The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-30


to do some quail shooting at Friendship,
n G.
Besides these there were with the par
~ Mr.. Spencer's private secretary, II. A.
Merrill, Of Boselle. ~ j., and ID. Watt
Davis, a special telegraph operator.
The private car of Mr.. Spencer was
known as the 100, and had no name II
was OF the usual type OF railroad presi-
dents cars built by the Pullman com
pany, with an observation room at tho
rear. Next to this room was Mr. Spen-
GERS stateroom and rooms for the other
guests II was as strong a car as the
Pullman company builds. but was not
strong enough 10 Withstand the impact OF
a locomotive going at full speed.
LATE IN LEAVING.
President Spencer and Gen. Schuyler
left New York Wednesday afternoon and
were Joined at washington by Mr.. Fisher
and Mr.. Redwood When thu train left
Washington IL was made up of the pri-
vate car. two Pullman sleepers. two day
coaches and "A baggage car. The train
was half an hour late leaving Washing
ton. Ordinarily It should have left there
at $50. 1t did not pull out until 1920, the
reason being the usual holiday rush.
which caused congestion at the overtaxed
Washington station.
The Southwestern Limited is due to
leave Washington at i0:45 and loses rather
than gains on the other train. as is shown
by the fact that the first train was due
in Lynchburg at 2:30 a. m. whereas the
other train is not due here until o'clock.
The Southwestern was made up OF two
sections, because OF the heavy mail. The
first section, which ran into the Florida
train consisted OF four mail cars bound
for the Guf cities and a club car. This
car was running dead head" as the rail-
road men say, that is, IL carried no pas
he fraf I,-ar. ~
mogul locomotive.
There Is a steep grade north OF Law
yers, which is nothing more than ham
let There is also signal station there.
The Florida train had just pulled up this
grade when the trouble with the coupling
occurred.
MR.. SPENCER ASLEEP.
Everybody In Mr.. spencer's car was
asleep and so were those in the Pullmans
when the train stopped. A fagman had
gone back, but apparently he could do
nothing TO stop the train behind.
The engineer OF the Southwestern Limit
ed was James Kinney OF Spencer. n. c.
Kinney suffered only n few slight bruises
and cuts, which were dressed, and he
did not go 20 hospital
Kinney sent his engine past Ragoon at
a rapid rate and was gaining speed after
taking the grade when the other train
for even a warning cry TO be given. There
was not even time for the engineer to
jump and try 10 save his own life.
According 10 some OF those on the rear
train, while IL was rapidly gaining speed
IL was not travelling more than 10 miles
an hour at the time OF the crash.
DEBRIS BURNS
The heavy locomotive struck the rear OF
the car IN which President Spencer and
his guests were asleep, and tore its way
through as a great plOw would cut n fur
row IN the soil, piling up the debris on
each side. Almost instantly this took
fire.
The sleeper next 10 the private car was
wrecked and this. too caught fire. The
next Pullman fortunately escaped but a
Combiuation day coach next TO this one,
being OF lighter construction. was wreck
ed. In il vert a lot of negroes. Several
OF them were injured, one, a woman, dy-
ing in the hospital here later. Nobody was
injured in the rear train but the engine
crew.
The surviving passengers extricated
to 1selves from the wrecked train, and
ti~ who were able tried TO rescue those
who were In the private car. which was
blazing fiercely.
EFFORTS AT RESCUE.
Some Of those in the presidents car
were alive and their groans spurred the
thsm before II was too late. Davis, the
telegraph operator was one of those
taken out alive. The whole lower part
OF his body was crushed lie was just
barely conscious, and asked that word be
sent To his wife and children. He asked
one of the passengers 10 stay near and
TO keep his hand on his head. He died In
a few minutes.
The body OF Gen. Schuyler was found
buried I'm the debris toward the forward
end OF the Spencer car. Ii was badly
crpshed but was taken out before the
flames reached IL.
II was some time before the body OF
President Spencer was found. II was To-
Gated under the engine.
SECRETARY ESCAPES.
Secretary Merrill. who was always with
Mr. Spencer on his trips is the only
member of the party in the president $
J car who survives. How he escaped he
does not know. excepting that he was
found at the side OF the track. IT is be
lieved by other passengers that the side
of the coach was opened by the impact
near where he was, and that he was
thrown out far enough to escape He has