Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-07-03


ought to have reversed his engine sooner Run
ming up this grade, the engine should have stop
ped before reaching the point Of the accident If
running at the rate of only one or two miles an
hour. To make rebound of twenty.slx teet
by the engine and a propulsion of eighty eight
feet by the cars, the engine would be running
faster than speed of one or two miles an hour.
Some engineers are more careless than others.
The general rule Of coupling is to "crawP' up:
Eight miles an hour would cause such rebound
as this is said to have been. An engineer should
at all times slowly approach train of cars for
coupling 1t requires presence OF mind in case
not properly under the engineers control. My
rule was, when running trains, to forclbly, II
necessary, prevent boys and others having no
business on the engine or cars, from riding on
an engine on which person can ride It is not
necessary for an engineer to whistle Tor the
coupler. 1t is the duty Of the coupler to be at
his post at all times. I have examined the en-
ter with the engine that would indicate that the
throttle was out Of order. The brake OF the en-
gine is in good order. I should say that the
speed of the locomotive, at the time ofthe coliis-
ion, was at least four miles an hour-not under
four. This is too fast speed for approaching
trains for coupling. Had the engineer had the
engine under his control, he could have stopped
it. The coupling Of the front of an engine to
car, is more dangerous than any other KIND OF
coupling on the railroads. The coupling cannot
be made if the engine stops l have seen the
front end of locomotive coupled to a car when
running at speed Of four miles an hour, but
by an expert coupler. Construction trains usu-
ally have no regular hand for coupling
JASPER GoFoRTH, recalled: His former testi-
mony was read to him second time, and he
said he had no desire to amend it in any particu-
lar. -..-
His examination renewed: I had conver
1tysfI ro~~ itfcf of q N.
cident. told him that the brakes were out of
Questionable you agssafr. Carroll, 81 care
no more for the life OF man than snake?'
Questionable you say to Mr.. Carroll, II will
not answer your questions ?'' Answer-No.
Question-Did you say to Mr.. Carroll, II will
not answer the boss mans questions when ne
told Mr. Carroll that so far as the engine was con-
cerned cared nothing for it; all minded was
the death of man and the loss of my job. l.
told Mr.. Carroll that he was putting questions to
me that he knew nothing about; that he could
not make me talk, and was done talking with
him that the boss man, who will discharge me,
cannot make me talk.
Question-Was there any difficulty, difference,
hard words or hard feelings between Mr.. Darwin
and the parties who were running that engine,
that caused him to take his seat on the pilot?
Answer-There was no outward appearance OF
anger; they were as friendly as they could be-
passed between them. We were all in speaking
distance of each other all the time. The engi-
neer and Mr.. Darwin had no other words than
that near McConnellsville the engineer put his
head out. of the window and his hat blew OFT,
when Mr. Darwin got down and picked up the
hat, for which the engineer thanked him. ..
We were running down grade, and had been
running down grade about ten car lengths before
the engine struck the cars. The car bounded
about three or four or five feet, and the engine
rebounded about two or two and half car
lengths. The engineer became excited when the
collision occurred. There was no i'll feeling be.
tween me and Mr.. Darwin. put on brake just
before we crossed the dirt road. Steam was shut
off Just before we crossed the road, and put on
brakes just after we crossed the road. nave
coupled the engine when it was running at
half car length away, and when he saw the end
Of the car raised up, he started to run. The col
lision made a noise that could have been heard
three or four hundred yards. What meant by
to talk to persons who knew nothing about the
affair. After we had coupled up and were ready
to start up to the depot the engineer said to me,
"Ain't that hell of a case? would not have
us off for this and we had just as we'll start
home now for they will discharge us as sure as
hell" When put on brakes I had them just
as tight as could get them The wheels were
not sliding.
Question-Was the rebound of the cars as much
as seventy-five feet2 Answer-It was not over
five feet.
I did not hear the engineer whistle to the
coupler on approaching.
FRANK WYLIE sworn : I remained with the
dirt train and was shoveling dirt when the engine
returned from getting wood and water. was
four car lengths from the engine when it struck.
When the engine struck the cars they rolled up
about five feet The front Of the back car was
not opposite to me when it stopped. The collis-
ion knocked the to the right side of the track
The engine was about fifteen feet from the car
when it stopped. The engine was running up
grade when it struck the car. did not hear any
one speak to Mr. Darwin that he was in danger.
Isom Caldwell made two steps towards coupling
the cars only two steps. l was at the fourth
car and Isom was at the second car from the en-
gine when he started to couple the engine. he
started to run. I saw the engine strike the car:
saw Mr.. Darwin on the pilot The engine did
not seem to approach the cars faster than usual
about as fast as usual-not faster than man
could walk. I do not know how close lsom was
to the car when it was struck. heard no con-
versation between Jasper Goforth and Mr.. Car
roll. No one said anything to me about what l
would swear before came in here l did not go
up to the engine after the smash up. l dld not
hear the engineer make any remarks after the ac-
cident do not know what became of the little
bows after the accident. Isom was on the bank
of the cut when the accident occurred.
VIM GAsToN, sworn: was shoveling dirt
at the last car from the engine, my back to the
3
turned and saw the end Of the car coming down
off the engine. It rolled about five feet after
coming down. I reckoned. from what l saw,
that it moved about five feet. 1t did not come to
the cars bounded five feet. The engine did not
move after it was stopped. saw Isom Caldwell.
did not notice how far he went to couple the
cars. saw him stop and look back. saw him
going up the bank. was on the right hand SIDE
Of tile track, facing Chester. After I heard the
crash looked around and saw Isom. went up,
after the others had gone up. Mr.. Elliott
was at the car; Jasper was on the step OF the en-
CINE. Mr.. Elliott said that he regretted it; that
he was creeping up. Jasper asked if that was
George do not know whether the conductor
Jumped off or not. I saw some of them waving
to Mr. Darwin to get off. I heard some one on
the bank halloeing. I heard some one whistle
soon before the halloeing. also heard Mr.. Dar-
win halloe. Do not know what those said who
halloed to Mr.. Darwin. / heard more than one
person halloe heard Mr.. Darwin also halloe.
WILLIAM JOHNSON, sworn went down the
railroad yesterday evening" between three and
four o'clock with my aunt; was below the cross
ing, when saw the engine running towards the
depot, Peyton Darwin sitting on the pilot. l
spoke to him, and told him he had better hustle
off of there or he would get killed. Icame onup
by the engine after the accident, and spoke to
Tom Goodrom, and proposed to come on to town
street and told j. A. Darwin about the accident,
which was the first he had heard oft. When the
engine passed me, it tappeared to be running ABOUT
eight or nine miles an hour. When the engine
passed me was on the other side (from the de-
pot) ofthe crossing. was one hundred yards
away from the collision when it occurred. The
engine checked up a little before striking the
cars. When I came up, the distance between the
engine and the cars was about two and half car
lengths. If Peyton replied to me, I did not hear
him. 1 had no talk with any of the railroad
hands about the accident. thought Peyton was
in danger when thew passed me. I have been
emnloVad ON the railroad as brakeman on mail