New-York tribune., 1906-11-30
SAMUEL SPENCER KILLED.
President Of Southern Railway and His Guests Meet
Death in Collision
Two WKnown Baltimore Business Men, Train Dispatcher and Two Ports AIS
Kned-M spencers Body Burned Almost Beyond Recognition.

ger coach. two Pullmans and President spencer's
car, which was at the rear. The sleeper in front
of Mr. Spencer's car was wrecked but not
burned. The regular day coach and forward
Pullman practically uninjured but the
combination coach. second from the engine. was
crushed. and ii was in this car that all the
Negroes among the wounded We're hurt They
were unable to escape from the baggage hurled
on them, and many would have died but for the
rescue work. in which F. NJ. Curtis, Of James
town, n. Y, passenger the Jacksonville
train, took conspicuous part
STORY OF PASSENGER.
Mr.. Curtis said:
I was sleeping soundly when the impact took
place thought there had been an explosion
1 did not dream of rear-end collision asked
my friend IN the adjoining berth If he was all
right. Getting a favorable reply from him, I
hurried out OF my berth to ascertain the cause
of the trouble. Hurrying into my clothes went
out to find that President Spencer's coach was
already in a blaze. and then il dawned on me
that there had been rear-end collision The
women in the coach were frantic. and thought
the first thing TO quiet them. assured
them that they longer in danger I told
them to take their time TO dress. but get out OF
the coach as soon as possible. When went OUT
l found that not a single thing had been done
for the succor of those who were wounded and
dying. The passengers We're hurrying out of the
cars. through windows and through the debris.
and I began TO look around for the wounded
1t appeared to me that the passengers who were
uninjured were dazed. and they did not appear
to realize that something must be done 7 talked
TO them and they began TO work You never
saw men work harder in your life
In the rear of the Pullman which was smashed
there was mother with six months old baby
They were in drawing which had been
smashed, but strange 70 say. they We're not
hurt in the slightest They were got out and
taken TO safety think there were at least
five bodies including Mr.. SpenCer's. that were
cremated. As far as know, the train attaches
did not aid in the first relief because they had
gone both ways to protect the two trains from
other and more serious trouble
One of the things that struck me forciby
the heroic manner in which the Negro passen-
gers who injured bore their sufferings.
There was practically not sound from them
They were laid out in the fields adjoining the
railroad. where they remained for several hours
until they could be placed in coaches and
brought to the city.
WRECKED CARS PLUNDERED.
Several cases were reported in which persons
ransacked the wrecked cars for plunder Some
of the passengers are said to have taken part in
this work. ami a large amount cf vaIuabIss ard
money scattered about the debris was taken.
Mr. curtis says he saw a porter go through
woman's grin. and throw away things Of no
value to him ard appropriate what he wanted.
Mr. Curtis declared he would have killed the
porter if he had had anything to do it with
Coroner w. ]. Davis. at the request of the
Southern officials went 10 the scene of the
wreck this afternoon to hold an inquest. but he
found the bodies had been removed before his
arrival He returned 20 his home in the suburbs,
and tonight could not say what steps might O.
taken tomorrow.
The Jacksonville express had the right Of way
in the block, and the engine broke away from
the train and proceeded two miles. one of which
was beyond Lawyers before the engineer noticed
he without his train It may he that when
he passed Lawyers the operator gave RangOon
a clear block without noticing whether the rear
end markers were to he seen before ne did 50.
OPERATOR, SAID To Re AT FAULT.
In the absence of an official statement. excapt
that the operator at Rangoon was at fault. tEat
statement is being accepted here. Ii is possible
that an investigation may show that the Ran
goon operator let the Atlanta train into the
block on an order from Lawyers that the block
was clear. the opera tor there thinking the train
less engine cleared the block, and the rear train
was past Rangoon before it could he stopped
when the mistake was discovered Should the
investigation show that the Lawyers operator
gave a clear track after the engine passed his
station without noting the rear end markers
then the cause of the accident was at Lawyers
and not al Rangoon Only official investiga-
ton will reveal this.
At 1880 O'Clock tonight it was ascertained
from trustworthy source that y. J. Maddux.
the operator at Rangoon who was on duty ar
the time Of the accident. has disappeared and
cannot ne found although railroad officials have
made an effort to find him.
II. B Spencer. sixth president Of the
Southern Railway. was Il passenger on a north
bound train from the South, which reached the
scene of ,he wreck a few minutes after it Oc-
Cured He spent several hours there until the
charred body of his father was taken from
under the locomotive and then he came to this
city with the bodies of his father and the other
members OF his party. The coach containing
the bodies was sidetTaCked in the yard above
the city. Coflns were procured for them and
placed in the private of President stevens
of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. who
passing through the city with his family, the
car having been rendered for this by Presi-
dent Stevens. This and the containing
the bodies of the killed We're attached TO a faJs
train going nortn. and the bodies trans
ferred TO the coffins while the train in
motion
Judge John d Horseiey. division counsel for
the company here, and Z. II. Chapman, OF
Danvilie assistant general superintendent, We're
in charge of the bodies. II. b. Spencer having
preceded this train special made up mere
in order be in Washington on the arrival o.
the regular train.
At the city hospital tonight all the injured
Negroes We're expected TO recover.