The Bourbon news., 1912-11-12

IOr0 OtatlO0, Two miles SOutU VI dis,
at about ten o'clock FRIDAY night when
Louisville and Nashville northbOund
passenger train No. 81, known as the
"Florida Limited" from Jacksonville,
running four hours behind its sched
uled time. crashed into an open switch,
killing one man. badly injuring two
others, all train employees, and pain
fully though not seriously inlurlng
dozen of the passengers.
Engineer James Lemons. of Coving-
ton, was killed at his post of duty.
when his engine turned over upon him.
crushing out his life. His body was
recovered short time after the wreck
occurred.
Fireman James Hendy, of Cynthi-
ana, was thrown across the boiler and
badly scalded by escaping steam be-
fore he was taken from his perilcus
position.
The third person injured was Harvey
Jones, a colored chef on the dining car,
who was badly cut about the face and
head when he was hurled against the
side of the car, dishes and cooking i'm
plements falling upon him.
The force OF the impact tore num-
Der nf seats in the coaches from their
fastenings and hurled the passengers
from their seats. Window panes were
smashed and in this way several re-
ceived severe cuts and bruises, none of
them being serious and they were able
to proceed on their journey.
The news OF the wreck reached this
city about 10 80 o'clock, and the
wrecker and relief train was hurried
to the scene. Practically every physl-
clan in the city was summoned, as the
first report was that there had been a
great loss or life and score or more
had been injured. The dead and in
jured wer9 brought to Paris on the re-
lief train which arrived there about
ole o'clock Saturday morning.
The body of Engineer Lemons, st
the instance of Coroner Rudolph Davis.
was moved to the undertaking estab-
lishment of Geo. w Davis. where it
was prepared for burial and was sent
to his home in Covington Saturday
afternoon.
sAt Bedford where the wreck occurred
there is a temporary switch which
supplies the construction camp of
Hough & Sp radling with material in
the construction of d section of the
double track between Paris and Win
chester. 1t was this switch that had
been opened and the fast train thun-
dering along at high rate of speed
with a view of making the steep grade
at this point.
1t is evident that Engineer Lemons
had no time to realize his mistake un-
til he saw his big locomotive swerve
from the main line and crash into the
freight car on the siding loaded with
telephone poles. The force of the i'm
pact was so great that it threw the
engine entirely around, and as it
settled it fell over on it's side, carry
ing Lemons to his death beneath it.
The mail, express car and baggage
cars and two day coaches left the
track, the trucks being torn from be-
meath them and piled beneath the first
coach. The car on the siding was re-
duceed to splinters and twisted mass
of iron, while the first two coaches
were telescoped. The dining car. par
lor car and sleeper were only slightly
damaged.
The discovery that the lantern from
the switch stand had disappeared. and
the later discovery of the switch lock.
broken as if by some heavy instru~
ment near the scene of the accident
have led the officials TO believe that
the almost complete destruction of the
train was the result of a train wreck
er. A rigid investigation is being con-
Quoted and secret police and detec
ti!ves are at work on the case. 1t is
expected that within the next few
days arrests will be made. Suspects
are already under surveillance.
Although there is no reason assigned
for the wrecking of the train it has
been suggested that the accident was
the work of former emloyes of the
road who held some grievance, while
another theory is robbery. The latter,
according to the police here. is prob
able, but the would-be robbers. seeing
the extent of the crime, fled without
trying to carry out their original pur-
pose.
Engineer Lemons. who lost his life
in the wreck, was evidently thought
tul of the passengers in his charge
and when the heavy, train left the main
line andlplunged into the siding, ap-
piled the emergency brakes instead
of making an effort to save his life.
According to a statement of Fireman
Hendy, he was unable to distinguish
any light at the point where the tenn
porary track entered on the main line,
and that he was on the lookout for the
signal.
The heroic efforts of the engineer
probably saved the lives-of a hundred
passengers on the tlain. According
to passengers there was a .sudden
laundering of the trucks as if the
emergency brake had been thrown on
with all force, and then came the
shock which threw them all from
their seats, and for few minutes a
panic ensued among the passengers.
Among the passengers were num-
ber of Parislans, all of whom escaped
without injury. Several travelling
men stated it was the worst wreck
they ever saw for so few to be injured
and to cause the death of only one
man. The train was in charge of Con-
ductor Everett Sorrel. of Covington,
formerly of Paris, who after the crash
took the situation into hand and with
the assistance of other trainmen sue
ceeded in calming the passengers and
icfn