Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1904 — SIXTY-TWO DIE IN WRECK. [ARTICLE]

SIXTY-TWO DIE IN WRECK.

Mistake of Engineer on Southern Railway Cannes Great Loss of Life. Sixty-txvo persons were killed and 120 Injured (many of whom will die) in a head on collision on the Southern Railway nineteen mines east of Knpxvllle, Tenn., at 10:18 Saturday morning. The engineer of the west bound train, so investigation show’s, was directly responsible for the disaster. He deliberately disobeyed orders. Why, will never be known, for he was crushed to death’beneath his engine, and his fireman suffered a like fate. The crash came on a sharp curve, betw’een high banks. The west bound train w r as a heavy one, it carrying the sleepers from the east for Knoxville, Chattanooga, and other Southern cities. The east bound train yas lighter, consisting of day coaches and chair cars. It was going thirty miles an hour, the other forty. The heavy train crashed into the lighter one with the force of a giant missile hurled from a catapult. And, by the irony of fate, the engineer and the fireman of the train at fault were tlie only ones on that train to lose their lives, while fifty-three travelers were killed on the train that had the right of way. Expert railroad men who have seen scores of wrecks unite in saying that never have they seen such an inexpressibly thorough smashnp. The two engines and their tenders were simply a mass scrap iron, from which vpmited ftje, smoke and steam. The light coaches of the local train were literally knocked into splinters. Roofs w’ere smashed like crumpled envelopes, two , cars had both sides torn out, floors were driven up and forced through the ceilings, catching and crushing men, • women, and children as If in a vise.