Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-29

Lynchburg, Va, Nov 29.-President
Samuel Spencer, of the Southern rail-
way was killed and his body burned
beyond recognition, at Lawler, eleven
miles below here this morning. Phil
lip Schuyler. of New York, of Spencer s
party; Train Dispatcher e. w. Davis,
and Engineer Terry, and one unidenti-
fed man, were also killed. Eight ne
groes were injured, one probably fa-
collision with the Washington &
Southwestern vestibuled limited train,
which ran into the, rear end of the
train known as the Jacksonville linn
tied. Spencer's private coach was en-
tirely burned.
Wreckage Takes Fire.
The Jacksonville train had stopped
on top Of q very heavy grade, to repair
a slight breakdown, and before, it is
said, fagman could get back to pro-
L tect the train, the Atlanta train dashed
into it. The heavy engine plowed into
the private car of President Spencer,
in which he and his guests are sup
posed to have been sleeping. Immed-
lately the private car caught fire, and
the wreckage was piled around the
engine as tho placed there by human
hands, to be consumed. Every piece
of woodwork on the engine was burn
ed It was under the locomotive that
the burned body of Spencer. was found.
1t is evident that he was killed in
stantly, and did not suffer the tortures
of being burned. Schuyler, private
secretary to Spencer, was instantly
killed, but his body was rescued by
passengers. Mr.. Merrill, also secretary
to Spencer was severely injured. Da-
Wis was badly crushed and died in a
short time. Terry was the engineer Of
the Atlanta train. He was killed in
stantly.
Two Others Reported Missing.
Two other members of Spencer's
party are reported missing. They are
Charles D. Fisher, Of Gill & Fisher.
commission merchants, of Baltimore,
and Frank T. Redwood, broker Of
Baltimore. Two other cars a Pullman
and the club car, We're destroyed, but
all the passengers escaped. The cause
OF the wreck cannot be learned now,
but it is understood that the operator
In charge of the block office at RAN
goon allowed the Atlanta train to enter
the block before he had been given a
clear track from the next block station
five miles below.
The death Of Dispatcher Davis was
touching. He stated to his rescuer that
he knew he was dying, and the end
could not be faf off.
"Place your finger on my mouth" he
said. "It feels so cool and good"
He pleaded with the gentleman not to
leave him, and for ten minutes the
man stayed with him, until he saw that
n.
Cars Ransacked for PIunder.
One of the worst phases Of the acci-
dent was the heartless manner in
which few passengers and some at
taches. especially some porters of the
Atlanta train, ransacked the wrecked
cars for plunder. F. M. Curtis, of
Jamestown, N. Y, passenger on the
Jacksonville train, saw one negro por-
ter go thru ladies' grip. He saw him
throw away such things as were of no
value to him, and appropriate those
things that he wanted. Curtis declar-
ed that he would have certainly killed |
the porter If he had something to do it
with. Not few passengers engaged
in this ghoulish business, and a large
number of valuables and much money
which was scattered about the wrecked |
trains, was taken.
Curtis Does Heroic, Work.
Curtis was the hero Of the hour 1t i
is claimed by some fellow passengers, |
that to his work and generalship, be-
longs the credit of the rescue Of a
dozen persons who would have per-
ished but for his efforts. Several per-
sons not seriously wounded were TAX
en- out from the two cars that were
burned. Six negro passengers were
taken from the combination coach of |
the forward train. They were literally
covered with heavy baggage, and were
badly hurt, most Of them having brok-
en- legs Physicians attending them be-
lieve that all will recover. with the
possible exception Of an aged woman.