The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-09-19

1--WE are palned TO record q most terri
Sble accident, which occurred to the night
express train over the South Carolina
Railroad, yesterday morning. A large
tree had faller across the track and
broken down portion of the long tres
tie which crosses, Congaree swamp, q
short distance below Kingville; and as it
was not observed by the engineer, owing
to the darkness and mist, the locomotive
ran into the gap, and together with q
number OF freight cars, was precipitated
to the ground. In few minutes, it was
found that fire had been communicated
to the cars, and in very short time thir-
teen freight cars, with their valuable con-
tents, were totally destroyed; and mourn
full to relate, the engineer, Mr.. Sebron
Hargrove-son-in-law of our fellow-citi-
zen, Capt. W. H. Casson-was burnt to
death. nothing but his charred remains
being recovered; the fireman, Mr.. J.
Gilbert, was instantly killed; another
fireman, Mr.. Charles 81. Burns, was bad
ly burnt; but was taken to his home in
Charleston. The flames extended to the
trestle-work, and also to the telegraph
poles, a number of which we're burnt.
The trees in the swamp also took fire,
and for time it was feared that the
conlagration would become general.
Through the presence of mind of Con-
ductor w. Fl. Evans, (of whom the pas
sengers speak in the highest terms aid
ed by Messrs. W. D. Peck, J. W. Per-
kins and others, the conductors and the
passengers coaches were uncoupled and
run back-thus preventing fearful loss
of life. An attempt was made to save
the baggage, by smashing in the car with
coupling -pins-the only implements OBJ
tainable- was partially successful,
and number of trunks were rescued; !;
but a majority of the passengers lost
their baggage. The mails were saved.
The express messenger, Mr.. Thomas II.
Symmes, worked energetically, and sue
ceeded in saving all his money packages,
with the exception OF S120; but his
freight was all lost. Messrs. James Ma
guire and VIM. Lyles (train hands) are
entitled to great credit for their earnest
and energetic efforts during the whole of
the trying scene. The loss to the rail
road company will exceed 100000 The
train had been behind time, but when
the accident occurred, was running very
slowly. The locomotive-the W. G.
Dukes-was perfect wreck.
The scene, as described by eye-wit-
nesses, was horrible in the extreme, and
strong men shed tears at the sight, and
at their inability to assist the unfortu-
nate engineer, who was caught in the
machinery of the broken engine, and
was burnt to death before the eyes of
the assembled passengers. Mr.. Har-
groves was perfectly cool and collected; !;
and although occasionally his painful
situation forced from him shrek, he
was yet thoughtful of others, and warned
several parties, who attempted to release
him, of the danger they incurred, and at
the same time informing them of the
impossibility of rendering him any aid
He called to friend, (although at the
time the fire had burnt his hair off com
pletely, and the lever which lay across
his body had forced out his entrails, and
gave him message to his wife; he then
folded his arms across his breast, and
there they remained until the left arm
was completely burnt of. The fireman,
Mr. Gilbert, was instantly killed-being
crushed under the immense mass.
The following is list of the passengers
aboard the train:
D. Ravenel, Jr., and lady, child and
servant, E. T. Jervey, A. G. Kaufman,
W. ii. Dura, Charleston; Mrs. T. S.
Budd and child; Miss Anna T. Fickling,
". D. Peck, Columbia; J. G. Mackerell,
Blackstock; John Nellighan; G.. w. Con-
ner. Baltimore; j. W. Perkins, Augusta;
J. M. Bunch, Union; Mrs. Fl. II. Odot,
Spartanburg; j. w. Provost, Charleston.
The freight was principally for mer-
chants on the Greenville Railroad, q
small portion for the Charlotte Railroad.
The following are the losers in Columbia:
g II