NP, AC 6/14/1864

From the Augusta Constitutionalist
 
June 14, 1864
 
Railroad Collision
Marietta, Saturday, June 11, 1864
 
   Quite a collision has just occurred on the {Western & Atlantic} railroad, ten miles below this place, at Vining's station, the half-way point between here and Atlanta. It was a freight train coming up, and the passenger express going down.
   The accident occurred about five o'clock on yesterday (Friday) afternoon. The conductor, it seems, had failed to notice the flag of the regular freight train at Tough's station, and when the two engines appeared in sight, they were going at too rapid a speed to admit of stopping. The engineers leaped off, and escaped unhurt. The trains jammed into one another, utterly crushing all in front. The engines, the tenders, and several box and baggage cars were completely destroyed. Fortunately, no one was killed. One man had his leg broken. He foolishly tried to leap from the train, and was caught in the collision. The passengers were terribly frightened but escaped uninjured. There were several wounded soldiers on board, and quite a quantity of stores.
   Among the latter was a heavy twenty pounder Parrott gun, which was hurled upon one of the passenger cars, breaking through the roof and falling to the floor below, but injuring on one. Several little children were playing in the car at the time.
   Our railroad people should be very particular. You remember the horrible collision near Cartersville before the battle of Chickamauga. That and the present accident, should be a warning and a lesson. Too much care can not be taken of the lives of the soldiers.
   The food they gave the soldiers was fully equal to what they would find at our hotels, and was enjoyed by them in a way that the ladies can hardly appreciate; for everybody is hungry who comes from Atlanta. All the way down the soldiers talked about it, and ever and anon some one would say, "Didn't them ladies treat us nice? and wasn't it good?"

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