August 2, 1930
Train Wreck at McNeil, Arkansas kills Eight
At least eight persons were killed in a head on collision between Cotton Belt freight trains, No. 18 and Extra No. 775 one mile south of McNeil, Arkansas at 11:45am this morning. Five of the men were crew members on the two trains and 3 were unidentified Negro hoboes. All trainmen were from Pine Bluff:
- Engineer H.W.(Al) Jennings
- Engineer L. Simpson
- Fireman B.F. White
- Fireman Pete Hilburn
- Brakeman H. McKensie
- 3 unidentified Negroes
White and Jennings were killed instantly and their bodies were taken to Magnolia. Simpson and Hilburn were taken to Camden on a special train but died in a hospital there a short time later. McKensie died en route to Camden. Head Brakeman Bruce Neil suffered a broken shoulder and injuries to the face and head. He is in the hospital at Camden and is expected to recover soon.
The Negroes, ranging in ages of 15 to 20, were removed from the train alive but they died later. One of the crew members said later that he had seen about 12 hoboes in a box car and they are un-accounted for and it is feared more bodies may be found under the wreckage.
22 cars were pilled up by the wreck and 2 wrecking crews are working to clear the tracks in time for the Lone Star passenger train at mid-night. It is believed that the wreckage will be cleared by noon tomorrow.
It was one of the worst wrecks in Cotton Belt history. The engines were demolished and the boilers stripped from the frames. Car loads of radios, loads of gasoline and crude oil were scattered along the right-of-way with much of the freight destroyed.
The wreck is said to have been caused by the crew on Extra No. 775 mis-reading the orders. It is said that No. 775 sidetracked at McNeil and received orders to meet the second section of No. 18 at Stamps. They pulled out on the main line and about one mile from McNeil and in a curve, they met the second section of No. 18. The Engineers made an emergency application of their brakes but were unable to stop the heavy freights.
Upon learning of the wreck, a special train of doctors and nurses was assembled in Camden and departed for the scene of the accident.
Engineer H.W. Jennings of train No. 18 was survived by his wife, 3 stepsons; Charles R. and W.W. Dillard of Memphis and Locke Dillard of Little Rock; a sister, Mrs. Era Lundrum of Memphis and a brother Guy Jennings of Paducah, Ky.
Fireman B.F. White, aged 34 years, is survived by his mother, Mrs. L.M. White of Pine Bluff; three sisters, Mrs. Grover Lytle and Mrs. Otha Martin of Pine Bluff; and Mrs. Will Rutherford of Shawnee, Oklahoma; three brothers, J.C. White of Corinth, Miss; B.M. White of Washington, Indiana; and Walter White of Little Rock and a niece, and Mrs. Ed Songer of Pine Bluff. Brakeman McKensie was not married but is survived by a brother, Walter of Texarkana.
