July 9: Train Wreck of 1918

On this date in History ... July 9, 1918:  

Photo courtesy of www.tennesee.gov

What was labeled the worst train wreck in the U.S. occurred in Nashville TN, killing over 100 and injuring over 170 others. 

The wreck is known as “The Train Wreck of 1918” and as “The Dutchman’s Bend Train Wreck” and came just days after the Circus Train wreck in Hammond, IN (see my my post/blog of June 22). 

The two passenger trains collided at 50-60 mph. The investigation attributed the problem to error on the part of crew and tower operators and noted the wooden train cars contributed to the high loss of life. 

It is claimed that this wreck motivated the railroads to start switching to all metal cars. 

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January 26: Tennessee and Prohibition

On this date in History .... 1838:

Tennessee passes the first prohibition law.  No longer could “spirituous liquors” be sold and those who did would be fined “at the discretion of the court” with the monies going to support schools.  In 1919, the state’s General Assembly voted almost unanimously for the 18^th Amendment (Prohibition).

However the terrain in Tennessee made it ideal for making moonshine and with easy untaxed money to be made, law officials were easily bribed. This type of corruption (which was not limited to Tennessee by any means) made it fashionable to flaunt the law. 

Although Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Tennessee remains in a minority of states that still prohibit the Sunday sale of whiskey, tequila and other distilled spirits. Moore County, the home of the Jack Daniels distillery, is located in a dry county, prohibiting this whiskey from being sold in the county in which it is made. However, a state law was passed to permit a distillery to sell one “commemorative” product and the Jack Daniels Distillery has one blend of whiskey in a commemorative bottle which can be sold locally.