The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-08-23
The Fatal Accident OH the Blue RIDGE
R0ad.

hUuU,
The following letter signed "T."
and dated Walhalla the llth, appears
i'll the Columbia Union of yes
terday
The railway collision on Thursday,
near Perryville, by which Mr.. j. G..
Clemson lost his life, was the result
of such gross oarelessncss as to dc
serve bcttor the name Of murder than
accident. The facts are about as fol-
lows: On Thursday last, the up train
on the Blue Ridge Road, consisting
of an engine, baggage car and a pas
ssenger car, loft Anderson closely fol.
lowed by a lumber train, belonging
to the Grcenvillc Road. Previous to
reaching Pendlcton, the passenger
oer became detached from the engine
and was left standing on bridge.
Fortunately there was between it and
the coming lumber train a straight
piece of road, SO that the latter was
stopped within, however, a few yards
of the standing car. Had it stood upon
curve, the accident Of the day would
have occurred earlier and with proba-
bly, more fatal results. In spite Of
this warning, the lumber train con-
tinucd to follow the passenger train
closely. After passing Pcndlcton, the
passenger train stopped at Iiunpicut's
crossing (not regular station) to put
out some freight. Behind was curve,
and around that curve dashed the
lumber train striking the passenger
car which had just commenced to
move forward. and badly wrecking
the rear platform. Such passengers
as had not succeeded i'll Jumping of
were thrown violently forward. Mr..
Clemson was thrown against the end
OF the car, and was SO bruised inter
nally that he died in short time.
These facts show criminal negli.
gcnce on the part of tho supcrintend.
ont of the Blue Ridge Railway in al
lowing one train to follow another in
such close proximity as to render such
collision possible. The remedy
will. it is to be hoped, be found in ex-
emplary pecuniary damages.
The engineer of the lumber train
was criminally careless in running iu-
to the train which a previous warning
proved ho was following too closely.
A remedy for him ought to be found
in an instant dismission from his
employment, and criminal prosecu
tion.
AS iffato followed the passenger
train, another disaster was prevented
only by the energy and activity Of
one of tho colorcd employees. The
passengers had been transferred from
the wrecked car to box-car. Soon
after starting, the coupling broke, and
the car started on down grade, TO-
ward the scene Of the previous disas-
ter. A colored man ran past tho car
and began throwing chunks of
wood in front Of the wheels, thus re-
tardiDg its speed until large piece
finally threw it off the track. If it
had not beon for the prompt action
OF this man, the car would have soon
gained speed that could not have
failed to result in fatal disaster to
tho women and children in the
car.
AS the wrecked car was the only pas
scnger coach owned by the Blue
Ridge Company, passengers are now
transferred from Walhalla to An
derson in a box-car, and are allowed
to sit in splint chairs as far as they
will 60 round, then upon trunks, and
finally upon the floor, or stand if they
prefer. ""' ~
Unaccountable as it may secm, a
coroner's jury, sitting on tho body of
mr.. Clemson, returned verdict Of
"death by unavoidable accident"
we venture to say that no persons
are moro surprised at this verdict
than the officials of the Blue Ridge
Company.