Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-03
S. A. |. PASSENGER
TRAIN is WRECKED
Dashes Into Freight Train Near
Powder Springs, Ga.
ENGINEER HuDeINs is KILLED
Freight Train Breaks in Two and the
Limited Crashes Into the Cars at
the High Speed of Fifty Miles an
Hour.

Powder Springs, Ga, March g.
Dashington at the rate Of so miles on
hour, the eastbound exposition linn
tied on the Atlanta and Birmingham
division of the Seaboard Air Line
crashed head on into a string of ten
wild freight cars on a curve a mile
and quarter from this place at 7:O4
o'clock Friday night, burning to death
Engineer Charles Hudgins, of Allan
ia, Ca, and seriously or painfully
injuring seven others.
The engine Of the exposition limit
ed, rec0iling from the shock of the
collision, turned turtle and rolled
down the high embankment, pinning
Engineer Hudgins beneath it while
the escaping steam burned his body
almost beyond recognition.
Five freight cars were destroyed
and as many passenger coaches
caught fire from the wreckage and
were consumed.
The nagman or the freight train
claimed that he did all in his power
to stop the. fast-fying limited before
it dashed into the cars. From the
statements Of the passengers it is be
l.eved that Engineer Hudgins saw the
signal but too late to check the train,
even though the shocks of he air
brakes told Of his futile efforts.
The dead;
t~e;r",r Charles Hudgins, of AT
lanta, Ga.
e injured are Will Bolton, negro
fireman, Atlanta, seriously; a COM
pound fracture of the left leg and bad
scalp wounds, now at Grady hospital
A A. Clisby, baggagemaster, of
Birmingham cut about the head; at
the Grady hospital.
J. B. McCord, mail clerk, Atlanta,
Ga. bruised about head and inter-
nally injured; carried to his home.
Baggage Agent Jones.
Wiley Brooks, negro porter, of At
lanta, Ca
Unknown passenger.
The injured who live in Atlanta
were carried to that city at 4 O'Clock
Saturday morning on a special train
that was sent out by the Seaboard
Air Line in charge of DR.. E. H.
Richardson, surgeon of the road.
The wet rails are thought to have
been responsible for the string of
runaway freight cars which dashed
down the grade with one fagman,
using every muscle to set the brakes
on the cars that ground down the
incline.
The train to which these cars be-
longed was to have taken the side
track at Powder Springs to let the
limited pass. When a mile from the
station the freight broke in two and
the wild cars began their flying de-
scent, back toward the exposition linn
tied passenger, which had orders to
pass the freight at the station.
Ten of the cars broke loose, five
of which were loaded with cotton that
made fuel for The flames which broke
out afterward.
accompanying Une nyTng cars was
the ONE flagman, who as soon as he
knew Of the danger made his way
from the last car over the slippery
running boards and began his efforts
to check the train.
one mile from where the cars broke
loose the brakes worked. Almost
before the cars stopped with their
grinding shock the fiagman leaped to
the ground and dashed ahead, slipping
and falling in the mud, to stop the
oncOming limited.
AS he reached the sharp curve he
saw the limited dash into sight
only two or three lengths ahead He
frantically waved his lantern at the
train, which was almost on him.
The passengers felt the airbrakes
working with a jar Then the crash
Engineer Hudgins died at his post
The first coach caught on fire
then mail car and baggage coach be-
gan to burn.
Al the bottom or the steep embank-
ment the engine which pinned Engi-
neer Hudgins beneath it was blazing
and roaring like a furnace with the
Missing steam. The burning cars
and engine lighted up Powder Springs
mile and quarter away, the citi-
zens of the little village believing
that the town was On fire.
Then the work of rescue was be-
gun. All Of the injured were taken
out by the time the wreck special ar
rived from Atlanta.
1t was 2 o'clock, however. before
the rescuers could begin to search
Tor the body of Engineer Hudgins.
The engine was a scrap of hot
molten iron, and the men could not
reach it until the rain had cooled it |
off.
The five freight cars were a mass
OF ruins, while the rails were twisted
a1d bent, making it almost impogsi-
bic to clear the track.