Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-25
WRECKS ON SOUTHERN
OFFICIAL STATEMENTS ISSUED
FROM LOCAL OFFICE.

Three wrecks occurred on the Southern
railway between 8:45 o'clock last night and
8 O'Clock this morning. but all were OF
trivial character In point Of damage to the
rolling stock. Only one of the three was
attended with fatality. colored fireman
being crushed to death at Moncrief crossing
near Jacksonville. Four passenger trains
and one freight were involved In the three
accidents, and traffic was slightly de aged
in each instance.
The first of the series occurred at the pas
senger station at Greenville, 8. G., at 6:45
o'clock last night. One through train from
Savannah to Washington was standing In
the station when another rounded the
curve just south of the platform and,
before brakes could be set crashed into
the rear coach Of the standing train. Ac-
cident No. 2 said to have been caused by
confusion in signals, took place at Liberty,
8. c., shortly after midnight, local &C
commodation train being in ''side-wipe'
collision with a through freight. Engineer
Chatham of the passenger train received
broken ankle. The third accident oc-
CURED at the 1erailing switch at Moncl .ef
crossing. about four miles from Jackson
ville Fla, at o'clock this morning. Fire
man John Holmes, colored, of Savannah.
was killed, and Engineer J. w. Urgnhart
painfully injured
AS SAAS@Ay ASSPSA eSNs
Official statements covering all ,nree &C
cidents were issued from the local Office of
the Southern railway this morning as fol-
lows:
"At S:45 pm, December "a at Green
willie, 8. c., on the Atlanta Charlotte Air
Line, the rear of train No. 40 was struck
by train No 50. resulting in slight damage
to equipment and slight injuries to several
passengers on train No. no. Several of the
mail clerks on train No. 8 claim to have
sustained slight injuries, but the mail
clerks, as we'll as passengers, were able to
proceed northward. with delay to both
trains Of only several hours. Train No. 40
was standing at the passenger station ready
to leave when struck by train No. 80, IT
being impossible for the engineer on No. ~
to see the rear lights on train No. 40 on ac-
count of No. 40 being on q curve.
"At 12:4O am, December %. at Liberty.
S. c., train No. Al, local accommodation
operating between Charlotte and Toccoa.
on the ADMINISTRATORS Air Line. struck
No. LIST a. through freight, knocking in
the smoke boxes of both engines and de-
railing several cars of merchandise which
1t was necessary to destroy. No passengers
killed, but the engineer of the passenger
train had his ankle broken. Several pas
sengers were considerably shaken up, but
were able to proceed on their journey. Both
trains were moving at slow rate of speed,
and the accident was caused by confusion
in signals of the trainmen.
cat 5 am. December Is, Southern rail-
way train No. 80, while running between
Savannah and Jacksonville ON the joint
track with the Atlantic Coast Line. derailed
engine and express car and the front trucks
of mall car at Moncrief Crossing. Fireman
John Holmes, colored, of Savannah was
caught between the tender and cab frame
and instantly killed. Engineer J. w. Urgn-
hart was painfully scalded. but 1t Is not
thought his injuries will result fatally. No
passengers were killed or injured. The
crossing at Moncrief is interlocked and the
engineer claims to have received clear
signal from the towerman when coming in
sight of the tower. but just before reaching
the derailer. and before he could stop, the
signal was thrown to red resulting in the
derailment. The track was only slightly
damaged, and the passengers were able to
proceed to Jacksonville with but little
delay"