The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-20

Tcrrtblc Accident on the Soutn Carolina
Nailroad-A Train Preoipitated into
tho Congarec Swamp-The Engineer
and Fireman Killed and Another
Fireman wounded-NarroN Escape OF
tho PsssonKers-Henrtren Details
OF Harsrove's Last pIomcnts-Tho In
| quest, &C., &C., SO.
Tho entire community was startled early
Saturday morning by the report that train on
the South Carolina Railroad had run off the
track, causing great loss OF life and destruction
to property. Many were the reports in circu-
latton relative to the number OF killed and
wounded. The excitement which was created
by these reports was not allayed until about
one O'Clock, by which time the full extent Of
| the loss to life and property was generally
known.
THE ACCIDENT,
By which the lives OF Sebron Hargrove and
| James Gilbert were lost aud consdera-
bic amount Of property destroyed, occurred
near KingvIlle to the night express train OF
the South Carolina Railroad about four O'Clock
Saturday morning. The train consisting of the
locomotive ". o. Dukes, tender, ten loaded
and two empty freight oars, baggage and con-
ductor's cars, and two passenger coaches, was
on it's way to Columbia, and, having crossed
the Congaree River, was moving slowly across
the tresto over the Congaree Swamp. whom
suddenly the engine plunged down into gap in
the trcstIo, the tender and the twelvc freight
cars followed, and all in O moment 10y per-
foct mass OF ruins. Tho conductor, Mr.. w.
II. Evans, who was In his car just in front of
the passenger coaches, felt tho shock caused
| by tho fall Of the engine, and Immediately
sung out to the brakosmen to put the brakes
on, which they did, and thus saved the pas
senger and conductors cars from going over,
the front one Of these stopping within few
inches OF the break.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
All this occurred in q moment. Before that
portion of tho train left upon the track was
stopped, the cries OF The wounded were hoard
Those who we're unhurt jumped from the trea-
tic down into the swamp, which, owing 10 the
recent dry weather was comparatively dry, aud
proceeded in the direction of the cries. Tho
first man they met was Mr. Charles Burns,
one Of the tiremen, who was sitting on log
to which he had crawlod after falling. He had
received severe out across the forehead and
was severely bruised in other portions Of the
body. BE was put in chair to which rope
was attached, and hauled up upon the trestle
|
permit. While this was being done, others
were endoavoring to aid the engineer, Mr.
Sebron Hargrave, whom they found lying on
his side, jammed in among some OF the ma.
ohinery OF the locomotive, which, however,
might have been easily removed had it not
been for tho weight OF the debris OF a freight
car which had fallen upon it. Messrs. T. Il.
symmes, EIpress messenger, Mr.. Seyles and
Y Inr S1srA &c., /.
attempted to remove the wreck OF iron and
wood by which the man was being crushed,
the pressure being upon his Ioins. This was
futile, and an effort was made to break the iron
with an axe, but it also failed. Nothing
daunted, however, the workers seized
some spades which were among the freight,
and endeavored to dig the dirt from under
him, hoping by this method to get him
out, but the wood and iron which appeared to
have enveloped the lower portion of hie bods,
prevented them from carrying out this plan.
After they had worked for several minutes
with the result above stated, the CRY
OF fire Was raised. and the assemblape
from the wreck OF the cara. The fire in mo-
ment communicated to some kerosene oil and
whiskey barrels, and they commenced to ex-
plode with loud noise. Some of the passen-
gers, at the reguest OF the conductor, who
feared for the safety OF the cars on the trostie,
went with him aud showed them out OF reach
OF the flames. Those who were working to re-
lease the engineer ceased not their labors
when the fire commenced, for they recognised
| the fact that If he were not released very soon
he would be burnt to death before their eyes,
and they worked with renewed ZEAL They
worked with spades, axes, levers, and some, in
their rensy, tore up the dirt from around
him with their fingers; but, alas, all In vain.
The fro steadily approached, the heat in
| ereasipg every moment, until at last
the workmen were compelled to leave
the unfortunate man to his fate. He saw
that he was doomed, and told those who had
been working to release him that It Was useless
to do anything further. At this time, Mr..
Symmes. who had stepped inside for amoment,
came up. Hargrove recognized him, and e1-
claimed, "Oh, Tom, come here" Mr.. Symmes
went as close TO him as the fire would permit,
as the flames were nearly touching their vic.
tim, ard asked him II he could do anything
for him. To which he replied, ooh, no, 10 is
too late; but tell my family how I died, and
that nothing could be done for Ine;" and, as
the flames we're burning his hair, he gave Mr.
i S1NAeo = AioooSSo hoE hih Wue. InoSe ASSEM-.
bled then turned sway; che sight Of q man
burning to death before their eyes was more
than they could bear. They had done all that
human strength and ingenuity could devise to
rolease him, who now with folded arms and a
prayer upon his lips calmly awaited DEATH. 4
During the confusion no one missed James
Gilbert, the fremsn, hct when tho excitement
had partially subsided' he Was asked for. and
no response being made, . search was insti.
tuted-all hoping that he would be found unin.
jured. But they we're doomed TO disappoipt-
ment. Alongside Of the tender was found the
mangled body Of him for whom they searched.
There was every indication to show that he
had been instsntIy killed. by the fall, and had
not suffered from the flames which had scoroh.
ed and blaokened pdefons OF his body.
THE PASSENGERS,
1 MOat of whom wara aaiaan wara audlavIr