The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-30

The Southwestern limited il due to leave
Warrington at lO: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:sO A. NJ, whereas the other
train is not due here until 4 O'Clock. The
Southwestern was made up OF two sections
last night because of the heavy mail. The
first section, which ran into the Florida
train, consisted of four mail cars bound
for the Gulf cities and a club car. This
car was running -deadhead." as the rail-
road men say, that is. it carried no passen-
gers. The train was pulled by a heavy
mogul locomotive.
There is a steep grade north of Lawyer,
which is nothing more than a hamlet.
There is also a signal station there. The
Florida train had just pulled up this grade
when the trouble with the coupling occurred.
Everybody in Mr.. Spencer's car was
asleep and 40 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 Limited
was James Kinney OF Spencer n. G. 1t
was reported at first that Engineer Kinney
was killed, but this proved to be incorrect.
Kinney suffered only a few slight bruises
and cuts which were dressed and he did not
60 to a hospital.
Kinney sent his engine past R~angoon al a
rapid rate and was gaining speed after
taking the grade. when the other train
dawned ahead. There wasn't a chance
for even a warning cry TO he given, APP
parently. There wasn't even time, ap-
parently, for the engineer to jump and try
to save his own life.
TooK FIRE.
According to some of those on the rear
train while II was rapidly gaining speed,
it wac not travelling more than 20 miles
an hour at the time OF the crash. The heavy
locomotive struck the rear Of the car in
which President Spencer and his guests
were asleep and tore its way through. az
a great plough would cut a rurrow in the
soil. piling up the debris on each side. Al
most instantly this took fire.
The sleeper next to the private car was
wrecked, and this, too, caught fire. The
next Pullman fortunately escaped, but a
combination day coach next to this one,
being OF lighter construction, was wrecked.
In il were a lot of negroes. Several Of
them we're injured, one. a woman, dying
in the hospital here later. Nobody was
injured on the rear train but the engine
crew.
The surviving passengers tumbled out
Of the wrecked train, and those who were
able tried to rescue the people from the
private car, which was blazing fiercely.
some Of those in the president car
were alive, and their grOsns spurred the
rescuers to make frantic efforts 70 get at
.H1.o IDeon~ :, ,va tn, 1ata Davio tha
telegraph operator. was one of those taken
out alive. The whole lower part Of his
body was crushed. He was just barely
conscious and asked that word be sent to
his wife and children. He, asked one Of
the passengers to stay near and to keep
his hand on his head. He died in a few
minutes.
The body Of Gen. Schuyler was found
buried in the debris toward the forward
end Of the Spencer car. IL was badly
crushed, but was taken out before the
flames reached it.
1t was som time before the body OF
President spencer was found. 1t was
located under the engine.
Secretary Merrill, who was always with
Mr., Spencer on his trips. is the only MEM
Der Of the party in the presidents car who
survives. How he escaped he does not
know, excepting that he was found along
the side track. 1t il belize we'd by other pas
sengers that the side Of the coach was opened
by the impact, near wher he was. and he
was thrown out far enough to escape. He
has been brought to a hospital where his
injuries are not thought to I've so bad that
he will lose his life.
cool, HEAD TO RESCUE.
r. NJ. Curtis, a furniture dealer of James
town, who was en- route to High Point,
n. c., to purchase furniture, was the hero
Of the rescue work. He was ON the Jack
sonville train.
He saw a ne gro going through alwoman's
grip and saw some other looting among
negro passe ngers who we're IN the forward
train, but other passengers declare hat
there was very little Of this work.
Curtis declared he would have certainly
killed the negro IL he had been provided
with me ans for doing so. Curtis's hands
after the work was over were torn and
swollen. His shirt was torn almost into
shreds by the sharp splinters through which
he chopped his way with an axe in the enort
to liberate persons who were pinned down
and in danger of being consumed by the
fire.
Curtis led the rescue work throughout.
He lost most OF his clothing and some Of
the Iewelry he had worn. Speaking Of the
terrible experience he said: Il was sleeping
soundly when the collision took place. |
awoke and thought there had been an
explosion. I did not dream Of a rear end
collision, despite the fact that I was in
the Pullman Just ahead OF the car occupied
by President Spencer and his party.
Il asked a friend James Baum OF Chicago,
who was travelling with me, il he was all
right. Finding that he was unhurt, l got
out OF the berth TO ascertain what the
trouble was. Getting into my clothing
hurriedly I ven out quickly, to find Presi-
dent Spencer's car already burning.
Going back TO the Pullman, l assured
the women and children, who were now
frantic with fright. that all danger was
past and hurried them into their clothing
and saw that they were safely ont. Then
/ went outside.
WORKED LIKE BEAVERS.
"The passengers were climbing out OF