The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-20
AN AWFUL TRAGEDY IN ABBEvILLE.
Major Zeigler Decapitated by a Train
Sketch of the Deceased.
1G1eenville News, 18th.

GteeEFllle News, 1olQ.
A telegram to Jas. B. Marshall, Of E.
W. Marshall & Co., son-in-law of Major
Zeigler, brought to the city yesterday
morning the first news Of Major Zeig-
ler's sad death. He was known to
many people in the city, and the news
which spread very quickly, was re-
ceived with sadness and regret by
every one. Mr.. Marshall left for Ab-
beville yesterday morning.
DETAILS OF THE OCCURRENCE.
ABBEvILLE, September 13.-A ter.
rible catastrophe occurred on the Alb
beville branch of the Columbia and
Greenville road this afternoon about
four o'clock. Major NJ. G.. Zeiglel
was run over by the train and instant
ly killed.
/ The afternoon train from Hodges
stopped at Roche's wood rack, about
; two miles from town. Major Zeigler,
who had gone to Hodges on the two
o'clock train, was aboard returning
When the train stopped for wood he
was seen to 60 forward through the
second class coach, open the door and
close it behind him as he went through
This was the last seen of him alive
Captain Williams, the conductor, who
was standing on the ground at the
! time, testified before the coroner's jury
this evening that as he was about tc
! board the train as it was slowly moving
forward he heard a rattling under the
car as if of loose brake beam. Look
ing around, he saw the body of a man
under the train. Crossing to the othel
kside Of the train over the platform
of the second class coach, he saw
Major Zeigler's head completely severed
and lying near the rail. Stopping the
train as quickly as possible, he went
back to the body. Major Zeigler was
lying on hisback diagonally across the
road bed between two cross-ties, his legs
crossed, his hat lying near him and his
neck on the rail.
The communityis intensely shocked
by the tragedy, and the whole county
will be grieved to hear of the death Of a:
brave soldier and as faithful citizer
as ever lived.
SKETCH OF MAI. ZEIGLER.
Major Martin G. Zeigler was a native
of Abbeville county. When a young
man he married Miss Dunwoody, /;
daughter of the noted Methodist preach
er of that name. Eleven children were
born to them, one son and ten daugh
ters. His only son Jacob P. Zeigler is
now a wealthy and prosperous planter
and merchant of Shreveport, Louisiana
and one Of his daughters is the wife o1
Jas. B. Marshall, of Greenville. Hiswife
son and five daughters survive him
Major Zeigler served with gallantry ano
distinction in the war, winning there
the title which clung to him ever after
wards. In 1876 he was elected clerk o,
court of Abbeville county, and held the
position until the time Of his death,
having been successively reelected by
almost unanimous vote Of the county
He was man Of fine physique and
courtly manner, and of the greatest
bravery and firmness ofcharacter. He
was esteemed by far the most popular
man in the county, having won and
held his popularity by the shining merit
of noble character. For some time past
he had been suffering from disease siIni.
lar to that which caused the death Of
Congressman Aiken, and at the time OF
| his recent reelection he had been in
the mountains for several weeks for his
health. He was strict member Of the
Methodist church.
MAJOR ZEIGLER's SUCCESSOR.
ABBEvILLE, Sept. 15.-L. D. Connol
is appointed clerk Of court to fill the
uneXpired term of Major Zeigler, de.
, ceased. Mr.. Connor has been DEPUTY
clerk for twelve years. His appoint,
ment is for two and a half months.
Itgives great satisfaction.