The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-07-05
TOURISTS KILLED
In A WRECK
Tweuty-Three Americans Lose Their
Lives on English Railway.
BIG ENGINE FLIES THE TRACK.
The American L!ne Special, Carrying the
Passengers Landed at Plymouth, Jumps
the Track and Crashes Into Freight Train
One Coseh Strikes a Railway Bridge and
is Smashed Into Bits.

London. (By Cable) Passengers by
the American Line steamer New forK'
who left Plymouth by special tram at
midnight, on the London Southwestern
Railroad, were the victims OF one Oh the
most deadly disasters in English rail-
way history, at Salisbury, 83 miles from
London. two hours later, when the loco
motive jumped the rails and dashed hrst
into a milk train on siding and then
against the girders Of bridge:
The three coaches were literally demol-
ished Out of 43 passengers, % were
killed and a dozen injured. Two or three
railway employees were among the kilied,
making the total number % dead.
The late hour of the New Yorks ar
rival at Plymouth saved many lives. She
carried more than 90 travellers for Lon
don. but many of them elected to travel
on comfortably 70 Southampton in pre-
ference to the late landing at Plymouth
and the long night ride across the coun-
try. If the New York had made faster
passage the Sonber roster OF the dead
and injured would have been longer.
The big American Line steamer, which
left New York June q, reached Ply
mouth at o.35 o'clock Saturday night, and
half an hour later there was tender
alongside TO receive passengers for Eng
land. Several who had planned to de-
bark and packed their baggage decided
at the last moment 10 remain aboard.
II was a fateful decision, though not
dictated by any fear. The run across
the Atlantic had been pleasant. There
were cheerv psrtinqs when the passengers
for London transferred TO the waiting
tender. which steamed for the Devon
port landing. where the express was be
ing made up
The train consisted OF poweris en-
press engine, three hrSt-claSS corridor
coaches and one combination guards van
and buffet The passengers were soon
entrained, and at II.3o the express pull
ed out. 1t was given a clear track on the
run Of 23o miles 10 Londm for run at
a speed of mile or more 4 minute.
Driver Robins quickly gave the engine
her head and the special was soon speed
ing swiftly through tfe night. 1t ran or
safely and without incident until it en-
tered the long railway yard at Salisbury,
when the passengers noted that the
coaches bRgan swaying from side 10 side.
Suddenly. at the end of the long plat
form. where the track begins to curve
toward the bridge spanning FBhcrton
Street. the main avenue Of the city, the
~lginc seemed fairly to leap from the
track 1t swung across tho adjoining
track with terrific force aud destroyed
the guards van OF a milk train that was
slowly steaming in the opposite direction,
killing a guard Lurching forward. the
locomotive plunged against the standards
and girders OF the bridge.
The bridge withStood the impact, and
rebounding, the engine crashed into an
other engine which was standing on a
siding and overturned The wreckage
of the two engines interlocked in a
great broken mass of twisted steel and
iron. Throughout the wild plunging Of
the engine Driver Robins, whether alive
or dead, remained in his cab. Hours
after his charred body was found over
the firebox
The first coach shot over the engine
and careened onward until it was hurled
against the parapet of the bridge and
smashed into fragments, killing or MAIN
ing alonist every occupant. One man
was shot through the window, cleared
the parapet and fell to his death to the
street below.
The second coach lurchcd forward and
rolled toward a stationary train and
practically destroyed itself before its wild
flight was ended
The guards van and buffet. the rear
most car of the train, was saved by the
courage and quicknesS of Guard Richard
son. With the first shock Richard
son jumped forward and set the brakes
and saved himself and his comrades.
The van plowcd forward, iniuring some
of its occupants. but practically main
tanned its equilibrium