The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-23

Track and Also the Engine-Very
Few Passengers ON the Train.
The Coast Line has had q streak Of
bad luck for the past few days. A
freight wreck occurred two miles
north of Benson on Thursday night;
on yesterday morning at 2:40 the
northbound FLORIDA Special" No. 8S,
was wrecked at the same point and
six Of the seven Pullmans were ditch
ed. The engine remained On the track
and so did the last Pullman. In addi-
ton to these wrecks, yesterday after
noon at 4:35 mixed train No. II was
wrecked on the Conway branch be-
tween Elrod and Chadbeurn. No loss
of life occurred from any Of the
wrecks.
Wreck of Florida Special.
The brag train of the Coast Line,
the famous New York and Florida
Special vas destined to leave the
rails and became EMBEDDED in a clay
bank on her trip north yesterday, the
accident occurring at 2:4O a. ~,
near Benson, which is 80 miles north
of Fayetteville. The exact cause of
the wreck is not known but it hap
pened Oh the Identical spot where the
freight accident Occcured the night
previous. Railroad officials are not
positive us to what caused the wreck
and are now investigating the matter.
The train wrecked is one of the most
palatial in the United States and is the
finest operated on the Atlantic COas
Line. But for the strong, heavy cars
loss of life would nave probably re-
suited but as it was II a passenger
or member of the train crew were in
jured to any extent. Those who re-
ceiVed slight injuries WERE, Miss En-
den Hart, a passenger of West 92nd
street, New York, severe nervous
shock; \. Dawson, a cOlOrtG waiter, of
Jersey City, injured about the back:
S. WiehOyt, cOlOred waiter, of Jersey
City, arm slightly hurt; and two other
walters whose anne could not be
learned were slightly hurt. Engineer
James Bissett and Conductor Brooks
were not hurt in the slightest degree.
Immediately after the wreck the
engine proceeded to South Rocky
Mount where Il train was quickly made
up and went afteh passengers. With
injured walters, all the passengers
proceeded on their way north. Daw-
SIN left for his hime in Jersey City
yesterday afternoon.
The FLORIDA Special has a fast
schedule and the train must have been
running at a good rate of speed when
she left the rails. Fortunately it was
comparatively level where the accident
occurred. The cars broke lose from
each other as they left the rails and
the trucks are buried up to the bodies
of the cars in the cray. Several of
the cars are laying at an angle of
about 40 degrees. Three cars were
raised yesterday and placed upon the
track and others will probably be got
up today. Pullmans are very heavy
and consequently are more difficult
to get on the track than the ordinary
light day coach.
At this season of the year the travel
on the nOrthbound Florida trains is
light and there were but IA passengers.
The accident occurring at the time of
night it did made conditions worse as
he passengers were asleep and the
crash and jar as the train left the
track caused them to be greatly ex-
cited and uncertain as to what they
should do. Their fears were quickly
pacified by the railroad employees who
explained that there was no danger;
that the train was only derailed.
The accident occurred at 2:4O in the
morning and at 11:30 the track was
repaired sufficiently to resume traffic.
The magnificent train appeared very
differently yesterday morning from
what it did when it left Florida. Then
it vas perfect both within and with
out and yesterday the brass ratings
and the vestibules were more Or less
Injured and the articles within the
cars thrown III every direction This
is the first mishap that has befallen
this palatial train since it was put
into service on the Sth of January.
Wreck on Conway Branch.
Mixed train No. II on the Conway
branch of the Atlantic Coast Line
was wrecked yesterday afternoon at
4:35. This accident was caused by a
truck breaking on a freight car. which
caused the freight car and also the
passenger coach to leave the track.
Miss Hattie Strickland, of Board
man, a passenger, was cut about
the face with broken glass. She
was the only person on the train
that received injuries other than
q severe shock. The engine was
cut loose and proceeded to Boardman
with Miss Strickland on board and
upon arrival the wounds were dressed
by a physician. Injuries received by
Miss Strickland are painful but not
regarded as at all serious.