| From the Athens (Tenn.) Post |
| |
| February 8, 1861 |
| |
| Distressing Railroad Accident |
| The Chattanooga Gazette gives
an account of an accident which occurred on the East Tennessee & Georgia
Railroad last Sunday morning, which resulted in the death of the
engineer, Mr. McNabb. The accident occurred at the bridge across
Chickamauga Creek, 7 miles from Chattanooga, of which the Gazette says: |
| The bridge is solid masonry,
with three eyes through which to let the water pass; and even now is
apparently as firm as Lookout mountain. But the freshet of last week has
raised the creek higher than ever before, at least within the memory of
the "oldest inhabitant;" and consequently, some thirty or forty feet of
the dirt embankment on the Chattanooga side was washed away on Saturday
night last, and thus the channel of the creek was widened to that
extent. This did not interfere with the track; it remained as if the
embankment were still sustaining it, with possibly a slight depression. |
| This was the state of affairs
when the morning train approached the bridge on Sunday. The deceptive
rails give no warning voice of danger, and none was anticipated. The
engineer, Mr. Lorenzo McNabb, discovered it when he was almost on it. He
instantly whistled for breaks to be put on, revered his engine, and
again whistled for the breaks to be used heavier, when his engine and
tender went over into the water and him with it, as is supposed. |
| Mr. McNabb died at his post.
He has been in the employ of the Road for a long time, and was a steady,
reliable man. |
|