Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1885 — A HORROR IN GEORGIA. [ARTICLE]

A HORROR IN GEORGIA.

A Sleeping-Car Telescoped by a Locomotive and Twelve of the Inmates Scalded to Death. Four Others Fatally and Ten Seriously Injured—Heart-Rending Scenes at the Wreck. Atlanta (Ga.) telegram. A frightful collision occurred on the-’ Georgia Pacific Railroad, about fifteen, miles from Atlanta. Thirteen lijes were lost, and three persons were so Badly injured that it is thought death will result. The East Tennessee and Georgia Pacific Roads use the same track from Atlanta to Austell, where they diverge, one going west and the other north. They, however, leave the city from different depots and' meet just at the city limits, and from there they both use the same track to Austell. Just one mile east of Austell, toward Atlanta, is a water-tank used by the Georgia Pacific. The night passenger train of the Georgia Pacific leaves here at It) o’clock and the East Tennessee train leaves at 10:45 o’clock. Last night, however, the Georgia Pacific was somewhat delayed, and when it stopped at the water-tank it was on the East Tennessee time. The East Tennessee passenger train came flying around a curve near the water-tank, and, without a moment’s warning, went crashing into the rear of the Georgia Pacific train. Engineer Owen and the fireman of the East Tennessee train saw the Georgia Pacific train, but too late to avoid a collision. The fireman jumped. The engineer remained at his post, reversing the engine and applying the brakes. He escaped without serious injury, while the fireman is supposed to be fatally hurt. The engine tore its way into the rear of the coach, and the rear coach telescoped tho one in front of it, which was forced into the one ahead of that again. The rear coach was filled with passengers, many of whom were so pinned down by the wreck that they were unable to stir, and the escaping steam soon caused the death of five or six.

As soon as possible the East Tennessee train was backed from the wreck and the work of removing the dead and wounded begun. The killed are; Bernard Peyton, attorney for the Georgia Pacific, of Birmingham, Ala.; Nathan Stanley, of Anniston, Ala.; E. Y. Huie, of East Point, Ga.;. J. W. Pierce, of Texas; Jake and Mary Banks, of Fairburn, Ga., and their baby, who died in its mother’s arms; C. W. Belton, bound for El Paso, Texas; two little children, one a baby, belonging to Mr. Bright; Mrs. Jane Eliza Brown, Cleveland. County, Ala.; B. Bright, of Fairburn, Ga.; Mrs. Carrie Bright, Fairburn, Ga. The blame for the accident cannot be yet placed, and an investigation will be necessary. The East Tennessee conductor says that he was on his time and following the schedule and his directions. The Georgia Pacific conductor says that he had no official knowledge of the night passenger train of the East Tennessee, and ran out as he had always done. The Coroner’s, inquest has been going on all day. In tho examination Dr. Roy, surgeon of tho Georgia Pacific, said that when he arrived on tho scene the engine had telescoped the sleeping coach, passing through the entire length of the car. Water and steam from the boiler gushed through and flooded the whole train. According to his examination not a single fatality occurred from external injuries, but all met their deaths from scalding, or inhalation of steam.