The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-08-17
Fatal Accident.

A terrible accident occurred at Hunnicutts
Crossing, on the Blue Ridge Railroad, last
Thursday evening, resulting in the death OF
Mr.. John Calhoun Clemson, grandson of Hon.
John c. Calhoun, and only son of Hon. Ihos.
G. Clemson, of Pendlctou. 1t appears, from
the testimony taken at the inquest held by
John c. Whitefeld, Esq, Trial Justice and
acting Coroner, that lumber train belonging
to the Greenville Railroad ran into the passen-
ger train of the Blue Ridge Road at the place
designated, and that Mr.. Clemson, in attempt
ing to get into the second-class car, was thrown
violently against the facing of the car door,
and fatally injured in the region Of the heart,
one of his ribs penetrating that organ. The
passenger train had stopped at the Crossing to
put off freight and passengers, when the lum-
ber train was discovered rapidly approaching
around the curve made by the road at that
point. The conductor on the Blue Ridge train
ordered his engineer to move on, and signallcd
the coming engine with his lamp, at the same
time advising the passengers to move forward
to the front of the passenger coach. But tor
this timely action, the collision must have been
5eauful but ths force Of the conclusion was
considerably broken by the Blue Ridge train
attempting to get out of the way, and also by
the engineer of the lumber train promptly re-
versing his engine and putting; on brakes In
proof of this, the engine striking was not in
iured and the passenger COACH receiving the
blow was only slightly damaged.
On receiving the conductors warning, sew
eal passengers attempted to escape from the
passenger car and get into the baggage car inn
mediately in front. Among these was Mr..
Clemson, who was about to effect the passage
from one car to the other at the moment OF the
collision, and thus received the fatal blow
The jury of inquest rendered verdict to the
effect that Mr.. Clemson came to his death by
the unavoidable running" of one train into
the other. Without intending to reflect upon
the intelligent gentlemen composing the jury,
we are constrained to say that this verdict is
entirely too liberal in exonerating all parties
from blame in this matter, as it does by the
choice of the word unavoidable. We think the
accident might have been avoided, and can sec
no reason for this lumber train following so
closely upon the passenger train; and on this
particular evening there was less necessity than
usual, or rather there was every inducement to
keep the rear train st q safe distance In fact,
the engineer of the lumber train was distinctly
warned at Pendleton by the conductor of the
Blue Ridge train against pushing him so close
ly, as there were more stopping places than
customary on that evening. Besides, there were
na other trains upon the Road, and there was
ample time for the lumber train to reach Wal
halla. Its clear and imperative duty was to
prevent the occurrence of any such collision
The Blue Ridge train was not behind time, and
was running upon its own schedule. AS to
where the blame attaches, we think depends in
n great measure upon the instructions received
by the conductor and engineer of the lumber
train. Ordinary care and prudence, however,
together with the caution from the Blue Ridge
conductor, onght to have prevented the col
lsion, in our judgment. We also think it ap-
parent that the engineer and conductor of the
Blue Ridge train exercised discretion and good
management, and 50 far from censure, that they
are entitled to credit fer their prompt efforts TO
abate the force of the collision between the
trains, by which more serious consequences
we're likely avcrlcd.