Pinchona, AL Head On Passenger Train Collision, Apr 1920

THREE KILLED IN WRECK ON L. & N. TODAY.

PASSENGER TRAINS COLLIDE HEAD-ON IN BLINDING ELECTRICAL STORM NEAR MOBILE.

CREW AND PASSENGERS MAKE NARROW ESCAPE.

LOCOMOTIVES AND EXPRESS CARS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED; WRECK TAKES FIRE BUT IS EXTINGUISHED.

Mobile, Ala., April 16. -- (United Press) -- Three persons were instantly killed and three injured, two perhaps fatally injured, in a head-on collision this morning at 3:35 a.m., near Pinchona, a siding on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, when train No. 2, north bound, and train No. 3, south bound, crashed together. Both engines of the two trains and the express cars were demolished completely. The wreck took fire, but was extinguished by passengers. The wreck occurred in a blinding rain and electrical storm. The escape of the remainder of the train crew and passengers from death or injuries is regarded as miraculous.
The dead are:
JOHN A. SPRUALL, 35, engineer of No. 2, Montgomery, survived by wife.
L. A. CULVER, 35, express messenger of No. 2, Montgomery, survived by wife and child.
HARRY SCOTT, negro porter, Montgomery, on train No. 2.
The injured are:
MAJOR SAXTON, negro fireman on train No. 2, badly injured and slight chance to recover.
GEORGE CARTER, negro fireman train No. 2, badly injured.
LELLA KING, negro woman passenger of Now York, slightly injured.
The express cars of the two trains when telescoped over the wrecked engines, with a force so great that they burst to pieces, scattering goods in every direction.
Assistant Superintendent W. M. Boykin of the Louisville and Nashville, stationed in this city, stated that he understood train No. 3 had orders to meet No. 2 at Pinchona, and due to the heavy rain and electrical storm, the train rain by the siding.
President Eammon DeValera of the Irish Republic, was a passenger on No. 3.
Traffic is expected to be moving sometime this afternoon.

Anniston Star Louisiana 1920-04-16
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!