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

name IS stopped his engine, when he and the fire.
man dismounted, and the engineer sent the fire.
then put sufficient steam, as he supposed, to run
the engine to the other side, expecting, when II
crossed the stream the fireman to stop 1t and take
charge OF it. But when about half way over the
trestle the train stopped! What was to be
done-the engineer at one end of the trestle and
the fireman at the other3 Ayoung man-Hamp.
ton Owens-went from box car over the tender,
and mounting the engine, ran it across. All this
transpired to the total ignorance of many on
board, who unanimously pronounced the con.
made miraculous escape, by opening, to its Mt.
termost capacity, the valve of his engine, when
he felt the trestle giving away under him, and see
ing the cars tottering over, bis engine was thus
torn loose from thefalling cars. f.
BY such delays as that above described, those
going to the rescue of the wrecked passengers
were an hour making the distance of only ten
miles. This necessarily threw them until B!
o'clock, which was dark, when thescene of horror
and dsmsy was reached. 1t was one Of those
scenes which battles description. The trestle and
the train were each q perfect wreck-a mass Of
ruins-resting upon the bosom of the raging wa
ters. Hundreds were gathered from all direc'
tions, on either bank of the creek, with willing
tunate sufferers of the fearful disaster.
1t was agonizing to listen to the cries for help
from the victims Of the fearful wreck, who had
extricated themselves and floated down the stream
the widest feelings of despair that their strength
would not hold out until help came. Upon the
banks stood the anxious crowd, devising every
means within their power, to render the necessa'
~ aid. Many plunged heedlessly into the surg
ing waters, "with lusty sinews, throwing 1t aside
as did the tired Cesar the turbid waters Of the Ii
ber;'' but found the current too swift to allow
them to reach the victims. It was dark and rain.
ing The lanterns were insufficient to give lighl
to render action available. The engine and
hoo1y fpf rfx fo
and in the meantime temporary raft was con-
structed of cross-ties lashed together. Three
brave men ventured upon the raft and launched
it but the raft was borne at lightning speed down
the swift current, was capsiZed and threw the
men into the stream to seek trees, as did those
whom they were trying to save.
Mr.. Goodwin, the owner Of the boat, did moi
hesitate to lend his boat, and volunteered his SER
vices as we'll as the services of his boatman
Again upon the scene, armed with boat and boat
man, soon the tide was successfully stemmed
and the sufferers, one by one, were landed on the
shore. Some, however, I should have stated
had foated to trees near enough the bank to be
taken out some time before the boat was pro-
cured. Among these was Mr.. John g. Steele, Of
Rock Hill who sustained most serious injury
by having his knee. cap dislocated and crushed.
The number of passengers on board was
eighteen. Thirteen living have been rescued
Among the killed is Mr.. James F.: Mclaughlin
of Charlotte, N. C. Others are still missing. II
is hoped, however, they have drifted farther dowr
the stream, and made their escape The escape
Of any, under all the circumstances, was mos
wonderful. It seems but the Intervention OF 6
most kind Providence Truly, "in the midst o.
life we are in DEATH" ...
The survivors were rendered the necessary
medical aid, by DR.. ]. w. Fewell, assisted by
Dr. R. M. Williamson, both of this place. The
Railroad company are now repairing the trestle
Our town has received but com paratively few
bales Of cotton though prices are somewhat bettel
than they have been for some time past
A colored man, who called himself Martin
Lindsay, came to town on last Friday and offered
the samples Of four bales OF cotton, which he sold
to J. M. Ivy Co., at 1915. He was sent by them
to the depot to show their cotton wegher the foul
the weigher had previously weighed for another
man. Thereupon grave suspicion arose, and
Martin Lindsay was sent to the lookup on war
rant issued by Trial Justice Fewell. Upon inves
tigation and by his own confession, 1t transpired
that he owned no cottsn, and that he Is the identi
cal man who some time ago sold twelve bales In
Chester in the same manner, received check fol
the same but unfortunately for himself loitered
too long before presenting his check at the bank
and learning that he had been detected, made hif
escape to try the same game here. A commitment
was issued and he goes to the county Jail to await
bis trial at the February term OF the Court OF Ses
sions. .....-.... .-..r J.,
Saturday, the town was filled to overhowinl
with white and colored-mostly colored-the
greater part of whom came to see the "Great Pa.
cific Circus;" but to their sad disappointment
the show did not come. There seemed to be very
little trade, notwithstanding the immense crowd
There were several sales at public auction. A
horse and mule were sold to foreclose mort.
gage of J. Brady to J. M. Williford. The horse
sold for $lOl, and the mule for $l3. There were
also some other minor sales at public outcry.