The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-15
WHo WE'RE 70 BLAME
The Fatal Accidenr on the Blue Ridge
Road.

The following letter, signed ST." and dated
from Walhalla on the 1lth, appears in the
Columbia Union Of yesterday:
Perryyllle, BY which Mr.. J.. G. Clemson lost
his life, was the result of such gross careless
ness as to deserve better the name of murder
than accident. The facts are.about as follows:
On Thursday last the up train on the Blue
Ridge Road, consisting of an engine, baggage
car and q passenger car, left Anderson closely
followed by lumber train, belonging to the
Greenville Road. Previous to reaching PEN
dleton, the passenger car became detached from
the engine, and was left, standing on bridge.
Fortunately there was between it and the con-
Ing lumber train q straight piece OF road, so
that the latter was stopped within, however, q
very few yards OF tho standing car. Had It
stood upon curve the accident of the day
would have occurred earlier aud with proba-
bly, more fatal results. In spite of this warn
ing, the lumber rain continued to follow the
passenger train closely. After passing PEN
dieton the passenger train stopped at Hunni-
cuts crossing (uot q regular statton) to put
out some freight, Behind was o curve. and
around that curve dashed the lumber train,
striking the passenger car which had just
commenced to move forward, and badly
as had not succeeded in jumping off were
thrown violently forward. Mr.. Cler:son was
thrown against the end of the car, aud was 80
bruised internally that he died In short
time.
/, These facts show criminal negligence on the
part of the superintendent of the Blue Ridge
Railway In allowing one train TO follow
another In such close proximity as to render
such collision possible. The remedy will, 1t
is to be hoped, be found In exemplary pecu-
MARY damages.
The engineer of the lumber train was crImi-
nally careless In running into the train which
a previous warning proved he was following
toO'closely. A remedy for hlm ought to be
found In an instant dismlssion from his en-
ployment, and criminal prosecution:
AS If fate followed the passenger train,
another disaster, WAS prevented only by the
energy and activity of one Of the colored EN-.
ployees. The passengers had been transferred
from the wrecked car to .b0x-car. Soon after
starting, the coupling broke, and the car
the previous disaster. A colored man ran
past the car and, began throwing chunks OF
Wood In front of the wheels, thus retardlng
Its speed until q large piece finally threw It,
OF the track. If It had mot been for the
prompt action of this man, the car would
have soon gained aspeed that could not have;
failed to result In fatal disaster to the wo.
men and children In the car,
AS the wrecked car was the only passenger
coach owned by the Blue Ridge Company. pas
sengers are now transferred from Walhalla to
Anderson In . box car, and. are allowed to Sit
In splint chairs as far as they will go round,
then upon trunks, and finally upon the floor,
or stand Il. they prefer.
s Unaccountable as 1t may seem, q cotoner'5
jury, sitting on theebody Of Mr.. Clemson, re-
turned verdict ofssdeath by unavoidable ac-
cident." We venture to say that no persons
are more surprised at this verdict than the
officials Of the Blue Ridge Company.