The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-02
MAYOR M'CLELLAN HAS NARROW ESCAPE Changes His Course at LagS
 Moment ou Board >SS MISSED FEARFUL icy K John E. Mcdonald, coupled Compartment Reserved or the
 Mayor, Was kilIed-De-
 tails of Accident.

London, July By the merest chance Mayor G. B. Mcclellan of New York was not in the wrecked American line special train. He had an appointment to keep in London, and although the steamer was late in arriving at Plymouth. he decided to come direct to London instead of going to Cherbourg with Mrs. Mcclellan, who was going through to Paris His hand baggage had been transferred to the ten- der to land at Plymouth, and he was go- ing on board the tender. when an officer of the steamer, whom Mrs. Mcclellan had been asking to urge her husband to &C., company her to Cherbourg, told the mayor he could still reach London in time to keep his appointment If he went on to Cherbourg and thence to Southampton Just before the tender left the ships side Mayor Mcclellan changed his mind, and the steward threw his baggage bac.- on board the ew York as the tender was casting off her lines. Mayor Mcclellan was greatly shocked on learning of the fate of the train.
 John E. Mcdonald, the New York horse man, best known as Jack McDonald who was among the dead, was given the compartment on the special train which had been reserved for MT. Mcclellan, and so the mayors escape was indeed the nar- rowest.
 MT. Mcclellan will remain in London a week and then join his wife In Paris.
 Scene at Salisbury.
 Relatives of Walter Barwiek. who went to Salisbury this morning upon learning of the accident. and who returned to Lon don tonight, says the scene at Salisbury upon their arrival there was one of inde- scribable confusion. Their greatest diff flculty was in indentifying the dead, as tne bodies had been frightfully mangled. MT. Barwicks body was barely recogniz- able being covered with wounds.
 'I have been accustomed, said c. A. strachan of Boston, who with his aunt was on the wrecked special. to speedy travelling and know what is a good pace. But it seemed to me as we sped along last night that the old country go us one better after all. I do not remember of ever having been carried along at such a rate before. The oscillation and vibra- tion were very noticeable. remarked that it must be good running stock, and a first rate permanent way that could stand the strain. Just then the smash came. Mrs. Whiton. my aunt, and I were jerked into corner of the carriage and then the car went over and we were pinned in quite long time. Through the window which was above us we saw the reflection of fire, and feared the carriage was afre, but as we waited relief came and I saw the flames and that water was being thrown on the carriages as a precaution i" The death of r. H. Cossitt of New York was perhaps the most pathetic feature of the disaster. He and his bride were on their wedding tour, and after visiting the principal points of interest in Europe ex- pected to return to New York in October They had travelled in company with friends who on the arrival of the New York at Plymouth did their best to per suade the couple not to leave the ship. MT Cossitt being a bad sailor. insisted on landing. Mrs. Cossitt arrived in Lon don tonight and is staying with friends in Park Lane.