The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-04
a Fearful Half.Hour.


ont system, and Immediately after the
road had been opened for traffic to Som
erset, occurred an event the recollection
OF which even to this day serves to bring
| out goose flesh on those who at the time
were cognizant Of tho impending disas-
ter.
Within few days after passenger
travel began the officers of the Southern
sent invitations for O. trip over the road
to all OF Cincinnati's wcalthiest men and
heaviest taxpayers, and Oh tho morning
OF the excursion dozens of carriages left
the Burnet house, the place of meeting
and conveyed them across the river to
Ludlow, where the especial" headed by
NO. l, the crack engine, with Mat.
Coombs at the lever, was in waiting.
Miles N. Beatty, now superintendent Of
the southern division, was conductor.
When all the eXcursionists were on
board the engineer and conductor went
into Train Dispatcher Cooledges Office,
where they read and signed the follow
ing order, and placed copies in their
pockets
"Nfeet and pass No. 2, north bound
passenger train, Mt Williamstown."
10 Williamstown for delivery to tho
north-bound passenger train on arrival,
was sent the following order:
"-Conductor
"Mect and pass south-bound special
ut Williamstown."
SO that the situation stood thus-either
train reaching the place Indicated first
was to go OH the siding and wait there
until the ono coming from tho opposite
direction had arrived md gone ahead on
the cleared track. Of the wealthy passen-
ger load some were seated chatting,
others were standing OH the platforms,
and still others on the summer car, when,
glancing up and down his train, the con-
ductor, finding everything in good order
and readiness, waved his hand to the
watching engineer, and the special pulled
out, slowly Mt first, but rs it moved on
the speed increased until it went out of
sight around the curve a-fying, and
little later n rumbling sound told of it's
crossing tho trestlc, and that it was we'll
and fairly started on tho way south. It
was understood that extra fast time was
to be made, and to offer no obstacle the
track had been cleared of everything save
tho passenger trnin referred to.
One half hour after the start from
Ludlow, No. 2. fifteen minutes behind
timo, reached Williamstown, Mt which
place the standing rule WAS imperative
that conductors should Mt all times stop
and inquire for orders. Stopping only
long enough to unload n passenger in the
mud, the conductor, thinking only Of
making up lost time, signaled the engi-
necr, and the train went OH.
The Mortified operator from his window
saw No, Q flashing northward to what
seemed inevitable destruction, rs the tel
egraph line between his room and Lud-
low was unbro]len by single instrument.
and ut that moment two trains Mt high
rates of speed were rapidly lesscning the
distance between each other on the sim
gle track. He telegrnphed at once to
Ludlow that "No, 2 had passed without
stopping for orders"
All color left the face of train dispatch
CT Cooledge rs he received the message
and rs he communicated tho dire in
telligcnce to Jack Redmond, master Of
transportation, that individuals counte-
nance assumed a similar hue With him
to think was to act. Stepping to the
station door he quietly beckoned several
mon to him and composcdly gave in
structions to each. Onc-half dozen of
them went on the double-quick in diff
erent directions for physicians. The store
keepers went into the warehouse and
gathered together sponges, baskets, ma
IcIitlS loI Sl'llutS huti bolL InusIlA loI
bandagcs. Meanwhile other employees
starting a fire undor an idle locomotive
had hitchcd on to caboose and backed
down in front of the station where the
car was transformed at once into hos
pital coach. TO NIL save Redmond and
Coolcdgo these preparations were mys-
terious. The relief train was soon in
readiness, but did not start Redmond,
seated Mt the desk and estimating tho
rate of speed at which tho trains were
moving, calculated about where the col
lision would take place. Some of the
passengers would escape unhurt, and
one of them would hasten Mt once on
horseback to williamsburg, the nearest
point for medical aid Here the operator
would learn the exact locality of the ac-
cident and send dispatch to Ludlow.
Possessed of this information Redmond
could send his waiting engine and car,
with it's corps Of physicians and nurses,
to the spot ut the rate of nearly mile
n minute The other and slower
plan would be to let tho ''relief" start out
and cautiously find its way around the
many curves. Ho chose the wiser course.
The scene in tho train dispatcher's office
was painful. Coolidge, leaning over the
silent instrument, watched 1t with fever
ish eyes as if to read its secret before
transmission. On another chair was
Redmond. with big globes Of perspiration
coming from the pores Of hiss face and
rolling down unheeded.. Neither man
spoke. Five, ton, twenty, thirty minutes
thatsccmed like ages passed, when came
sharp click. 1t was Williamstown call
ing Ludlow. Coolcdge's hair rose up on
end as ho gave the response. Redmond
stood up and placed a hand on the door
knob. The next moment Coolidge fair
ly yelled, ono collision. No. Q, has just
backed into Williamstown." The two
men shook hands with tho same vigor as
if they were twin brothers and hadn't
, met for thousand years.
It was then ascertained that, by the
most fortunate circumstances, tho trains
had simultaneously entered from oppo-