The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-10-02
4 COLLISION.
Marrow Escape OF tho Passengers.

From the Columbia Union.l
Yesterday morning varied rumors were
floating about the streets, that a collision be-
tween TWO railroad trains had occurred 9 short
distance below the city, resulting seriously.
Our reporter at once followed these rumors
no, and proceeding to the depot Of the VIII
mington, Columbia and Augusta road, was
through the politeness of Conductor d. L.
FnlyaW, whose train was about to leave LOT
Wilmington, enabled to proceed at once 10 tne
scene OF the disaster, which, happily. mao
been much exaggerated In the accounts
thereof. and which narrowly escaped being
accompanied with loss Of life; as 1t was, q lew
bruises of slight nature comprised all Inc IN
inries received. The accident occurred at the
ccrossing OF the South Carolina and the Char.
lotte. Columbia and Augusta railroads, ABOUT
q mile below the city, and rom oligent IN
lowing appears to be about the true statement
The South Carolina Railroad passenger
train which ,leayes under the new schedule
time that wentinto effect Sunday, left the de.
pot and was running at usual speed until
when about t~hree-quarters o. q mile from the
depot some COWS were discovered upon me
track, M brakes were blown down. which
circumstance probably saved the lives OF the
passengers, as the brakes had Just been TAKEN
off and speed increased when CONDUCTOR WILL
liam D. Kennedy discovered a timber train
DaCKlQR LQSOuKu Nv " III III
tumble and Augusta Railroad IN the direction
OF his train. The conductor at once ordered
the brakee to be put on again, but saw q COL
lisIon was Inevitable, as the timber train,
which had been concealed BY the cut ana
~shrubbery, and which was running, at gooe
speed, was right upon him; YET ne nopea 70
which attempt he was successful, but not In
preventing the two trains coming In con-
TACT. The damage done was considera-
bIe. The engine of the South Carolina
Railroad train, the James Rose, No. %, struck
between the two first cars that appeared-.the
timber train running backwards, as before
one OF them upside down over the high EN-.
bankment, breaking: heavy iron axles, and
scattering the lumber In all directions. The
engine of the passenger train was consider
bly damaged, being thrown from the track,
the forward trucks dislodged and broken, the
'front.' light broken of, and some OF the Iron
work OF the lower part OF the engine srokeRi
the engine was thrown over at an angle OF
about thirty-seven degrees, and the tender
thrown from the track. None of the. carsiof the
passenger train were Injured to any extent
worth mentioning. The engineer, Henry Sig
wald, was struck by his machine and received
Q pretty severe shaking up put was not Sc,
ola. It is stated, and saved themselves. Con.
ductor Kennedy received q sprain In the leg,
and one passenger was seen to start away ifon
the scene llmping; and Mr.. J. Gioenra.n, the
express agent, had an elbow bruised. These,
30 far as we could learn, were al tne injuries
passengers on the Charleston train. The cnt
through which the Charlotte, Columbia and
Augusta Railroad passes, at the point where
the accident occurred, ID deep, the track 10
down grade, and the locality altogether q Ian
gerous one. A Playhouse stands near by, and
It Is customary to have q fagman stationed
there by the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta
Railroad. At the time of the accident he was
absent, 1t Is said, from sickness, and, there
fore. the usual precautionary measures were
not taken. It Is also stated that the Charlotte,
Columbia. and Augusta trains are ooliged 10
atop phort of the South Carolina Railroad
track, which this timber train neglected to DO.
That the consequences were mol more serious
ia miraculous, and Conductor Kennedy states
that had not the speed of his train been checked
because Of the COWS being on the track, 1t is
almost certain that the passenger cars would
have been struck by the approaching timber
train. T. traine from Augusta were oo!lged
to transfer their through passengers to q train
that came down from tae CITY, Wnica took
were landed at the depot of the Wilmington,
Columbia and Augusta Railroad. The passen7
gers ofthe Camden train were brought to the
CITY In carriages, and those who were going
out we're obliged to ride or walk down TO the
crossfpgtotake passage. ~
Although this accident has been attended
with no fatal results, itahows, ifall statements
are correctly made; that proper care was not
taken. Why the absence ofthe fagman was not
provided for Is something remaining to be eX-
blamed; If he was absent, and 1t was 30 stated.
Mr. Conductor Kennedy, Notwithstanding his
bruises, with the aid furnished by the other
road. snperintended the removal Of the ruins,
which blocked the track tor several hours.
There certainly can be no blame: attached to
him. The Charleston passengers returned TO
the city.