The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-06
SHOCKING CATASTROPHE.
Two Persons Killed, and Eight others
Wounded.
Special Correspondence Anderson hsislligsncsr.

Special Correspondence Anderson htelligencer.
TowNvIILE, July 4, 1876.
MEssRs EDITORS: Before this account
reaches you, you will have heard of the
fatal catastrophe which has taken place here,
and as the reports which you may have al
ready received might be vague and imper-
feet, it is desired that you be furnished with
o correct and minute statement of the un-
fortunate occurrence and its distressing
effects.
The engine of the steam thresher Of
Messrs. ]. B. Holcombe and G. w. Burns
exploded under pressure of 200 pounds
steam, whilst in operation on the premises
of Mr.. Holcombe in this place, at 8 o'clock
yesterday morning, killing negro man out
right and inhicting injuries upon the
engineer, Mr.. Pat. Welch. from which he
died in about an hour and half. Eight
other persons were either seriously or slight
ly injured by flying fragments of the ex-
ploded engine. The engine was thrown to
nearly perpendicular height of twenty-five
feet, passing directly over the thresher, turn
ing a complete somersault in the air, and
fell in corn patch at distance of a little
more than hundred feet from where it was
stationed.
1t see1hs almost incredible that such an
immense weight could be hurled upward
with such tremendous force, and yet it was
the work of an instant. The engine is
nearly complete wreck, while the thresh-
ing machine is greatly damaged. There
was very little water in the engine, and the
belts had been detached in order that the ex-
cessive head OF steam might be reduced;
but before the engineer, who was little
way of, could reach his post, negro man,
a sort of apprentice, commenced pumping
water into the engine, which ut once caused
the fatal explosion. The engineer was
thrown twenty or thirty feet with much
force by the escaping steam, and fell among
the debris of a fence, which the force of the
steam had demolished. He was badly
scalded, and, as he was just beside the en-
gine when it bursted, the steam struck his
chest with such force as to produce fearful
confusion, which alone, the doctors say,
would most probably have caused death.
His skull was also fractured, and it is
thought he could not have survived this.
But the most horrible wound he received
was in the left groin, which had been
pierced by piece of metal. probably not
larger than mimic ball. yet the flesh was
frightfully lacerated. His left arm was
broken just above the wrist. He appeared
to retain consciousness to within short
while before his dissolution, and would
often call imploringly: "For Gods sake,
men, raise me up; I'm choking, I'm burn
ing upl o, Lord, have mercy on me"
Just a few moments before his death, as if
conscious of its near approach, he turned
his head away and uttered half audible
prayer, to hear which brought tears to the
eyes of strong men. He was not known to
inquire for his relatives. Drs. Page, Brown
and Sharp were present soon after the disas-
ter, and did timely service in dressing
wounds. All efforts were employed to pro-
duce o reaction in Mr.. Welch's physical
system, but without avail. His relatives
are here and will take his remains to An
derson for interment. Mr.. Burns, one of
the proprietors, received severe cut on
the back of the head, but is not regarded
serious. Mr.. Holcombe, the other partner
escaped even the slightest injury.
Their engine (six horsepower was built
at the Erie City Iron Works, Erie, Pa, and
was entirely new. The thresher, also new,
was made at Buffalo, N. Y, the make known
as Buffalo Pitts" The outfit cost 81, $50.
Messrs. Holcombe g. Burns are men of
sterling industry, honesty and integrity, and
in their sudden misfortune have the deepest
sympathy of the whole community.
w. A. D.