The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-22


of the water tank of the tender. Neither
| of them could be moved until the engine
was taken from over their bodies, and as
proper appliances were not at hand to lift
the engine, the crowd reluctantly abandoned
all hope of rescuing their bodies on Satur-
day,
The search for Messrs. Lafoy and Kit
singer resulted in the discovery of their
bodies little way down the stream, which
was greatly swollen by the recent rains. 1t
is almost impossible to account for their
escaping the wreck, unless they were upon
the rear platform of the baggage car and
jumped for their lives when the accident
occurred. Such was the impression OF
Henry Thompson, and even if this was true,
it seems almost out of the question for them
to have got out of the way of falling timbers.
DR.. O. R. Broyles examined the bodies, and
ascertained that the left leg of Mr.. Lafoy
was shattered just above the knee, and there
was an incision on the right temple; the
right cheek bruised, and severe scalp
wound on the back of the head, three or
four inches long. Mr.. Kitsinger was bruised
and confused in various parts of the body,
but no bones were broken. After the ex-
animation was made by direction of the
coroner's jury, the friends of the deceased
took charge of the remains and carried them
to their homes. Both of them married in
the neighborhood, and their relatives were
present when the bodies were found.
The scene was visited during the day on.
Saturday by large numbers, and every ONE
was ready to give their assistance towards
relieving the mangled bodies of Mr.. Wilson
and his fireman. When the train arrived
in the afternoon, some little effort was made
to remove the wreck, but as before stated
these efforts were abandoned for the want of
proper appliances to lift the engine. On
Sunday morning, the necessary arrange
ments were completed, and the work was
begun by the railroad employees, who were
aided in their efforts by hundreds Of citizens,
white and black, who worked at the ropes
to raise the monster engine, beneath whose
crushing weight there was literally buried
the faithful engineer and his fireman. Some
twelve OF fifteen hundred persons were
present, and their combined efforts were
necessary to overturn the engine, which was
requisite before the bodies could be reached.
The fireman's remains were reached about
eleven o'clock, and the efforts of all were
then concentrated upon the only remaining
object which was the e1tricaion of Mr..
Wilson's body. Between four and five
o'clock in the afternoon, the difficult task
was accomplished, and in ashort time the
remains of Mr.. Wilson were in charge of his
friends. His brother, Mr.. Leroy Wilson, of
Abbeyille, was present at the wreck, and
assisted the railroad authorities in directing
the movements for the recovery of his
brothers body.
The bodies of Allen Johnson and Henry
Thompson were prepared for decent inter
ment, and their relatives from Penileton
were present to remove them to that place
for burial.
In the foregoing, we have attempted to
give concise statement of tho terrible
tragedy and its results, which spread gloom
and sadness over this community never
equalled. The victims of this disaster were
well known to our citizens, and for many
years were employed in the railroad service
between this place and Bolton. Mr.. Wilson
was native of Abbeville County, and had
been in the employ of the Greenville and
Columbia Railroad for about twenty two
years. He came on the Anderson Branch
in 1862, after he was discharged from mill
tary service, and was engaged almost con-
tinually in the discharge of his duties as
engineer from that time forward. About q
year since he left the railroad, and had only
returned to his post some five or six weeks
ago. Conductor Lafoy has been on the An
derson Branch for about ten years, and by
his unrenitting attention to duty was pro-
NOTED from time to time, until he was
placed in charge of the train as conductor
about eighteen months ago. Both of these
men were recognized by the public as faith
full, competent and deserving officers, and
their accommodating dispositions rendered
them exceedingly popular with the commu-
nifty. Mr.. Kitsinger was less known to the
public, but he was always prompt and ready
in discharge of the duties of his position.
All of them were married men, and left
families dependent upon their exertions for
support. It is rumored that Messrs. Wilson
and Lafoy were insured for considerable
amounts, but we are unable to give authentic
information upon this point.
On Saturday morning, jury of inquest
was impanelled by Wm.z s. Brown, Esq,
Trial Justice and acting Coroner, to make
enquiry as to the cause of the deaths result
ing from this disaster, and the verdict was
not rendered until Sunday afternoon. The
finding of the jury is as follows:
SOUTH CAROLINA, ANDERSON COUNTY.
An inquisition indented, taken at Broada-
way trestle, on the line of the Greenville
and Columbia Railroad, in Anderson Coun.
ty, the 18th and 18th days of June, A. D.
1876, before VIM. s. Brown, Trial Justice
in and for said County, acting as Coroner
for said County, upon view of the bodies of
n. W. Lafoy, Jefferson Ktsinger, Henry
Thompson, Allen johnson and NJ. J. Will
son, then and there being dead, by the oaths
of q. D. Chainblee, Silas Pearman. ]. r.
Cochran, I. II. Harrison, Samuel Browne,
T. N. Drafin, c. Edwards, J. P. Reed, B. B.
Breazeale, G: A. Kay, VIM. Shirley, E.
Bozeman and ]. B. Carpenter, being law
full jury OF inquest, who, being charged and
sworn to inquire, for the State of South
Carolina, where and by what means the
said n. w. Lafoy, Jefferson Kitsinger, Hen
~ Thompson, Allen Johnson and NJ. J.
wilson came to their deaths, upon their
by accident by an engine and car falling
through defective trestle over Broadway
Creek, in the county of Anderson and State
OF South Carolina; that the said N. w.
Lafoy, Allen Johnson, Jefferson Kitsinger
and M. ]. Wilson on the 18th day of June,
1875, and the said Henry Thompson on the
18th day of June, 1876, in manner and form
QfnrQca16 10