The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-17
ISSUE STATEMENT
ON CLAYTON WRECK
Central Of Georgia States
Track in Good Shape
80 MILES PER HOUR
Statement of General Manager t. s..
Noise Gives Company's Side of
Accident from Which They
State Nine Are Dead
80 MILES PER HOUR

The first official statement from the
Central of Georgia management as to
the wreck of an accommodation train on
that line near Clayton. Ala, last Thurs
day, was made here yesterday as from
T. s. Noise, general manager of that
line.
L. Z. Stovall, general agent for the
company here, gave out the statement
which stamps as an exaggeration the first
reports as to the number killed. The
statement of Mr. Noise places the death
list at nine killed. The statement frankly
asserts that quite a number-about 200
were injured. In reference to the cause
of the accident the company says that
the rails were inspected short time
prior to the accident and found in good
condition.
The statement of the company follows:
Statement Due Public
I'm view of the exaggerated reports
of the loss of life and of rumors re-
specting the cause of the accident that
have been published in the daily papers
since the derailment of a passenger train
near Clayton Ala, last Thursday morn
Ing, the management of the Central of
Georgia Railway company feels that the
public is entitled to a brief statement
of the facts as far as they have been
aseertained.
THE usual equipment of the train was
one coach and one combination car The
train ON this occasion consisted of four
coaches and one combination car, and
was crowded with between 400 and 800
excursicnsts en- route to the county fair
at Eufaula, Ala. The attendance On
Thursday and Wednesday had been small.
and no information had been received
the fair on Thursday, otherwise more
ample accommodation could and would
have been furnished The train was run
ming only five minutes late at Clayto
and consumed 10 or II minutes in run
ming the So miles from Clayton to the
points where's thes accident ACQUIRED.
Going Down Grade
The derailment occurred on a descend
ing grade, and on two-degree curve.
1t is hardly probable therefore that the
train WAS running more than 80 miles per
hour. which was neither an unusual or
excessive speed. The engineer states that
he felt the broken rail as he passed over
it, and applied the brakes. The engine
and two cars passed safely over the
break and the three rear cars were de-
rallied and turned over. two turning over
one side of the embankment and one on
the other. The track was laid with So
pound steel rail on pine and cypress
ties, which were reported in good con-
dition. The latest report, Sunday morn
ing (this morning) to the effect that as
the result of the accident there have
been nine deaths. The list is as fol-
lows:
Monroe Floyd, white, Clayton, Ala. ;
Curb Bell. Jr., white, Clayton: Zach
Peak, white, Clayton; Pompe Utsey
white Clayton; Miss Bonnie Brock. white
Clio, Ala; Mrs. Wilbur Mclean, white
Clio; Miss Annie Wilkerson, white, Clio;
Wash McRae, white, Clio; Mordica Nc
Rea, colored. Clio.
There are about 40 seriously injured
passengers all of whom are expected to
recover except possibly one elderly lady
There are also 200 passengers who were
slightly injured.
The officers of the company greatly
deplore the accident, and are doing every
thing in their power for the relief and
care of the injured. r. s. NOISE,
General Manager.