The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-11-21
AsRailroad Race
SINGULAR COLLISION AND A LIGHTNING
81 ~, RACE.

SINGULAR COLLISION AND a hiuh Nif'o
- ~ RACE.
One of the most singular accidents IN the
annals of the railway occurred in this city
Yesterday morning startling the staid old
town out of its propriety and furnishing
material for conversation during the succeed
ing twenty-four hours. ~
~ r. THE COLLISION. '
Yesterday morning, between the hours OF
seven and eight o'clock, as the engine NJ. ?.
stovall-belonging to the Georgia Railroad
Company-was coming down the railroad
track. neor the Augusta Factory; the engi-
neer attempted to slacken speed and the throt-
tie valve broke This accident caused the en-
gioeer to lose all control overthe locomotive,
and both himself and the fireman jumped
from the train, as to have remained on board
would have been to needlessly endanger their
lives. The engine kept the'track, and came
rapidly along the track into the Georgia hall
road ad yard In the. meantime the Ashley-a
shifting engine belonging to-, the South
Carolina Railroad Company-had lett the
ward of that company, and was pushing sever
al freight cars to the Onion Depot. When
the engine and cars reached Jackson street
the engineer and fireman saw the M. +.
Stovall coming rapidly towards them: AS
they leaned out ofthe side of the cab. the
Georgia Railroad engine struck the freight
cars in front of the Ashley. The shock
threw both the engineer and the fireman to
the groud. The freight cars were badly
crushed, and the NJ. P. Stovall was thrown
from the track with great violence, together
with the tender. The tender fell very near
the spot where the engineer of the Ashley
Law, and the latter only ESCAPED death by q
few inches. Before the engineer jumped,
however, he reversed his. engine; the shock
broke the draw bar, the engine and tender
were Ioosed from the cars and began to move
rapidly .backwardasdaGn Washington street,
and towards Savannah river!
s,.s,,,,- THE RACE.s@S .s-silgy. g.
The engine and tender we're now Tree
the engine reversed, the throttle valve open,
and the engineer and fireman lying on the
ground. The hrther,it Yent the faster was
the rate Of speed. It went down Washing
street like Dexter or the American Girl on
the home-stretch. The early risers were
astouished and alarmed, while afew sanguine
Greeley men, who had not. lost all hope, i'm.
agined that the Liberal Republicans had
carried Dade county and the Ashley was
CARRYING the returns to Washington City.
Near Reynolds street.. a hand car, belonging
to the Carolina Road, came around the cor,
ner. In the car were several workmen, q
quantity Of boards and carpenters material,
and long andgsry heavy stick of timber
placed lengthway, and hanging over little
in front. When the men saw the locomotive
coming they smeb danger, and after attempt.
ing unsuccessfully to getthecar off the track,
they made most rapid and mastery retreat.
The tender struck the beam, which ran
under it, Wedged itself firmly to the car, and
carried the latter on with it. The! Ashley
and its new attachment went through the
railroad yard like the comet. Fortunately
the track was clear and the switches all right
and it dashed over the bridge and across the
river without let or hindrance. The runa,
way machine did not stop until nearly three
miles from the bridge, when the steam gave
out and it came to halt. When the en-
gine had passed the bridge, COL Meredith
manifesting his usual energy and vigilance
dispatched hand car after it, and the fugitive
locomotive was brought back to the city in
safety. No damage was done except to the
NJ. P. Stovall, which fell from the track, and
the freight cars, which were crushed by the
collision. It was the most novel runaway
accident on record.-Augasta Chronicle.
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