The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-15

the passenger coach. On the rails still
was the rear Pullman car Just a short
distance from the break through which
we had all come in such ineXtricable
confusion. 1t was just as if was the
survivor Of a geneal death and destruc-
ton. In a few minutes, however, pco-
pie recovered from their fright and
attention was Immediately turned to
THE RELIEF OF THE SUFFERING.
The officers Of the train worked hero
ically and in short time, considering
the circumstances, All arrangements was
made by which we were taken from our
various positions up to the track. The
bench of the track which had given
way was utilized, aud with the help Of
ropes and the bell lines we were lifted
out of our uncomfortable places. The
reports rs to the number Of the killed
were much exaggerated, the first being
that rearly everybody on the train had
| been killed either outright or fatally
wounded. We found, however. as you
know, that this was not true. When we
were made as comfortable rs possible,
the ladies volunteered their services
on behalf Of the wounded, and they
did
NOBLE DAYS WORK,
a days work which certainly none Of us
will ever forget. rem Gmbcr one lady
4 Miss Campbell, from Summcrville,
who was every where alleviating
the pains Of the sufferers.
There was also lady Miss
Bailey, | think, was her name. who
rendered me and many others timely
and much. needed assistance. She
said that she was on her way North.
with her mother and four brothers and
sisters, all children. Not one Of them
was in the slightest degree injured.
"Thc saddest death Of all. in my
opinion, was that Of Miss White
think was her name, who took the train
at St. Stephens Depot. AS we rolled
up to that place she was standing on
the platform engerly expecting the train
| which was to take her to he1 home in
the upper part Of the State. I helped
her on the car with her baggage, little
| thinking that within less than five
| minutes she would be one of the num-
Der who would never reach their homes
again. After she got on the car I never
saw her again until I saw her through a
window Of the passenger coach as it lay
enclosing its other victims some fifteen
or twenty feet below the track. She
was dead: and must have been killed
almost instantly"
We remained in the sleeper until the
arrival Of the train which was sent up
| from Charleston TO relieve us. The
physicians who come with it Immediate
ly set to work, and in an exceedingly
short time they had done all that human
aid could do to help the un fortunate
sufferers. | half wished at times that
was not able to look around, as I did on
all the scr ow an;? phy:i al anguish
that | saw and heard. Many Of the
wounded were in
INTENSE AGONY,
and even the bravcs1 man alive would
not reprcss cry or groan under such
tortureS as many Of the men endured
Mangled legs contorted arms and
bruised and battered bodies weSe here
there and everywhere. 1t was sickening
and from time I had to close my eyes to
relieve my own suferings. so much
intensified were they by the agonized
expression on every face saw. AS l
told you, shall new er forget the circum-
atances. We were brought into the city
aboot l o'clock last night The rest
you know.