The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-13
A Railroad Accident.

At half past o'clock yesterday even
ing as the passenger train on the South
Carolina Railway, due in Charleston at
9:38 o'clock, was running into Reeves's
q misplaced switch threw it on the side
track against a freight train.
Both engines were smashed to atoms,
as the passenger train was running at a
frigbtful rate, estimated at forty-iye
miles an hour. Engineer j. G. Hunni-
cutt was instantly killed, being crushed
into jelly, and Fireman McKoy,
colored, was badly injured.
The passengers were Jared and thrown
from their seats, but no harm was done
TO them. The engineer and fireman
were the only persons injured. The
body of the engineer and the wounded
fireman came il on the train at 2:l5 this
morning.
The engineer leaves a family in Allan.
ia, Georgia. A large crowd was at the
Line street Station, Notwithstanding the
unreasonable hour this morning to see
the train come in. The body of the en-
gineer was a ghastly sight and the fire.
man was moaning piteously.
A passenger told a Reporter of the
News and Courier that the effect of the
jar was terrible, throwing people ten feet
from their seats, and in some instances
against the top of the car. Both engines
and about twenty cars were wrecked
NeWs and Courier, Nov 6.
In addition to the particulars pub.
lished yesterday in regard to the
accident at Reeves's Station on Wed.
nesday night, it has been learned
that w. Wade, the mail agent on the
passenger train, was very badly hurt,
having two of his ribs broken and being
otherwise bruised. He returned yester-
day to his home in Columbia.
The coroner's jury of inquest was in
session at Reeves Station yesterday from
8 a. m. to 6 p. m, taking 's7idence as to
the cause of the collision between trains
81 and 81 of the South Carolina Railway
on the siding at that place on Wednes-
day night. A large number of witnesses,
both employees of the railroad and citi-
zens of Reeyes's, were carefully exam.
ined and the evidence was clear that
train 81 had pulled in on the siding, this
being her meeting point With train 81.
That it was the intention of the conduc.
tor of train 81 to do some switching
while waiting for train 90; that he in-
structed brakeman A. T. Doyle to open
the west switch SO that the switching
could be done; that Engineer John
Brothers, of tain 81 objected to doing
the switching until after No. 81 had
passed. That 50 left Branchville on
time and arrived at Reeyes's on time,
her schedule speed being thirty;five miles
an hour. That as 81 struck the west
switch Engineer Hunnicutt discovered
that the switch was wrong, aud that he
was on the eve of fearful collision. 1t
was proven by employees and passengers
on the train that the air brakes were
applied and the engine reversed before
the shock of the collision, but that the
space was too short for. Hunnicutt to save
his train, which he was evidently trying
to do when he lost his life.
The conductor and brakeman of 81
deny changing the switch, but the switch
was found in perfect order and adjusted
on the main track Immediately after the
collision. It was impossible for 81 to
have gone on the siding unless the switch
had been set for the siding, which was
evidently the case, the switch having
been changed afterward. .5t..,...a.
After long and careful deliberation
over all the evidence, the jury. at 6
O'Clock, brought in verdict that Engi-
neer Hunnicutt had met his death from
the collision caused by the criminal
careiessness of Brakeman A. T. Doyle,
and that Conductor D. w. Cannon was
accessory before the act. These two
persons were arrested By acting Coroner
Weeks, and they will be committed to
jail to stand their trial, unless bail is
furnished, which will probably be done.
-Neaos and Courier, Nou. z