The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-08-13
FATAL RAILROAD WRECK.
THE ASHEvILLE SPECIAL CRASHES
INTO A FREIGHT TRAIN.


Survivor OF tho Engine Crew--A Care,
less FIagman and Conductor.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Aug. "A fatal
and fearful railroad accident occurred
Oh Friday night at LAO p. M, at Ridge
vile, on the line of the South Carolina
Railway. 1t was one of the most Sc
rious occurrences on the road in some
time. The unfortunate event is sim
cerely regretted and by none more than
by the felloW-Workmen of Engineer
Henry Brissenden and Fireman Wes-
ley q. Browne, who lost their lives in
the wreck. Both men must have died
instantaneOuSly, and were hardly aware
of the danger which threatened them
before the end came. 1t was all done as
if in an instant. 1t was one of those
unfortunate occurrences to which Grim
inal blame will, with difficulty, be at
tached to the proper parties. Yet it
does seem, from what has been heard of
the case, that some one on the ObStruct-
ing freight train is in a measure &C
cOuntable.
From what could be learned yester-
day from eyewitneSSeS and others it
must have been Il terrible sight. The
through train from Asheville, coming
to Charleston over the South Carolina
Road, was due at ltidgeville at IL 40
1t is a fast special train. Conductor
and engineer alike had every reason to
suppose they had clear track. But
alas, such was not the case, a ilickering
little red light told them that danger
was ahead, but too late to prevent the
catastrophe, and with a heart-sicken-
ing crash the trains came together.
Engineer Brissenden and Fireman
Browne, who was visitor on the en-
gine, thought it safer to jump and try
and save their lives, but in SO doing
they met instant death, while w. B.
engine, clung to the coal bin and to.
day lives to tell the SJory Of the acci.
dent i'll which his two friends lost their
lives.
HOW IT OCCURRED.
But how did the accident occur? a
freight train in charge Of Conductor
sam lIerrln and Engineer George ).
OBrien was going west, towards
Branchville. The through ASheville
special with Conductor Gilbert and En-
ginecr Brissenden had the right of way,
and was running on its fast schedule
on a supposedly clear track. IThe Ashe-
vile special was due at Ridgeville at
ll.4l p. m. and arrived on time. The
freight train which was the occasion Of
the catastrophe arrived at II 80 D. m.
III was incumbent on the freight train
TO get out of the way Of the regular
passenger train and give her clear
track. The regulations Of the road re-
4uire that the passenger train should
have been given a clear track fully ten
minutes before the schedule time of
the passenger train. Fireman Browne,
who was sitting on the box, was the
llrSt TO see the red signal Of danger.
lie cried in an excited manner,
LOOK out, there is red light" AS
Fireman Johnson, the survivor, ex-
pressed 1t, all on the engine saw
TIE FLICKEl;lNG ltED LIGHT
at the identical moment. Engineer
Brlssenden. who at the time was sitting
on his box, applied the air brakes.
Their danger was imminent. Young
Brownc was the first to jump from the
tram. lie was soon followed by the
engineer. In a few seconds came the
terrible crash-the trains had collided.
Two lives had been lost. and considera-
bic damage had been done the engine
had only gotten about eight Of it's cars
on the switch, and about twenty re-
manned on the main line. About four
OF the freight boxes were telescoped.
Willing hands and anxious hearts were
soon at work looking for the missing.
loung Browne was found near a
switch stand dead. Engineer Brissen-
den was lying near the track between
the cab and tender, in the last agonies.
Both men had
DIED ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY.
Young Browne III jumping must
have struck against the switch stand
and broken his neck. The engineer
was badly crushed about the hip and
body, and no doubt died from internal
injuries received from the jump. 1t
must be remembered that "Old Relia-
Dle' Brissenden, was making the fast
schedule, and he was running at a
speed OF from forty to forty-live miles
an hour.
Capt. S. G. Gilbert, the conductor of
the passenger train, was thrown with
considerable force from his seat. lie
iecelred slight injury about THE head.
Nelther OF the brakcmen nor any of the
passengers on the train We're at all in
Jured. They were all very naturally
Dally frightened and somewhat de-
mOraliZed.
The dead bodies were brought to the
city yesterday morning at IL o'clock
and sent to Undertaken Rchkoprs. in
W0olfe street, to be prepared for bu.
rial.
TIE SURVIVORS, STORY.
The fireman OF the ill-fatcd train, Mr.,
w. Is. Johnson, was perhaps the only
eyewitness to the unfortunate accident
lie was seen at his boarding honsc YES
terday morning by the reporter for the
Sunday News, to whom he gave con
nected and intelligent account of the
accident. With pencil and paper he
drew an outline of the situation The
station he described as being on the
east side Of the side track on which the
1reight ought 10 have gone. About
eight cars were on the side track and
the remainder or the train was on the
main line. The collision was at an
angle. Only the front wheels of the
engine were derailed. 1--WE were" he
said, about four car lengths from the
station, and the station IS about eight
or ten car lengths from the switch
where the accident occurred, before we
saw the fagman with the red light
We were at almost the point where we
saw the light as it was a very flickerine
one. 'Iha hraln yunrn ~ ~, 4, - L.,