The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-05
ON THE sETANNAH}AND
CHARLESTON RAILRO4D.
WONDERED Escape of the Passengers.

The Savannah and Charleston Railroad, OF
Friday afternoon last, was the scene Of an occur
| renee which, but for the interposltion OF ProVi
dence, might have proved fatal to large number
OF persons.
The usual passenger train was moving atitS
customary schedule speed, when suddenly abou,
mile the other side Of Green Pond Station, one
OF the axles OF the tender broke, and the wheels
were thrown from the track. The cars had Jus,
entered upon o trestle across swamp probably
two hundred feet In width, and here, In twink
ling OF the eye, as it were, scene OF CONFUSION
and ruin took place which beggars description
Truck after truck was jerked from its attach
ments and scattered along the track, which, 10
its turn, was torn, bent and distorted. Cars with
floors, sides and platforms crushed. soppled over
the bridge, and seemed to want but hnger's
weight to preclpi,ate them into the water below
Huge timbers supporting the track were dis
placed, seepers were dragged together in piles,
and mixed almost inextricably with mass OF
tangled rods and running gear, and the wreck ap'
peared absolute and almost lrremediaol Bile.
The train consisted OF two passenger and three
baggage cars, all the wheels Of which, with the
exception OF the rear pair Of the last coach, were
thrown from the track. The last coach-by the
way one of the newest and handsomest on the
road-was the only one practically uninjured.
AS soon as the cause Of the accident became
known, the engineer, Mr.. Martin, promptly
whistled "down brakes and the train was
stopped In the shortest possible time and space.
But meanwhile the colored fireman, jumping
from the engine, was followed by flying sleepers,
which broke his leg, and otherwise inflicted Sc.
we're injuries. The nmases OF the baggage, mail
and conductors cars had been Knocked ABOUT
and more or less bruised BY the disordered con-
tents, and things generally were at anything but
right angles. Further examination showed that
one of the colored brakemen had been crushed
and fastened between two cars while stand
ing at his post. He was promptly cut out,
and fortunately found to be not seriously hurt
Another Individual was likewise released from
similar predlcameut A third, however, pas
senger who was imprudently standing on the
platform-fared worse. On being removed, twas
discovered that he had received compound frac-
ture, which would probably necessltate amputa-
ton. he gave his name as Lawrence Fox, born
in Ireland, and stated that he had come from the
North with several other persens for the purpose
of working on the road. he bore his agony like
a noble.hearted fellow, and has been kindly cared
for. No other persons were reported by the ply
sicians present to be seriously injured.
About II O'Clock at night a train arrived from
Charleston, to which the passengers and baggage
were transferred, and they safely reached the city
early Saturday morning.
Comment has been made on the frequent occir.
renee Of railroad accidents during the last thirty
days, aud the public faith, hope and charity have
been severely exercised In contemplating the pos
sibiitIes incident TO this mode Of travelling. Cen.
sure, however, should not be too roughly visited
upon the unfortunate corporations, or beyond
that paint calculated to provoke the utmost eau
tlon, since the cause Of these accidents Ia often
beyond human control. The breaking OF an axle,
wheel or RAIL- the displacement OF cross-tie, the
criminal manipulation Of q switch at night, are
events that cannot be foreseen, aud consequently
cannot Ue prevented. They are simply part OF
the risks OF travel, that are to be taken Into ac-
count when considering the responsibilities which
attach to railroad companies and their employees.