The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-09
No. II A. G. S. Hits Engine
Head-On Near the Old
Ball Park
NO ONE is KILLED;
ENGINES DAMAGED
Cause of the Wreck Is Unexplained.
Switch Engine Was Standing Still
on Main Line-Aid is Sent
From the City

A score OF people were more or less
seriously injured last night at 11:sO
o'clock when train No. L on the Ala
bama Great Southern went into head
on collision with a switch engine in the
Yards back of the old baseball park near
First avenue and Ninth street. AS far
as could be learned early this morning
no one was killed in the wreck. although
Engineer r. H. Roberts on No. II is at the
st. vincents hospital, painfully but not
seriously injured.
Z Number u is due in Birmingham at 11:40
and was coming through the yards on
time. At the place Of the wreck Fore
man Hanlsin and a force of men were
Going some repair work on the tracks.
No. II coming into Birmingham crashed
directly into the switch engine which was
standing on the main track. The force
of the collision could be heard for sew
eral blocks and both engines were torn
almost to pieces. The switch engine was
practically demolished. No. ~ carried
four day cars. Pullman, a sleeper and
a baggage car.
Force of Collision Terrific
The train was only comfortably filled,
there being but 10 people in the Pullman.
Practically all of them were badly cut and
bruised r. b. Farris of Birmingham,
who was a passenger on the Pullman,
stated that the force of the collision was
terrific Mr.. Farris was thrown across
the aisle into the iavatory. He was badly
bruised on the side and one ankle was
seriously sprained. B. G. Williams OF
Seattle. WASH, stated the people on the
train were all more or less bruised and
cut. He said No. IL was making good
speed at the time of the wreck.
Engineer Roberts saw the impending
collision and jumped from the engine
landing in ditch at the side of the
track. Fireman Ernest Holeman Of
No. IL also jumped. landing on pile
of Stag. He was badly cut up. Con-
ME Poe, engineer of the switch en-
Eine and Jack Crawford. fireman, both
stuck to their engine, and neither one
was injured in the least, although the
engine was practically torn to pieces.
After the collision the engine of No.
] , was standing directly across block
signal switch. The light in the signal
was still burning red. Employees of the
railroad refused to discuss the wreck
or give possible cause for the col
lision. Mr.. Hankin, in charge of the
force on the switch engine, stated he
was doing some work on the main
track and his engine was standing
still on the main line when No. IL
ran into it.
Immediately after the wreck an
emergency train was sent out from
Birmingham and the passengers on No.
u were sent into town. The injured
people were sent to the hospitals. The
list of injured as far as could be
learned this morning consisted Of:
The Injured
Louis Arbon of Birmingham, bruised
Mrs J. B. Wilson of Holt, limbs
badly bruised.
Mr.. Wilson, head bruised by falling
suitcase.
w. c. Barigan of Meridian, Miss, badly
shaken up.
Louis L. Whitten of Reform, bruised.
e. T. odum of Birmingham. right arm
badly bruised
r. II. Cobbs. Jr.. of Admission. baols
hurt.
j. H. WomaclS of Atlanta. Ca. bruised
arm.
b. g. Williams OF Seattle, asn.,
slightly bruised.
Mrs. H. w. McGary of Atlanta, bruised.
A. Dean of Atlanta, bruised.
Mr.. and Mrs. T.. i. West of Birming-
ham. Mrs. West has jaw so badly hurt
as to be unable to speak. Mr.. West is
bruised severely by head striking the roof
of car.
Lafayette Montgomery, Atlanta, head.
cut and back strained.
There were several others on the car
who suffered minor injuries, but who
would not give their names.
r. b. Farris Of Birmingham had his
foot and leg so badly bruised that he
was unable to walk without assistance.
Mr.. Farris said that the shock of
the collision was so great that a door
on the smoker that he was In was
torn off its hinges and hurled dis
tance of 10 feet in the car. Mr. Farris
said he was sitting in the smoker en-
joying quiet smoke and suddenly
without warning, having heard no
brakes shutting down. he was cata-
pulled forward a distance of 10 feet
to the end Of the car, where he struck