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

AT halfpast 8 o'clock yesterday even.
ing as the passenger train on the South
Carolina Railway, due in Charleston at
1888 o'clock, was running into Reeves's
9 misplaced switch threw it on the side
track against freight train.
Both engines were smashed to atoms,
as the passenger train was running at n
frightful rate, estimated at forty, five
miles an hour. Engineer j. c. Hunni.
cutt was instantly killed, being crushed
into a 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 in on the train ut 2:l5 this
morning.
The engineer leaves family in Allan.
ca, 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-.
glnee, was ghastly sight end the fire.
mar was moaning piteously.
A passenger told a Reporter Of the
Aers 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. =
NeTs and Cburier, 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 tho
h,.
having two of his ribs broken and being
otherwi.e bruised. He returned ycstcr.
day to his home in Columbia.
The coroner's jury Of inquest was in
session 1T Reeves Station yesterday from
n. IN. TO q p. m, taking e2idence as to
the cause of the collision between trains
81 and 81 Ol the South Carolina Railway
on the siding at that place on Wedncs.
day night. a large number Of witnesses,
both employees Of the railroad and cili.
zens of Reeves, were carefully exam
iued and the evidence wns clear that
trnin 81 had pulled in on the siding, this
being her meeting point with train so.
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. 7. Doyle to open
the west switch so that the switching
could be done; that Engineer John
Brothers, Of train 81 objected to doing
the switching until after No. 50 had
passed. That 50 left BranchviIle on
time and arrived at Reeves's on time,
her schedule speed being thirty five miles
an hour. That rs so struck the west
switch Engineer Hunnicutt discovered
that the switch was wrong, and that he
was on the eve Of fearful collision. II
WAS proven by employees and passengers
on tue train that the mir brakes were
applied and the engine reversed before
the shock of tho collision, but that the
space was too short for Hunnicutt to save
his train, which he was evidently trying
to do when lie 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. 1t was impossible for SO 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 aIterward.
After long and careful deliberalion
over all the evidence, tue 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.
and Courier, Nou. 7.