The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-09-23
TERRIBLE DISASTER.

the city of an accident on the South
Carolina Rail Road, which for its ap.
palling and destructive character stands
almost unsurpassed in the history of the
road. In the South where progress" is
not so rapid in its strides, and where
there is little more care for human life,
these serious raa road accidents
''s aughters' they are called in the
Northern journals-are very rarely
heard Of, and when one does occurthe
public attention is excited. to a consider
able degree.
The rumors of Saturday morning we're
traced to telegram received by the Ex.
press Company about 8 o'clock, and the
tacI soon became generally known and
talked about, Though, strange to say,
not at all exaggerated. The up passenger
train on the Columbia branch Of the
road, which left this city on Friday, at
lfpast six o'clock, was proceeding on
its way across the trestle work, which
is about twenty five feet IN height, across
the Congaree swamp. This was within
abe ut thirty miles of Columbia, and the
train was proceeding In the usual slow
speed at which this trestle is crossed By
all the trains When about three fourths
of mile from the bridge over the river,
having already crossed it, the passengers
tet concus>ioD in the car, and the
conductor who was standing in his side
door gave the orders for the brakes to
be put on. From all the testimony that
we could gather, tree had accidentally
fallen across the track, and had, by the
force of its descent, brokenin the trestle.
The engineer must have discovered ID
cnly when too close to stop, for the uu-
fortunate man, IT appears, had reversed
his engine and became entaugled in
the machinery. The engine fell off
through the trestle, however, carrying
portion of the train consisting Of. ten.
freight cars, which were in moment
reduced to wreck and ruin.
How the Passenger Coaches aoere
Snvcd.-That these coaches were not,
also precipituted in the swampis due
a'ole to TIE er o. the . Conductor,
Mr.. w. H. Evans. and his brakeman,
who succeeded, by putting on the brakes,
in stopping the coaches just on the edge
of the chasm, so that the baggage car,
which Immediately preceded the.pas.
-enger coach, hung down the break, aud
was only held by the coupling. As
soon as these facts became known the
coupling was wrenchcd, aud the pas.
seDger coaches pushed back. ~ :
At this time the passengers, as soon
as they realized their freedom from inn
mediate danger, made a, rush for the
baggage car, and made efforts to drag
their baggage from the ruin, Mr.. Thos.
n. Symes, the Express Messenger,
forced an eptruuor iutu the car, opened
the express safe, and, amid great danger,
succeeded in saving almost every dollar
OF the money under his charge, amount.
ing it is said, to about Sll 900.
The Fre.-Just now it was discover.
ed that the train was on fire. The. ae.
counts of The origin of the fire are con.
Aictiug Some say that it was caused by
the ignition Of matches among the
flcigh,, and ass, rt that the flames 6rst
issued from the the centre of the mass
of ruins, while others think that it ori-
siuated from fire scattered from the
furnace of ii e engine. The whole mass
was soon burning, and the lurid flames
lit up a scene of horror, which an eye
witness states was sufficient to appai the
heart of the stoutest, and cary terrr
tu the bravest of men. 5s.,... r..
Burned to Drah--Some of the train
hands now proceeded to the engine,
where the sight that met their eyes was
terrible. The engineer, Mr. A. s.
Hargrove, is attempting to reverse the
engine, had been caught between the
quadrant and the frame, and was crush
ed down beneath the weight of d mass
of ruins. perfectly sensible, within the
reach of his omranions, but in such q
position that it was impossible to- re-.
move him. Mr.. Gilbert, the fireman,
had been instantly killed by the fall,
aud his remains were not discovered
until the. flames we're subdued. Mr..
Symes and others now approached'him
(the ensineer,) and eudeavOred in. vain
to extricatc him, but seeing the impos-
sbiity of doing so, went in search of
assisia ice. The flames, which were
now approaching him, leapea- Raarsr
and nearer to the doou.ed man
mock his agony. He called
Symes, ooh Tom, coue here!
/ friend approached and askedif he
do anything for him. He reptile
calm tones, while the flames were
ing his flesh, "No it is too late,
can't do any thing for me, but tell
! family how 1 died, and that nothid
could be done for me-" He then sent d
message to his wife, folded his arms
upon his breast and died slow, linger.
ing, torturing death without struggle,
save when an involuntary shrek was
i