From the Nashville Union and American |
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February 24, 1861 |
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Railroad Smash Up |
On the {Memphis &}
Charleston railroad, on Wednesday, an accident occurred a mile
beyond La Grange to the freight train coming to this city. At that
spot a portion of the cars became uncoupled from the rest and as
there is an inclined plane there, the engineer went on without being
aware that only two or three cars remained attached to the engine,
and that the remaining part of the cars were following him like a
dog's tail after it had been cut off rushing in pursuit of its
flying master. The engine of course got somewhat ahead of the cars,
but the brakes were let down as La Grange was approached and the
speed checked. When the motion had almost ceased, down came the
uncoupled cars with all the impetuosity communicated by the descent.
They crushed into the rear of the cars attached to the engine, and
presently two or three of them were smashed into fragments and
tobacco, cotton and other articles, and especially a large quantity
of rice, lay scattered around, a wreck most complete. Besides the
cars destroyed, four or five others were more or less injured.
Fortunately no one was hurt, and a detention of some three hours was
the only annoyance of a public character. |
Memphis Appeal, Feb. 22 |
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