The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-26
TOWN AND COUNTY NEWS.
. T. D. KENNEDY, LOCAL EDITOR.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF
LTFF

LIT,E
One of the saddest as well as one of the most
terrible accidents that ever took place in this
County, occurred at Mr.. James Pruietts on
Wednesday, 18th ult., resulting in the death OF
DIR. F. Augustus Rice and Mr.. Harrison Prui-
EFT, two worthy and promising young men. 1t
seems that Mr.. James Pruiett had been run
ming a cotton gin all season by steam, the
steam being furnished by Utica Engine and
the engineer be ing his son, Bud Pruiett, who
has had some experience in managing an en-
gine. All things went well until the afternoon
of Wednesday, the 18th ult., when it was pro-
posed to run another gin, preparations for that
purpose having previously been made. DIR.
Rice, who had moved from his Uncle's to Mr..
Pruiett's only a few days before, went down
to the gin house after dinner for the purpose of
ssisting in getting the second gin in working
order. All, things being in readiness, and an
extra amount of steam put on, the gins were
put in motion. After running for short
while, one of the bands broke and twisted
around the shaft. Everything then stopped
until the broken band could be mended. DR..
Rice and Mr.. Harrison Pruiett then went be-
low, took down the broken band and sat down
on log between the engine and the gin house
to mend it, While there, Bud Pruiett, the en-
gineer, was called above to weigh out some
cotton which had just come in. He went,
leaving the engine in charge of a colorod man
named Sam. Sam left the engine for few
moments and came over to where the young
men were sitting on the log, but had just
reached them when the explosion took place.
| The young mon, either by the engine itself,
which was thrown backward, or by the force
of the explosion, were driven against the low
er timbers of the building, and then thrown
| far underneath. AS sooL as the explosion was
heard several hurried to the spot, and dragged
the young men from the ruins. DIR. Rice was
found to be quite dead, his ribs and shoulder
| being broken and the back of his head badly
cut up. Mr.. Harrison Pruiett, although badly
bruised and mangled, lived from four o'clock
in the afternoon (the time of the accident) until
nine at night. He was wholly unconscious
during that time. DR.. Barnes was called in,
and dressed his wounds, but medical skill was
of no avail. The colored man, Sam, who was
standing near the young men at the time of
the explosion, was thrown to one side and es-
|
man was also injured. The parties above in
the gin house escaped, although portion of
the building fell in. The engine was in shed
short distance from the gin house, with one
end pointing towards that building and the
other towards the fence about one hundred
yards off, 1t seems that the end towards the
| fence was first blown out, and the force of the
escaping steam drove the engine backwards
towards the building with great velocity. In
stead OF being thrown in straight line, it was
thrown slightly upwards, striking the outside
beam of the building, breaking that in two,
then breaking two sleepers in it's course, and
finally rested near the centre of the building.
The flooring under the gins gave way, precipi-
tating them and quantity of cotton and seed
to the ground underneath. The explosion also
ruined a fine thresher. One of the gins is ma
terially damaged. The loss to Mr.. Pruiett is
estimated at about $4,000. The remains of DR..
Rice and Mr.. Harrison Pruiett were inferred
on Friday last, in the cemetery at First Greek
Church. They were buried together.
Thus perished two of the most promising
young men in our County. DR.. Rice was well
and widely known, and had, by his kind and
engaging manners, won many friends. Mr..
Pruiett was also well known as young man
of energy and industry. He was son of Mr..
Elias Pruiett. Beloved and respected by all
who knew them their loss will be deeply felt,
not only by their relatives and friends but by
the whole County. Our kindest sympathies
are with the bereaved relatives and friends. .