The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-02
ARAILROAD DISASTER.
Two Cars Toppied Down an Embark
ment-The Wild AarH-No Deaths
and Only q Few Serious Hurts 81 {


and Only q Few Serious HURTS. sa [
About half-past two o'clock yesterday morn
ing an accident occurred on the Wilmington
and Manchester Railroad, six miles ABOVE
Florence, which at first threatened serious
loss of life. The down passenger train nao
gone mile beyond Mars's Bluff, and was NOV
ing at medium speed along an embankment,
fifteen feet high, when the sleeping car was
thrown from the track and rolled down the
embankment, dragging the arst-class pas
senger coach along with 1t. The couplings
were Instantly broken, and the rest Of the
train, consisting of the engine and tender and
the baggage and second-class passenger cars
remained on the track, and moved safely on.
The falling cars, rested to the bottom of the
embankment, where they lay in an inverted
position, and they had hardly settled in the
ditch when the cry of fire was raised.
Fortunately there was no fire in the stove,
and the lamps which were burning in the
sleeping car, and now began to flare up, were
extinguished by passenger who recovered
his presence of mind and saw the danger.
He experienced some difficulty with the
second one, and hence the cry Of fire. This
alarm struck the capsized passengers with
terror, and forth from the windows and doors
of the two cars they began to crawl. The oc-
cupants Of the sleeping car quickly emerged,
and upon investigation ir was found that they
were all alive, having received no injuries be-
yond Jew bruises and trifllng cuts.
In the other car were two ladies, Mrs. and
Miss Dotterer, of this city, both Of whom were
much bruised, and for time the former was
supposed to have been killed. She lay uncon-
scious for some time, having received several
bad bruises 10 her head, and a ghastly cut In
the cheek, which bled profnsely. The con-
ductor was also slightly hurt, but beyond
these no serious injuries were received.
The weather was bitter cold, and the driving
rain, turning to sleet as 1t fell, formed In
icicles on the trees. The suffsrings of the
wrecked passengers were intense, as most OF
them had been asleep, and those In the sleep
ing car were mostly undressed, and lost all
their clothing. The party walked, as best
they could, to the rest Of the train, and hav-
ing been taken aboard came on to Florence
where email comfort could be procured. They
came on to Charleston as soon as possible, ar
irving yesterday afternoon. The two ladies
mentio.. ed as having been injured were with
the party, and reached their home In safety.
We understand that Mrs. Dotterer, though
seriously cut, Is not thought to be dangerously
injured. 90 ''
The delay in the arrival of the train, yester-
day afternoon, was owing TO the late start
from Florence, where 1t waited In order to
allow the train on the, Wilmington and Man.
chester Railroad to make the connection. On
the way down, some distance above the city,
another accident occurred, which gave rise to
considerable excitement. A small -hand-car,
which had been pushed from the track to
allow the train to pass, was not showed
quite farenough, and struck the steps Of the
arst passenger car. The steps we're torn vlo.
lently away, and the nolssqnlekly spread the
alarm among tue passengers; the Victims of
the late accldensbeing; very naturally, quick
to scent the danger. Not finding themselves
on their heads, however, the travel
lers soon quleted down, and discussed the
cause Of the alarm. taf5aA4J}Il51.l
Among the passengers on the wrecked train
wete the Rev:C B. Northrop, whose face Is
badly bruised, and Mr.. Watson, (of the arn Of
Watson Hill,) who was not hurt.
There is no cause known for the accident
above Florence, but 1t is believed to have been
produesd by defective rail-. The forward cars
passed over, but the heavy weight Of the sleep
ing car broke the rail and caused what might
have been one of the most serious accidents of
the season. y-nSs
ACADEMY OF MUSIo.-The performance at