The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-02-27
a FEARFUL TRAGEDY.
Particulars from Summerton Steam Mill
Explosion.

q fEHRfOE kRNeOGs
Particulars from Summerton Steam Hill
Explosion.
SuMmEsroS, February 26.-Yes-
terday between 10 and IL o'clock
| a. H., at the steam mill of Messrs
Ingram & Ragin, our little communi-
ty was the scene of the most horrible
tragedy in its whole history. Your
correspondent was at his place OF bus
mess, in company with Mr.. Wesley
Richbourg, when We were startled by
| q fearful report which shook the
building in which we were standing.
We at first thought of powder, but
the prolonged kissing noise caused by
the escaping steam located it at once,
and we knew that there had been an
explosion at the mill, some 800 yards
distant. The momentary deathlike
after-stillness, when every ear was
strained for what was to come, was
soon broken by the heartrending cry:
"Mr. Ingram is killed."
Hoping that in the confusion there
might be some mistake, I rushed on
soon arriving upon scene that beg
CARS description. The gin house and
mill shed were a mass of debris. The
boiler, with a huge piece torn out
from the top nearly one-thlrd its
length. was lying upon its side, the
TEE ENGINE BLOWN TWENTY YARDS.
engine some twenty feet away broken
into hundred pieces. This was TAX
en- in at a glance. Fearful that the
worst might be true, the question,
"Where is John 2" was put with heart
in my throat. I was pointed to a
spot where my eye rested upon mass
of unrecognizable human flesh and
TEE BODY TERRIBLY MUTnATED.
bones. One limb, severed at the hip
joint, striped Of every particle of
clothing save shoe and sock, was ~
ing several feet away, bruised and
broken from toe to thigh. Doubled up
around the dome of the boiler was
the remainder of what a few moments
before constituted the noblest makeup
I have met in the shape of man. 1t
was feared that his head had also been
blown off as it could not be seen any
where but upon removing some par
GELS of clothing that were still cling
ing to his body we found portions OF
scalp to which were attached parts OF
the upper and lower jaws, half OF one
eyebrow, and corner OF the eye and
nostrils. Every particle OF the skull
bone was gone.
We tenderly gathered together
what was Left and placed them upon
8 sheet to be transferred to the coffin
as soon as one could be obtained.
Although painfully injured and SUI
fering g1eat DEAL Mr. a. P. Ragin
gave very intelligent account OF the
affair up 10 the beginning OF the ca
tastrophe. His attention had been
directed by the engineer to suspic-
a DEFECTIVE BOILER
ious crack in the boiler, and upon Mr..
Ingram's arrival he carried him to the
place and began to show him the dan
ger attending the firing Of the engine
in that condition. Nose Jones and
Ishsm Gaillard, both coIored, were
standing near them. All at once the
steam began to open, and boiling
water and steam began violently to
escape, and they all acting upon one
impulse began to try to escape. Mr.
Rag;n and The negroes retreated, but
Mr.. Ingram dashed forward, which
threw him between the boiler and the
engine. The fragment of the boiler,
to which was attached the dome, split
from the off side and was hurled vio-
lently on against the engine carrying
Mr. Ingram along with the whole.
OTHERS INJURED.
MIR. Ragin is painfully and perhaps
seriously injured. It is feared that he
viii lose one of bis eyes, besides his
throat is badly scalded.
Nose Jones's injuries are very pain
full and may be fatal Isham Gaillard
was slightly scalded, besides being
badly cut over one eye and on one
hand.
The most touching testimonial to
John Ingram's worth was given by
the immense crowd of negroes who
even begged to be allowed to do
something for him. One poor fellow
| in Johns employ-came to me with
broken voice, saying he was complete
ly broken up, he had lost his best
friend. To say what we have lost is
hopeless task. ANON.