The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-06-24

MR.; EDITOR: On last Saturday evening
at the arrival of the passenger train at the
Savannah Valley Depot, in this city, q Sc
rlous accident occurred, by which q hu.
nan being lost his life. 1t may be said
that it was only a negro boy, who had no
business at the Depot, anyway, ana tnat
if be had not been there the accident
would not have occurred. Let that be as
it NAV. but it could have been q white boy
and one of my SOUS or yours, ana then IL
would have been a very different matter.
There was q %coroner's inquest held over
the body by q jury composed OF whites
and blacks, and, as I understand, q yer.
dict returned generating the Railroad
from any blame, that the accident was
unavoidable by those in charge OF the
train, Doubtless the jury gave their yer.
dict honestly according to the testimony
which was brought before them, but, Mr..
Editor. I am afraid they we're not sppris-
ed of the manner in which the train was
brought up to the depot on that psrticu-
lar evening. Every one who Is familiar
with the three tracks at tolls depot u
remember that the main line, as 1t is call
ed, or centre track, has q track on each
side, with the switch some distance beloW
the depot, at the bottom of a grade ap-
preaching. The tracks run 30 close to
each other that when there are cara on one
track and cars on the other, not much
room is left between for the accommoda-
ton of passengers in getting OH, much
less for any one who should meet the
train, And on this particular evening the
engine steamed in aud dropped the
coaches on the grade below the switch and
proceeded at a quicker pace up the main
line over the switch, dropped a switch
man, who turned the coaches in on the
side track, running with sufficient mo-
mentum to carry them Up to the depot,
on the track next to the platform, the ell
CINE having gone on up the main line.
Now this placed the coaches next to tie
platform, too high 70 step up on without
difficulty, consequently the passengers
were getting off of the coach at the lower
end Of the depot building, and 1t Was
there that this boy was Standing watch
ing the messengers arrive and get down
between the tracks, the q upon Which
the coaches were and the main line upon
which the engine was. 1t goes without
saving that the boy was in the way ofthe
engine, either standing on the END OF q
cross-tie, or upon the iron of the main
track, for as the engine came BACK doWn
the said track, this, too, while the passen-
gers were still getting out OF the coaches,
the boy was struck by the tender q
knocked down and crushed before the
engine could stop. Now, Mr.. Editor, 1
do not write this to bring about q prose-
cution Of any one for criminal ca%rales,-
ness, but to point out the danger Of al
lowing passenger trains to be brought up
to the depot in this manner: Every one
knows that they are usually run up on
the main line, a tached to the engine, and
the passengers allowed to alight before
the engine moves again, and this should
be required by those IN authority to be
observed always, and such dreadfu, accl,
dents will hereAf or be avoided. I did
not see the accident, but believe these are
facts in the case, and deem them of suf-
fcient Importance to be called to the at
teption of those in authority, whose duty
it is to look after the protection or the
lives of its citizens CITIZEN.