The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-24
 WRECK ON
 THE CENTRAL Engineer Winters Badly
 Hurt. SWITCH WAS LEFT OPEN Fireman and Brakeman Also Re-
 eeived Injuries. smashup Near Matthews station is Thought to Have Been Caused by Miscreant--Ensineer's condI-
 ton Is Serious.

An open switch, presumably the work of a miscreant, was the cause Of a freight smashup near Matthews Station, on the Central Railroad of Georgia at an early hour yesterday morning, in which a locomotive was demolished, nine cars derailed, and three men in- jured, one of them probably fatally.
 Engineer J. s. Winter of Montgom- cry, who was in the overturned engine when the accident occurred, was pen- ned in by the wreckage, and fearfully scalded about the head. arms and body before he could be extricated. He was brought to this city on wreck train several hours later. and is now lying in a critical condition. His life feared for.
 The other injured are c. E. Rrancher. negro fireman, who leaped from the engine. striking telegraph pole. and breaking his shoulder blade. besides suffering bruises and other Injuries about the body. and George Freemani a brakeman whose hurts consist of an abrasion of the scalp and bruises.
 The wreck occurred shortly before two o'clock in the morning aU the west end of the Matthews Station siding. The train, which is numbered on the railroad schedule as Train Nh. 3S. had left Montgomery about 12:s0 o'clock, eastbound, under S. J. Turner. conduct
 
 than thirty cars.
 Approaching the station siding, the roadbed takes a steep down grade, and on this dip the heavily laden train gathered terrific velocity. According 10 a person who reached the scene shortly after the accident, speed of between fifty and sixty miles an hour had been attained before the switch to the siding was reached.
 As the front wheels of the engine struck the open switch, the locomotive gave a lurch. and the ear behind 1t leaped the track, turning the rear of the huge machine from the track, and rolling 1t in the ditch. Other cars. impelled by the weight behind. piled upon they overturned engine. two of them being telescopedM MRnd nine alto- gether leaving the tra@&.
 Stuck to His Engime.
 Engineer Winter received his inju- ries through remaining on his engine. When the engine struck the switch, he stood steadfastly to his post. As the huge locomotive turned over and tho cars piled on top of it, he was eom- rlateIy shut in, and 1t was only after thirty minutes of Strenuous effort that the crew. under the direction of Con. ductor Turner. were able to extrieate him. During that time he was expos. ed. perfectly helpless, to escaping steam, and when his rescue was finally enfected, his face, one arm and the up. per portion of his body were literally baked. --
 Brancher and Freeman. the other in- Jured men. both of whom were riding In the cab of the engine when the Imashup took place, leaped.
 As soon as possible Conductor Tur- ner telegraphed to Montgomery, and | | wrecking train was hurried to the | Ipot. On It, in addition to the. crew, | was q Montgomery surgeon, who at | ended to the injured, and later brought 1 hem to the city Engineer Winter was | lt once taken to a hospital and Mrs. | apartments in the Glenmore Hotel.
 Word of the serious mishap to her | husband reached, Mrs. Winter as she | vas leaving the house house to Esgs goG to the ssy of Eufaula. who is lying danger ous'y Ill. She at once hurried to her | husband and remained with him | thronghout the day. A
 wreck revealed the fact that the | switch had been tanpered with. The | section foreman at Matthews, 1t is | said, stated that the switch had been 1 pected that the officials of the road will | make thorough investigation of the | case announcement of the result of | which will be made later.
 So badly was the track blocked by | wreckage that # was necessary to | transfer passengers at that point dur ing the morning. delaying them east | The track was not opened until nearly noon.
 There was one amusing feature of the accident; In the first car behind the locomotive left the track, the first | car was shot to the other side of the ! track, falling endwise over the oppo-