The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-07-31
A Costly Wreck Two Miles
From Columbia.

From COlumDla.
'sIt was a terrific crash, one that
could be heard all the way in tcwa,
Judge, like big explosion" said the
watchman on the Columbia canal yes
terday morning, in speaking Of bad
wreck that occurred at 8 As on the
main line of the Columbia and Green.
Vile division of the Southern Rail
way just this side of the two mile
post. An extra freight train came
along the track at high rate OF
speed getting momentum to mount
the high cemetery hill, while the rear
portion Of preceding freight train
which broke loose near the top of the
high hill came back down the hill at
a higher rate OF speed, if anything ;
the two met and that caused the
crash. They couldn't pass on the
same track, and consequently hun
dreds of citizens went up to the
scene of the trouble, near the Broad
river bridge, during the day. 1t was
hard wreck to clear, inasmuch as it
occurred by the side of pile of be
tween 400 and 500 cords of wood be-
longing to the State penitentiary, and
this and the wrecked cars catching
fire made the vicinity perfect fur
mace The Palmetto engine had to
be sent up from the city and had to
work on the FIRE a long time before
the men could get near enough to
accomplish much.
The wreck was just one of those
things that will occur occasionally.
Every precaution was taken, every
rule carried out and yet broken
coupling pin did the work. No
blame can be attached TO any one 80
far as known now. The loss to the
railroad company will be several
thousand dollars, vile the State loses
about $500 The Baldwin engine
pulling the extra freight train is the
most complete wreck that has been
seen in this State in many a day.
Besides being torn up by cutting
through the co'liding cars, she was in
the hottest part of the roaring fur
mace.
Mr J. w. Daniel, the watcl.man
or the canal, said he heard the engine
of the first train blow near the ceihe-
terry bridge, just on this side of the
big hill. In few moments he heard
the extra train cross the bridge at
Smiths branch and remarked that if
the hagman was not out there would
be trouble on this side of the grade.
In few moments thereafter he heard
the clash.
The first train vas the regular
freight. No 81, pulled by engine
375 and in charge of Engineer Oscar
Land and Conductor c. K. Rabb, the
former being new man The train
was made up of forty-seven cars
Tlse second train was an extra, pull
ed by engine i37, in charge of
Engineer Dan Madden, Fireman. w
j Mcdonald and Conductor D P.
Dodd Three men were injured, but
none seriously, and it seems mirac-
ulous that those on engine l31 should
have escaped alive, as none of them
jumped. but managed to get out by
the use of physical strength after the
crash
Four of the cars of the extra train
were totally wrecked and consumed
by FIRE, while three flats, one box car
and the caboose remained on the
track and were uninjured. Five box
cars ofthe regular train were likewise
destroyed These cars were thrown
mostly to the left of the track where
they we're piled up against the stack
of wood, the trucks remaining on the
track up against the rear of the
engine in mass. The engine left
the track aud turned diagonally to the
left The tender was thrown to the
right and overturned.
Five of the destroyed cars were
empty aad the other four were loaded
with merchandise. cotton seed hulls
and cotton gins.
Engineer Madden was badly
bruised about the hips, but could
walk after getting out from his
masked cab The fireman was pretty
badly shaken up. but was not injured
in any way A colored train hand,
who was on top Of one of the cars,
Brooks Jordan, had his face cut.
The men were taken over to the hos
pital and given proper attention by
Dr.. B W. Taylor, the surgeon Of the
company. Conductor Dodd was
standing on the step OF No. l37 3.
the time of the crash, but sustained
-, otbor ;n,,rxy tIon O 1ifflo bruico