The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-08-12
Our Trip to SummertOn.

ter G few minutes ride in the Cincinnati
sleeper We reached Foreston, where we
spent the night with relative The next
morning we had short chat at the depot
with the moving spirit of Foreston, him
who is always in the van in every progress
sive movement, Col. R. R. Hudgins. He
was specially bouyant about his brag cotton,
and says he fears no one in the State, as he
is confident he will gather more cotton from
ten acre field he has, than any other far
mer in the State will gather from field of
equal size.
Col Hndgins is an Old man in years. but
in energy and work, in seeking to give
pleasure to others, in church matters in
everything, he is the leader. He is a man
who loves to sec his town improving, and
who stands ready at all times to give his
money and influence for the benefit OF his
town.
The Atlantic Coast Line has just COM
pleted handsome depot at Foreston, and
no longer can complaints be made on this
line. The depot is conveniently situated
in the centre of the town.
Leaving Foreston about eight o'clock
Thursday morning, we took back-track to
Wilson's, to connect with the Wilson d
Summerton train Wilson's is about four
miles from Foreston and five from Man
ming. Once this was busy. buzzing place,
but since Mr.. Thomas Wilson has moved
away his saw and planning mills, it has
very deserted appearance. Our young
friend, Walter Burgess, has charge of the
post Office, telegraph office, express Office,
passenger and freight depots for the two
railroads, and we think he also has charge
of the only store in the place. He manages
to do all this work by himself, and yet occa-
sionally has little spare time on his hands.
There is great change in the business of
this place.
After delay of an hour at Wilson's the
train for Summerton was ready to start.
Our train consisted Of an engine, combi-
nation passenger and baggage car, and two
freight cars. The passenger car was sand
witched between the freight cars; the en-
gine was in front but was turned backwards,
and so ran the entire distance.
About nine o'clock the whistle sounded
and the train started. Capt Suits, very
polite and accommodating gentleman,
occupied the double position of engineer
and conductor. AS soon as the train started
the train hands got hold of a watermelon,
and seemingly enjoyed greatly the luscious
fruit, but not being able to consume all of
it they rested the remainder quietly on one
of the passenger seats until they had safely
passed Jordan. when they in short order
consumed the residue.
Time was no object with US, so it seemed
as if the time in running to Jordan was
comparatively short. This place is much
larger than we expected to find, and from
the railroad depot it presents the appear
ance of growing and prosperous little
town.
The next station was Davis, where Mr. c.
N. Davis holds sway. He has large saw
mill, store, and other enterprises. There
are signs of much activity here. At this
place we left our rear freight car standing
on the main line. AS there is only one
train on this road, of course there was no
danger of an accident resulting therefrom.
When about two miles from Summerton
our digni6sd old engine began to snort and
blow as if there was something the matter,
but as the train hands paid little attention
to these signals we gave it no thought, but
when we had crossed Taw Cav, and struck
an up grade, our train stopped. Then we
learned that for nearly mile the train had
been running by itself, and the old engine
had been trying to keep out Of the way. The
coupling had pulled out Of the engines
head, and as the cars were on down-grade,
they had run along by the force Of gravity.
It was little dangerous, but We didn't
know it until the danger was over, and then
no harm had been done. We were only
about half a mile from Summerton, but the
sun was hot, with no shade trees along the
track. After delay Of quarter OF an hour,
Capt. Suits kindly consented to take rs all
on his engine. In o few minutes the hu-
man freight and baggage were transferred
to the engine, and the run was pleasantly
made. The passengers consisted of Mrs.
DR.. Brockinton and her two children, OF
Manning; Miss Tyson ConyerS OF Foreston;
Mr. Haley, of Jordan; and ourself.
The Summerton railroad is run on the
economic plan, and we are told is making
money. There is little or no grading on the
road, the surface being comparatively level,
with little undulation, and the track is laid
on the surface without grading. There are
no wood racks or water tanks. When the
wood gives out, the crew of the train take
their axes and in o reasonably short time,
say an hour, they convert an old dead pine
tree into cord Of wood, and then carry it
in their arms to the engine where it is
dumped into the tender. When the water
gets low, hose sufficiently longis put into
convenient and neigh boring ditch, with
the water five or six inches deep, and by
mears of a pump on the engine the water
| is transferred to the resovoir on the engine.
! Of course tadpoles and small frogs are also
carried into the resovolr and from thence
into the boiler of the engine, where they as
sist in making steam. 1t takes half hour,
probably, to fill the resovoir in this way,
but then the crew and passengers can
amuse themselves in the meantime by
shooting rabbits, fighting mosquitoes, or
picking blackbarries. II the resovoir gets
full before the party gets back, it simply
runs over and out upon the ground, with
out doing any harm.
The engine is never turned around on
this road, but pulls the train backwards to
Summerton and forwards to Wilson's. The
road is poorly equipped, and the train runs
about eight miles to the hour, but, withal,
it is pleasant route, and the conductor is
an agreeable person. The train on this
trip made extra good speed, and ran the
sixteen miles in about an hour and three