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

them, found that ono containing $120 had been
lost. All Of the express freight was destroyed.
The freight was, we learn, principally for NOR
chants on the Greenvillo Railroad, small por-
tiou for the Charlotte Railroad.
Tho origin Of tho fire s not known, or ut
least if tho witnesses knew they did not state it
in thoir testimony yesterday. Some assert,
upon what grounds we know not, that tho
boiler OF the locomotive exploded aud scatter
ed the fire which was in the engine. But this
does not seem probable. Had tho boiler ex-
ploded tho engineer would have been blown to
pieces, instead Of lingering with his cntrails
crushed out to meet death by fire. A gentle.
man who had not been examined before tho
jury, but gave his testimony after the verdict
had been rendered, stated that thero we're
among the freight kerosene oil, whiskey and
matches. 1t takes a very slight ahock TO set
box Of matches on fre, aud when We reflect
that the cars fell distance Of Twenty-Five
feet. causing shock sufficient to explode
matches, no matter how we'll secured, we muet
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 wero on the train, but did
not testify, agree in saying that the fro did
not commence at the engine, but among the
merchandise. Ono witness soomed to know of
the fire first from tho explosion OF the oil aud
| whiskey barrels.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
From the testimony OF three witnesses,
which is appended. it appears that largo tree,
three feet in diameter, had fallen across and
! broken portion OF tho trcstlo The night
being dark, the engineer did not observe the
| gap, and beforo ho was aware was himsolf in
the midst Of the ruins of his own engine. But
| for tho presence Of mind of the conductor in
promptly ordering the brakes to be put on,
the whole train would have gone into the
swamp, and, doubtless, have caused much loss
Of life among the passengers.
ADMIRABLE CONDUCT.
The conduct OF the conductor, Mr. Evans,
the express messenger, Air. 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 tho 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 tho two victims. Coro-
| ner Whiting had been notified that they woud
be brought to the city and he summoned the
| following named parties as jurors to hold au
inquest: f. w. Boger, ". d. Forbes, H. c.
Moseley, J. Churchill, p. Patine, j. ". Zehe,
E. s. W,ngate, p. ]. Hutson, L. P. Bryant, J.
B. Miller, VIM. Theeman, s. W. jackson.
The train stopped ut tho upper depot and
the collins we're placed upon the platform, tho
lids removed and the jury allowed to look upon
the bodies. The lids were then replaced and
the jury repaired to waiting room OF the
depot, where was elioitod the following
TESTIMONY.
Mr.. W. 81. Evans, the conductor, testified
that about four O'Clock A. NJ, while the Colum-
bin night train was passing over the trestle
work in the Congaree swamp, ho was stand
ing in the side door OF his car aud felt shock;
he immediately ordered the brakesmei to put
ton OF the train lett on the track wasat once
stopped; he then jumped down into theswamp,
and met Charles Burns Zone OF the fremen.)
who Was injured; with the sssistanoe d Mr.. T.
II. SymmeB, Express messenger, and some OF
the passengers, he succeeded in getting the.
injured man upon the trestio and into a cnr;
witness. while assisting Burns. heard c:ies in
s.. sSs. a!EeS''e9 CO. q g! 'ss :enslas,a a1a q:
to. went TO the engine; Mr.. sym@es So and two
| OF the train hands had already gone to .he en-
giue. where they found Mr. James Hargrove,
| the engineer, 1ammed in between the Quadrant
u
ton that he could not be moved; witness tried
to break the iron with an axe, but could not;
the explosion Of the kerosene oil and whisley
barrels commenced about this time; the body
OF Mr. Gilbert was not found until after tho
tender was burnt; ten loaded and two empty
| freight cars, and the baggage car, With tho
ma maiis baggage and express goods, were burnt;
| almost Immediately after the accident; when
| witness met Mr. Burns he told him there was
2 tree across the track; witness sal nothing
cuur no hall hat Hal.
three feet In diameter, ono OF the largest in
| the swamp; the location OF the accident was
| about three-quarters Of mile on the Colum.
bia side OF che Congarce River bridge.
Nr. ". ]. Jeyles, one of the train hands,
testified that Immediately after the shock he
put tue brakes on in obedience to the order of
the cooductori as soon as tho train stopped,
witness went down into the swamp towards
| the engine, aud saw Mr.. Burns sitting upon
/ log; he told witness to 90 to the assistance Of
tho engineer, which he did, arriving at the
grove asked them to dig him out, which they
attempted 70 do with some spades they found
among the freight, but found 1t impossible to
render him assistance In bis efforts to extri-
cate himself; witneas was then sent 10 King
| Vile for assistance, and when he returned the
engineer was dead, havins been burnt to death;
witness did not see Mr.. Gilbert until after the
cars were burned, and then he saw his remains
alongside Of the tender; witness examined the
tree which was across the track and found that
| It was hollow.
| mr. James Magure, train hand, testified
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 sw imp, and, hearing cr1es
with Mr.. Seyles; they found the engineer down
in the mud, held fast by some Of the msohi.
merry OF the engine; they tore away some OF the
drt With their hands. and when the spades
we're brought used them, but we're unable 10
| 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 him witness then got
q lever andRattempted 70 extriosto him,
but failed; In about fifteen minutes after
the accident the fire commenced. and
witness went towar1 the passenger oars
open the baggage car, in order to get their
baggage. He asked them to 60 with
| him to aid Mr. HargroYs.. but none OF them
Houid do so. he then returned to the engineer,