The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-22
a NARR0W ESCAPE /.
The Recent Accident ON tho Savannah
and CharIeiton Railroad.
j From the Savannah Advertiser.I

20 From the Savannah Advertiserl
.a A brief account has already been published
of an accident that occurred on the Savannah
and Charleston Railroad on Sunday evening.
From gentleman who was on the train, We
have receivedI the following additional partt-
culars In relation to the affair. About eight
P. M, when the train arrived at the bridge
crossing the Savannah Rtverr the Hatchulan
at the bridge sIgnalled9 down thetrain. The
signal was obeyed, and the train stopped on;
the other, side OF the river. The watchman
then informed the conductor and engineer
that there was slight depression Of the raI
on one side of the track crossing the bridge.
They both examined 1t, and were .of
opinion 1t could be crossed IN safety, out
the conductor decided 70 send the engine over
first. The engineer, Jno. Bonneau, fireman
and the conductor, SIX Sawson, then started
across on the engine. After proceeding q
short distance from the train, and when Just
over the depression. the. trestle suddenly gave
way, preclpitating the engine and tender into
the river. The fireman and wood-passer
conductor and engineer jumped from the OPP
posite side. Owing. to the, .swlftness OF, the
current, the engineer and wood passer we're
carried some distance down the stream, cling:
Ing to. pieces Of the debris f:.ofi: the
bridge. A boat put of at once from the
Georgia side in charge Of the bridge
sa TsShnsp sTs ana sss ana bdw 5sss1sq s bds e
The conductor and fireman being upon the
opposite side, managed tosclihg to the string
ers, and from them climbed up upon the
bridge. Through the courtesy and Kindness
of the passengers on board the train, dry cloth-
ing was furnished TO the four and every atten-
ton paid them to render them as comfortable
as possible under the very unpleasant circum:
stances. Captain Butler started out the regui
lar train from! this city at IL Is Sunday night,
techedule ,time.) As soon as the state OF
affairs at the bridge was discovered the train
returned to the city, and Captain Butler was
notified of the accident. he immediately
started, In company with Conductor VIII
river to the bridge and bring down the
passengers and mails. After making every
effort, Captain B. was unable to obtain boat
of any description uutil ten o'clock A. NJ, yes
terday, when the owners OF the e. d. Morgan
placed that boat at his disposal Conductor
Willis took charge OF her and started for the
scene Of the accident at eleven o'clocS a. H..
the BRIDGE, the passengers being two miles
from land on either side, and were unable
either to advance orfeturn. During the night
they made themselves as comfortable as pos,
sible under the circumstances. Having nothing
to eat or drink for twenty hours, their sitnodon;
can well be imagined as anything but delight.
full one. 4 meeting was held on the train, and
resolutions were passed thanking the conductor
and engineer for their thoughtfulness In not
rIsking the lives Of their passengers, and for
their bravery In putting Themselves forward TO
first incur the danger and risk Of crossing. The
steamboat returned to the city about hall-paat
six O'clock yesterday evening. The train left
upon the bridge Will be taken back to Charles-
ton. Captain Butler left at eight O'clock last
evening upon q train from this city to take mp
provisions and supplies for the employees OF
the road left at the bridge. The bridge will be
repaired as soon as possible, the very hign
stage Of water interfering considerably with
any operations at present. It ls not believed
that the engine is seriously damaged. Efforts TO
raise It will be made at once. The cause OF
the sudden giving away of the trestle 1s
supposed to be from damage received by one
of the piers, against which an immense cypress
log was violently dashed by the current few
days since. The log was cut away IS soon as
1t lodged, and q depression Of about two inches
was noticed In the track gnnn That stda-ee the
bridge. Nothing serious, however, was antlcl-
mated at the time, but the high stage OF water
and unusually rapid current doubtless weak
ened the trest!e and -preclpltated the accident.
Mr.. Gadsden, the superintendent Of the road,
left Charleston yesterday morning to make
arrangements for repairing the bridge, and
also for the transfer Of passengers across the
river from one train TO the other. For few
days we presume trains will run from both
cities as lar as the bridge, when transfers Will
be made and each tram return.