The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-08-12
FATAL WRECK ON TIE AIR LINE.
4 Train Jumps the Track Running
ut Great Specd-.Scvcrnl Persons
Observation-Disclosures Ransom
Dies Of his Injuries.
(GyccD,iWe Nc1rS.)

l. (uICtUtTtte NCpH.J
The passenger train from the north on the
| Air Line rntlrOnd, uUe here Mt 7.lj a.. M, WIS
IN hour and twenty minutes behind at Spar
thnburg yesterday morning md pulled way
was hurry tn make up the lost tim and the
train, consisting Of mail and express cars,
first and second class passenger. couches and
two Pullman slecpers, rushcu along at great
speed. Between Spnrtanburg and Wexford
there IL a double curve somewhat in the Shape
| OF the letter - The first curve was rounded
safely, but at 7.N, when about the middle Of
the second one, at Il point 81 miles the other
J side Of Wexford where the track runs from IL
cut on to- small fill, the second class paSsen-
ger coach left the track, quickly dragging the
first class coach and the two pulmans with 1t
while leaving the engine and mall and cx.
press cars on the track, the couplings snap
| ping like thread under the strain.
The second class passenger coach turned
over twice, breaking down Inc telegraph wiscs
and winding them around them without
breaking them or preventing communication
over them. The first class coach, Immediate
Is behind. WAS thrown fifteen or twenty feet
from the track and fell on its side. Tho force
Of Its flight down the bank is illustrated by
the fact that II struck a telegraph pole and cut
1t In two so cleanly that the remaining upper
part Of IL fell sluarely through one Of the car
windows IN an upright position, and remain
cd SO. supporting It's wires us usual.
There were SIX or eight persons in the sec.
ond class coach, including Conductor j. ].
Ransom. lie sprang to his feet as some mo.
" " WV Shl W tlil 'SOIiiCltiIlS "tS W
and reached for the bell cord, but before lie
could grasp 1t the car was flying through
space, and quicker than thought 1t had turn
ell over twice and was lying at the bottom OF
the cmbmnkmcnt, Il slHpeless mass of glass
and Splintcrs. In the first class coach tho
passengers, about twelve in number, felt IL tire.
mcndous wrcnching and twisting which tried
every joint Of the wood work, and before they
knew what was happening they were piled up
against The side on which the coach rested.
The Pnllmans had not cleared the cut at the
time, and therefore fell against the bank
which impcdcd their progress and prevented
them from sizzling against The real OF the first
class coach. The rear Pullman ran into tho
other. however,, and broke lis end badly.
Almost before the noise OF the great crash
had ceased, some OF the passengers had scraIn-
blcd out, and little time was lost In ascertain.
Ing the damage and casualties. Everybody
In the " passenger cOaches was hurt, but II
was soon found that the only persons very SC.
riously injured .wcrc Conductor Ransom and
an unknown colOrcd man who lived at Wei
ford and who's mime could not be obtained
1t is thought that lie was employed by the
railroad company In some department. DR.
Black, Of Wexford, was sent for and quickly
reached the scene OF the wreck, and after tho
immediate wants Of the passengers had been
attended to they were conveyed to Wexford.
Subsequently DIR. Martin and DIR. Moore nrriv.
cd and assisted. The physicians united in the
opinion that Mr.. Ransom was fatally hurt,
and he seemed to believe IL himself. He talk.
cd with friends for Il time and expressed the
! ~ tilhC iS ~ w " si-
injuries. His back seemed tO'be broken, and
he was otherwise hurt about the head. He
was soon put under The Influence Of opintes 10
relieve his suiicrings, AID subsequently he
began TO sink, He never rallied and at s
o'clock In the afternoon he, died.
The passengers who came here united in
speaking in terms OF warm admiration of the
hcroi<m of Mixs Mamie Law, daughter of the
Row. r. II. Law, Of Spartanburs. She was ONT
OF the coolest OF the passengers and gave in.
valuable assistance in caring for the wounded
and nidi'ig others, her courage and self pos
session being equal TO that OF the bravcsl
man.
The trouble Is supposed 10 have resulted
from the spreading of the rails on the curve.
The engineer Of The wrecked train says II has
always been Ms habit to look back when run
ming over tho double curve. lie did SO yes
tcrtlay and SAW the second clgSs coach as j,
left the track. He says il reared up almost on
one end before 1t turned Ovcr.
Mr.. Random wns about AZ years old, mt
leaves wife and four childien. lie lived ir
Atlanta. He had been Il railroad man fol
many years. and had been running ON the All
Line six nr eight years. He is said To have
been more highly regarded by his company
than any other conductor on the line.