Heptasophs; back
| badly wrenched
| Preston Bane, address unknown.
/ Son HOglan colored, Charlotte, N. CT
r. A. Merrill New York, private secre-
/ tary to President Spencer; head and arms
/ Mr. Spencers destination was Friendship
N. c.. where he was going on hunting
trip with Messrs. Schuyler. Fisher, Rcd
wood and Merrill as his guests.
victims Killed while Asleep.
The collision was between the Jackson
vile express and the Washington and
Southwestern vestibule limited, both
southbound. President Spencer and his
entire party as far as Is known, were
sleeping when the collision occurred and
the probabilities are that all of them ex-
cepting Dispatcher Davis were killed in
stantly. II is certain that life was extinct
before the flames touched them. President
Spencer's body was burned almost beyond
| recognition, as was that OF Mr.. Fisher
The body OF Mr.. Schuyler was recovered
before It was burned very much. President
SpeEcer's car was attached to the rear
of the Jacksonville train, which was stand
ing still when struck.
President spencer's charred corpse was
found under the big locomotive Of the rear
train SO great was the force OF the Inn
pact that the forward train was sent at
least $50 feet ahead. Until the debris had
burned itself out and and the engine cooled
off the bodies could not be removed.
The combination car of the rear train
crashed into the express car ahead OF It.
Forty feet of It was splintered, leaving the
rest of the car strewn with tons OF bag
gage and colored passengers who were
iammed back by the express car. How
the negro passengers in this Jim Crow
part of the train escaped death Is beyond
explanation.
The wreck occurred on the crest Of
steep grade when the Atlanta train could
not have been running more than thirty
miles an hour II so fast. Had II been
mile or two further south the number OF
dead might have been frightful, as the train
was about two hours behind its schedule
a condition taken with the down grade
that would have meant a speed OF more
than sixty miles am hour. II was reported
at first that Engineer Kinney Of Spencer,
N. c., who was in charge Of the engine OF
! the Atlanta train. was killed, but this
, slight bruises and cuts.
WreckRRe Takes Fire.
The collision was between train No g,
the Jacksonville express, and No. 81, the
! Washington and Southwestern vestibule
} limited, both southbound. The former train
! had stopped at the top OF a heavy grade
3 to repair a slight breakdown and the other
] train dashed into it before lagmam could
get back to give warning. The heavy en-
4 gne OF the train plowed into Mr.. spen-
q GERS car. which Immediately caught ire
B. The wreckage was piled around the en-
gine and every portion of the woodwork
ON the engine was burned and the engine
I itself torn and twisted into a useless mass
Of debris.
Dispatcher Davis was alive when taken
from the wreck. He was crushed about
the lower part Of his body ana was con-
scious to the end. He stated to his res
n cuer that he knew he was dying. "Pluce
r your finger on my mouth" ne said. III
- feels so cool and good"
G In response TO his wishes a fellow pas
!. senger remained with him for ten minute,
until he saw nothing more could be don,
n for Davis.
:, Passengers were taken from the combina
n tion car Of the forward train. They wer,
! literally covered by heavy baggage throw
a through the partition from the baggag,
"a compartment Most Of them were badll
hurt and all sustained cuts and bruises
The rescue work was begun as soon A.
the news Of the wreck was received here
A special train was quickly made up an,
, doctors hurried to the scene. A FIRE en-
N gine from the Lynchburg department wa
q sent TO the wreck, but on account OF
D conhagration Il was not dispatched unit
p $3.50 O'Clock and did not reach the acclden
l. until an hour and a half later, becaus
the relief train with the injured passen
" gers had the right-Of-way on the track be
h tween the wreck and Rangoon, the near
est telegraph once. The Jacksonville trail
" was composed Of a mail car. combination
m baggage and passenger coach. two Pull
mans and President spenoers car, whic
" was at the rear. The sleeper IN front O
n Mr.. spencer's car was wrecked, but no
burned.
Or The regular day coach ana a forwa1