The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-31
A Freight Train Wrecked

Columbia, July 2s.-A terrible
freight wreck occurred at 8 o'clock this
morning on the Columbia and Green
Vile Road, just three miles north of
the city. An engine was made old
iron and seven cars were totally de-
stroyed, but miraculously no lives
were lost, though Engineer Madden
apd Fireman Mcdonald were serious.
ly hurt.
AS far as could be learned the
wreck occurred as follows: The regu-
lar freight train from Greenville, in
charge of Conductor Robb and Engi-
neer Land, had reached heavy grade
near the city. The train consisted of
forty-seven cars, and when the engine
got to the steep grade just north of the
cemetery it was stalled and could not
pull over. Conductor Robb sent his
flagman out, as he was bound to do
under any circumstances, but he
knew that a special freight train was
| lust behind him. 1t is said that the
engineer thought he might succeed in
making the pull over the grade, and in
attempting to do so a coupling pin
broke and five cars rushed backwards
down the grade. The flagman was on
duty, but he could do nothing, and
the cars rushed backwards, gaining
velocity at every turn of the wheel.
Just about this time the extra train
came in sight, and knowing the hard
run he had to make up the grade.
Engineer Madden was running at
about forty-ive miles an hour. See
ing the cars coming down on him he
reversed his engine, and had hardly
time to do that when the crash came.
His engine was knocked completely
off the track and jumped diagonally
across it to one side.
The wreck covered both him and his
fireman in mass of wood and iron,
and the escaping steam made it al
most certain that they would be roas-
ted to death. Both, however, after
extraordinary efforts pulled themselv-
es out, and though badly injured they
will not die.
The wreck Immediately caught fire
from the engine. and soon the seven
cars were reduced to ashes. The en-
CINE, too was so badly damaged that
nothing remains of it except a mass of
iron.
The collision made a loud report,
which was heard in the city. AS soon
as it was all over a runner came to
Columbia and gave information about
the wreck, and a train was Immediate
ly sent out. Large crowds visited the
scene to-day, and the Palmetto Fire
Engine was sent out by the city to
extinguish the fire and enable the
| III fp Tln ho
So far as can be learned none of the
train crew was at fault. Conductor
Robb, as soon as he realized that the
engine could not pull over the grade,
went forward. He left a negro on the
rear of the train and sent Brakeman
Townes back the regulation distance.
When the train broke the negro Oh the
cab, seeing the danger, Jumped and
was not injured.
Engineer Madden and Fireman
Mcdonald were sent to the hospital.
1t was learned that neither of them
have received any internal Injuries and
that they will be out again in few
days.
Where the wreck occurred the State
Penitenitiary had about fifteen cords
vi "OOu StaChCu ul' LILO NoS al
burned.
The rear train had only a few boxes
besides the engine. Only one of these
boxes was thrown off the track and
was burned. The others remained
uninjured on the track. The burned
cars were loaded mostly with cotton
seed hulls, which, with the engine,
will represent loss of nearly $50, 900
to the Southern Railroad.
Another wreck occurred from SINH
liar causes at the same place several
years ago. and, as in this case, no liv-
es were lost, although several people
were seriously wounded. So far as
can be learned the accident seems to
have been unavoidable. Trains often
stall on this grade, and it is often the
case that they have to be divided be-
fore they can he brought to the city.
1t was likely the intention to do this
this morning, but the breaking of the
coupling pin upset all calculations and
caused the accident.
AS a consequence none of the trains
to Asheville or Greeville went out
this morning.
A track was completed around the
wreck this afternoon and the delayed
Spartanburg and Asheville trains
proceeded, and all passenger traffic
yras reSpIua1