The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-07-06
TOURISTS KILLED
In A WRECK
Twenty-Three Americans Lose Their
Lives on English Railway.
Big ENGINE FLIES THE TRACK.
The American Line Special, Carrying the
Passengers Landed at Plymouth Jumps
the Track and Crashes Into Freignt IRAN
-One Coach Strikes Railway Bridge ano
10 Smashed Int Bits.

London. (By Cable).-Passengers Dy
.,,e Amer;ean Line steamer New YORK.
who left Plymouth by special tram al
,n;dr;oht on the London Southwestern
p.;I,oad were the victims of one OF the
most deadly disasters in English rail-
wsy history, at Salisbury, 80 miles from
London two hours later, when the loco
motive jumped the rails and dashed nlss
into milk train on siding and tleii
against the girders Of bridge;
THE three coaches were literally oeilloi-
,shed Out of 43 passengers, 20 were
Liza and dozen injured. Two or three
ra;lwav employees were among the killed.
nakine the total number 70 dead:
The late hour Of the New YORK ar
rival al Plymouth saved many lives. one
carried more than 20 travellers ior Loil1
don. but many of them elected TO tfavei
or comfortably to Southampton IN pre-
ference to the late landing at Plymouth
and the long night ride across the eoufi-
trv If the New York had made faster
massage the sonlber roster OF the deao
and injured would have been longer.
The big American Line steamer, winch
left New York June 20, reached Fly
month at o.,s 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 to remain aboard.
Il was fateful decision, though not
dictated by any fear The run across
the Atlantic had been pleasant There
were cheerv partings 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 powerful ex-
press engine, three frst-class corridor
coaches and one combination guards van
and buffet The passengers were soon
entrained, and at 1880 the express pull
ed out 1t was given clear track on the
ruin of 23o miles to Londin for run at
a speed of mile or more minute.
Driver Robins quickly gave the engine
her head and the special was soon speed
ing swiftly through hne night. 1t ran on
safely and without incident until it en-
tered the long railway yard at Salisbury,
when the passengers noted that the
coaches began swaying from side to side.
Suddenly, at the end of the long plat
form, where the track begins to curve
toward the bridge spanning Fisherton
Street. the main avenue of the city, the
engine seemed fairly to leap from the
track. 1t swung across the adjoining
track with terrific force and destroyed
the guards van of milk train that was
slowly steaming in the opposite direction,
killing 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
siding and overturned The wreckage
of the two engines interlocked in
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 6rebox.
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 maim-
ing alomst every occupant. One man
was shot through the window, cleared
the parapet and fell to his death to the
street below.
The second coach lurched forward and
rolled toward 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 plowed forward, injuring some
of It's occupants, but practically main
tanned IT'S equilibrium