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

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out all of the packages, but. when he counted
them, found that one containing s120 had been
lost. All of the express freight was destroyed.
Tue freight was, We learn, principally for mer-
chants on the Greenville Railroad, a small por-
ton for the Charlotte Railroad.
The origin of the fire is not known. or at
least if the witnesses knew they did not state it
in their testimony yesterday. Some assert,
upon what grounds we know not, that the
boiler of the locomotive exploded and scatter
ed the fire which was in the engine. But this
does not seem probable. Had the boiler ex-
ploded the engineer would have been blown to
pieces, instead Of lingering with his entrails
crushed out to meet death by fire. A gentle.
man who had not been examined before the
Jury, but gave his testimony after the verdict
had been rendered, stated that there were
among the freight kerosene oil, whiskey and
matches. 1t takes very slight shock to set
box of matches on fire, and when We reflect
that the cars fell distance Of twenty-five
feet, causing a shock sufficient to explode
matches, no matter how we'll secured, we must
conclude that the fire originated from these
matches. There is another fact in support Of
this view ofthe matter. All the witnesses and
one or two others who were on the train, but Gid
not testify, agree in eaying that the fire did
not commence at the engine, but among the
merchandise. One witness seemed to know of
the fire first from the explosion of the oil and
whiskey barrels.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
From the testimony of three witnesses,
which is appended, it appears that large tree,
three feet in diameter, had fallen across and
broken portion Of the trestle. The night
being dark, the engineer did not observe the
gap. and before he was aware was himself in
the midst of the ruins of his own engine. But
for the presence of mind of the conductor in
promptly ordering the brakes to be put Oh,
the whole train would have gone into the
swamp, and doubtless, have caused much loss
CT life among the passengers.
ADMIRABLE CONDUCT.
The conduct OF the conductor, Mr.. Evans,
the express messenger. MIR. Symmes, and the
train hands, Messrs. Mcguire and Seyle, was,
to say the least, most gallant, and won the
admiration and praise of the passengers. All
that could be down for the accommodation of
the passengers and to prevent the destruction
OF property was done by them.
THE INQUEST.
A special train arrived from the scene of the
accident at eleven O'Clock yesterday morning,
bringing the bodies OF the two victims. Coro-
ner Whiting had been notified that they would
be brought to the city and he summoned the
following named parties as jurors to hold an
inauest: F. W. Bolger, W. 81. Forbes, 81. c.
Mosedey, ), Churchill, P. Patine, j. ". Zehe,
E. s. Wngate, P. J. Hulson, L. Z. Bryant, J.
B. Miller, VIM. Theeman, s. W. Jackson.
The train stopped at the upper depot and
the cofius we're placed upon the platform, the
lids removed and the jury allowed to look upon
the bodies. The lids we're then replaced and
the Jury repaired to waiting room Of the
depot, where was elected the following
TESTIMONY.
Mr.. ". 81. Evans, the conductor, testified
that about four o'clock A. d., while the Colum-
bia night train was passing over the trestle
work in the Congaree swamp, be was STANG
ing in the side door OF his car and felt shock;
he Immediately ordered the brakesmen to put
ton of the train lett on the track was at once
stopped; he then jumped down into the swamp.
and met Charles Burns Zone OF the fremen,)
whowas injured; With the assistance OF Mr.. T.
Il. Symmes Express messenger, and some OF
the passengers, he succeeded in getting the
Injured man upon the trestle and into q car;
witness. while assisting Burns, heard cries In
the direction Of the engine, and as
soon as he had seen Burns placed
where bis injuries could be attended
e t6e tIh hh Hands 6sd ALREADY gone to The en-
giue. where they found Mr.. James Hargroye,
the engineer, jammed in between the quadrant
and the frame OF the engine IN such posi-
ton that he could not be moved; witness tried
to break the iron with an axe, but could not;
the explosion 0f the kerosene oil and whisEey
barrels commenced about this time; the body
of Mr.. Gilbert was not found until after the
tender was burnt ten loaded and two empty
freight cars, and the baggage car, with the
mail. baggage and express goods, were burnt;
the flames were communicated to the train
almost Immediately after the accident; when
witness met Mr.. Burns he told him there was
q tree across the track; witness saw nothing
to warrant the belief that 1T was -felled; 1t was
three feet in diameter, one of the largest In
the swamp; the location OF the accident was
nbout three-auarters Of a mile on the Cotum-
bia side OF the Congaree River bridge.
Mr.. WI. Seyles, one OF the tram hands,
testified that Immediately after the shock ne
out the brakes on in obedience to the order OF
the conductor; as soon as the train stopped,
witness went down into the swamp towards
the engine, aud saw MIR. Burns sitting upon
log: he told witness to go to the assistance OF
the engineer, which he did, arriving at the
engins ut the same time with others; Mr. har-
grove asked them to dig him out, which they
attempt ed TO do with some spades they found
among the freight, but found it impossible to
rendsr him assistance in his efforts to extri-
cate himself; witness was then sent TO King
Vile for assistance, and when lie returned the
engineer was dead, having been burnt to death;
witness did not see Mr.. Gilbert until after the
cars we're burned, and then he saw his remains
alongside of the tender; witness examined the
tree which was across the track andfound that
it was hollow.
that when the accident occurred the train was
moving at the slow rate of speed usual in pass
ing over trestle; when he felt the shock he
put the brakes on, and when the train stopped
went down into the swamp. and, hearing cries
in the direction of the engine, proceeded to it
with Mr.. Seyles; they found the engineer down
in the mud, held fast by some OF the machl-
merry Of the engine; they tore away some OF the
dirt with their hands, and when the spades
were brought used them, but we're unable to
dig him out on account OF the iron and wood
work which was around him; Mr.. Hargrove
was sensible all this time, and was asking the
bystanders to help hun /; witness then got
lever and attempted TO extricate hlm,
but failed; in about fifteen minutes after
the accident the FIRE commenced, and
witness went towar1 the passenger cars
and found the passengers attempting to break
omen the baggage car, in order to get their
baggage. He asked them to go with
him to aid Mr.. Hargrove. but none OF them
would do 30. He then returned to the engineer,