Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-11-29
drifted down stream until

broke and they drihed down stream until
they caught in trees.
Conductor Kline stood on the top of the last
coach until it sank, and then plunged into the
water and was found half mile below the
scene of the wreck.
S. A. Woodruff escaped from the rear car
before it left the track, and got to land by
climbing up the iron until he came to
the part of the trestle which had not given
away.
~ The front of the express sr-lodged within
fifteen feet of the bank aud was only partly
submerged, and the messenger, George Bate
man, had no difficulty in getting out on top
of his car and thence to the bank.
William Horah, baggage master, and Viii.
liam Ozment, news agent, were on the plat
form of the middle car and leaped off as soon
as the car began to sink. The former swan
to the bank and the latter lodged in tree
near the wreck. i.. r. J
These few accounts of the manner in which
some of the escapes were made, give some
idea Of the scene
In fifteen minutes after the occurrence, the
news had spread for several miles over the
country, and people began to flock to the
bank and endeavor to rescue the unfortunate
passengers. Mr.. Joe Burdell, formerly an
engineer on the railroad, happened to be near
the scene of the accident, and directed the
efforts, displaying presence of mind and
courage which have scarcely ever been equal.
ed. The engine was Immediately sent to
Rock Hill tor assistance, and party Was
made up there, headed by Dr. T. G. Robert
son, who came to the scene as fast as steam
could bring them. Before their arrival, the
people in the neighborhood, on both sides of
the stream, had rescued several of the par
ties who we're nearest the banks.
By this time it had begun to grow quite
dark, and the only guide to the efforts of
those who were endeavoring to rescue their
unfortunate fellow beings, were the cries for
help which were heard in almost all direc.
tions.
Rats we're constructed, and brave men en-
barked on them in the hope Of passing near
enough to some of the men to take them from
their perilous positions in trees. clingipg to
bushes and floating about on logs. Several
were gotten out by this means. Ropes we're
thrown to Others, and several we're rescued by
men who swan horses into tho stream. The
rspidity with which the water surged through
the bushes and trees, and the large quantity
Of timber constantly being swept down the
stream rendered methods of assistance ex.
tremely periIous, but those engaged in the
work seemed to lose sight of the danger, and
did not hesitate to run any risk. a".r''
Some time after dark the engine brought a
boat from the Catawba river, which was also
the means Of saving several Finally, the
last man that could be heard Of was rescued
about 10 o'clock, having remained in the wa
ter since four in the afternoon.
As fast as the men were taken from the
water, they were carried to the houses in the
neighborhood, where every attention possible
was given them. ,...... ,.tYy
! Nearly all those rescued were more or less
injured, but none very seriously. Mr.. John
G. Steele, of Rock Hill, had leg injured /;
conductor Kline had severe flesh wound in
the arm; William Ozment, a severe gash
in the head; WJ.Orr, several severe bruis.-
ca; R. Y. McAden, considerably mashed and
bruised in back and sides. The others, 60
far as known, were only slightly bruised
The only dead body thus far found is that
of James F. Mclaughlin, of Charlotte, dis
covered on top Of the car crushed between
timbers which had lodged there. He was
6rst seen and recognized by the party from
Charlotte, about 4 o'clock yesterday morning.
So securely was he fastened and so heavy
were the timbers, that it was with difficulty
that the body could be rescued by the cou-
hined efforts of four or five men. His
back and neck both broken and his skull
crushed. -Et ..ss.. G.-.ssi. l--
The water in the stream was rapidly fall
ing when our latest intelligence was received,
and no news has reached US of the finding Of
any more bodies Conductor Kline thinks,
from an examination of his tickets, that no
one is lost, but as there we're several persons
returning from the stockholders' meeting who
did not have tickets, he is uncertain as to the
exact number on the train. Fourteen Of the
passengers have been seen, but as there were
certainly more than this on board. il ID feared
that several are lost Communication with
the other side of the stream is bad, and pos
sibly several persons might have been. taken
to houses on that side and not been heard
| from. ID, = - "'' .f"r<
ACCIDENT ON THE AIR LINE ROAD.
About the same hour of the same day on
which the above accident occurred, there was
also one on the Airline road. not SO frightful
in its details, yet of a distressing character.
The day train for Atlanta, Conductor Lar
endon and Engineer Thos. P. Smith, left
Charlotte on time, about 1916. Mr.. Smith
is we'll known as one of the rapid runners of
the Airline, and Friday afternoon he
pulled out of Charlotte with his steady hand
on the throttle valve Of the No. 3, the last one
of the new Baldwin engines, which the COM
pany has just received, with gay heart and
with no thought of the tragic end which was
just before him. A heavy freight trsin had
preceded him not more than thirty minutes,
and what forbodiugs be might have had in
consequence of the heavy weather, were doubt
less put at rest as he ran his race, by the alb
sence of danger signals along the line. He
was running about thirty miles per hour, and
the rain was pouring in torrents. Two min.
utes before the accident occurred, while turn
ing sharp curve near Wright's Station, six
teen miles from Charlotte, while leaning
from bis cab window, he signalled to
friend in the ladies coach, who was looking
ahead, and pointing to the water which was
coursing through the bitches, shook bis head,
as if to say. II do not like it." But the
train did not slacken its speed In mo.
ment the crash broke in upon the buzzing of
the car wheels. Passengers were jolted out
of their seats, and some, who turned their
heads, saw the massive thirty.two ton enpine