The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-08-26
Big Engine Goes TO Bottom of
Deep Creek Bed.
Crews Jump and No One Il Seriously
Hurt But Cars Are Torn 10
Kindling Wood.
ALL TRAFFIC. WAS MPEDED.

| A disastrous rear end collision
between two freight trains, said to
have been caused by failure of
train to have out a flag, did great
damage to rolling stock, blocked the
road for hours, and caused injuries
to several members of the crews at
Dawson Springs Sunday morning at
5:55 o'clock
The wreck happened at the trestle.
on which several persons were killed
four years ago while attending the
Illinois Central picnic. The big
freight engine went down from the
trestle and settled in the creek bed.
Cars were piled upon top of each
other and the greater portion of the
trestle torn up. 1t was necessary to
detour all trains via Henderson and
Princeton, and not until early this
morning did wrecking crews succeed
in getting the trestle replaced and
the main line open for traffic. Every
passenger train through Paducah
from early Sunday morning to late
to eight hours.
Freight train, No. 1SS, engine No.
S74, in charge of Engineer Z. Brown
Fireman c. E. Slayden and Conduc-
tor Bob Smiley, struck the freight
train, No. 1856, engine No. S54, in
lcharge of Engineer Leroy and Con-
ductor Eldridge. The latter train
was standing still and opportunity
was given members of both crews to
Jump and save themselves. A
broken air hose is directly RESPONSE
bic for the accident.
How II Happened.
The first train pulled out of Prince
ton at $40 and the second left ten
minutes later. At Claxton Flagman
B. ]. Smith. of No 1856, tagged
Browns train and told him to watch
out for No. 156 at Ruth. No. 1s6
failed to wait at Ruth for Flagman
Smith, and he boarded No. 1SS, in
tending to catch up with his own
train shortly. At the approach of the
ltrestle at Dawson, one half mile
south of the station, an air hose on
the first train broke and stop was
made to repair It. There was no flag
out to protect It, and Brown came
bowling along at lively clip in
dense fog. He did not see the ca
iboose until he had gotten within 100
yards of It. Conductor Smiley was
riding in the engine, and Brown,
Smiley and Fireman slayden jumped
Brown struck the side of deep fill
and rolled down to the bottom, sus-
tanning severe bruises to his shoul-
ders, legs and side His face was
also cut Conductor Smiley struck
on his arms and sprained his right
wrist. Fireman Slayden escaped
with slight injuries.
AL Scott, a negro brakeman OF
I1SS, jumped when he realized the
approaching accident and sprained
his knees and bruised his body.
Conductor Eldridge, of 1856 was
standing in his caboose when he saw
the engine come flying around the
curve. He jumped few seconds
Iahead of the collision. Had he been
few seconds late, the big freight
Iengine would have killed him.
Cars piled one on top of the other.
and the trestle was torn up for 100
yards, the big engine going down
Ito the creek bed Five empty coal
cars were reduced to kindllng wood.
All Trains Delayed.
i 1t required SO piles to repair the
broken bridge. BY hard work, the
track was relaid and this morning
shortly after O'Clock a telegram
ANNOUNCED the main line clear and
Iready for traffic.
All passenger trains were delayed.
THE afternoon trains from Louisville
arrived late at night, No. 121 getting
lin after 10 O'Clock. 10 was due az
AGO. Train, No. 101, the fast
southbound flyer. got in at 1:15
Io'clock. 1t was due at 6. The morn
ling train due at 3:45 from Louis
willie did not get in until after
O'Clock. All north bound trains wers
lalso detoured via Henderson.
i Engineer Brown was brought home
at o'clock last night and this morn
ling was able to sit on his front porch.
lOther members of the crew also
went home. none being injured seri-