The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-11
OFFICERS BOMBING WOODS NEAR SCENE .OF SEAB0ARD WRECK No Arrests Made As Yet,
 But Valuable Clues
 Discovered TWO THEORIES AS TO
 MOTIVE OF TENDS Engineer Brooks, Dying, Thought First of His Passengers and Was
 Content When Told Few Were Killed In Accident

A large posse of deputies and special agents of the Seaboard Air Line rail- road headed by John Hill. have been securing the woods in the vicinity of the spot where Seaboard passenger train No. B. from New York for Biz was wrecked Wednesday night about 10:30 o'clock by section of rail being detached from the right of way, causing the death of L. c. Link supervisor of locomotive operation; Robert Brooks, engineer of the train, and his negro fireman, Tom Love. In addition to those killed there were sev- eral passengers bruised and shaken up At St. Vincent's hospital. where the wounded were carried as soon as the relief train got into Birmingham, all the injured are reported to be doing nicely.
 As far as could be learned the depu- ties and special agents detailed to work on the case have not made any arrests as yet although in railroad circles it Is understood that substantial clues are in hand. MT Hill was retieent when questioned IS to the results of his days work.
 'J can only say that We intend to work night and day this case until we can pin the blame for this awful ca lamity upon the guilty people" he said.
 We have some clues to work on and we shall run them to earth immediately knew every man killed personally. No finer railroad men could be found. and intend to put forth my best efforts to avenge their deaths"
 Two Theories As to Motive
 There are two theories as to the motives of the fiends who wrecked the train; that they had a spite against the company or else ditched the flyer for the purpose of footing the passengers. In the later case it is thought that when the bandits saw that all or nearly all had not been killed their nerve failed and they were afraid to attempt to robbery.
 A section of rail 30 feet long was unbolted at both ends and carefully laid on top of the remaining rails. The bolts and ffanges which connect the rails were laid aside in a neat pile Had the accident been caused by a rail turning over or spreading, according to expert railroad officials. the bolts and fianges holding the rail would have been cheWed or bent entirely off.
 A pathetic incident connected with tn,
 death of Bob Brooks, one of the mos popular engineers on the entire system
 was told by an eye witness who was rres ent when the valiant man died He re gained consciousness for a minute ant his first thought, which he put into words
 was; How bad was it. My God, uid W, kill many" He was told that few wer, injured. That's good he replied Nov l am satisfied and willing to go." When Brooks realized that his engin, had hit the earth and was f1ounderins down the road in the middle of the tracl he jammed on the air and stuck to hi. engine to the last, striving to save thos, behind him.
 Grieves for the Dead M D. McClair, a brother engineer O Brooks, and an intimate friend of F. C
 Link who was killed, was grief stricker when he learned of the death of hi friends.
 "I was talking to Link just few day, ago. he said. At that time Link tolt me he was going to come over with m, Tuesday afternoon. He must have heel
 unable to make connections with me ant accordingly decided to ride with Brook.
 that night. 1 can hardly believe that h,
 is dead and will never ride in my cal
 again. Both men were the soul of hono and bravery. No inner men ever livet
 and their death will be loss 10 tn,
 road which will be hard to fill" Great credit must be given to all tn,
 crew, especially Conductor J. T. Carter
 said a survivor of the wreck. "The en tire crew worked like heroes after tn, crash came. Every one of them appeared
 to realize that the time to keep cool wal at hand. There was no roughness in tn, handling of passengers; they were treated fine by all, especially the women ant
 children. Steel equipment ought to b, forced upon every road operating pa assen ger trains. This wreck is a living exam pie of what steel coaches do toward say ing lives"
 The body of MT Link will be sent t, Barrie, Ontario, Canada. by Lige Lo. this morning at 9:30 o'clock The de
 ceased is survived by his mother an, father of that place. The body of Engi neer Brooks, aged 55 years. was sent t Atlanta yesterday morning by Shaw S Son for interment. The deceased is sur
 vved by his widow and one son. The wreck has been cleared away ant | usual srvice will be operated by the Sea board today.