The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-21
of No. 70. No. COS guide wheel truck
has been driven under No. ~. Her
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cylinders are smashed.
The southbound train had just limb
ed a good grade and was gong dowr
another. No. SO was also coming
down a grade at full speed. NO. 8;
was at full speed. No. 81 was run
ming at about 81 miles an hour.
The most graphic story OF the wreck
was told by Charles Michael, the col
ored fireman of engine No. ~, who
cave me his experience as he watched
me make the hasty sketch of his favor
ite engine, which is so well engraved
by the artist, Mr.. A. w. Hamiter
Michael says that as they came out oil
the curve. they saw the headlight OF
No 60 flashed forth from the opposite
cut. Engineer Bell merely had time
to reverse his engine and grasp the
danger cord as he exclaimed: THAT
is 35." Then he jumped from one
side while Michael jumped from the
other. Michael glanced at the but
ton on his coat which bore the inscrip'
ton, II am insured in The Travellers,
as he remarked, 81 thought it was all
over with me-" But he has been in
the business for many years and has
been in several bad wrecks. lie says
as he struck the ground there was
fearful crash. When he landed one
foot went in hole and he was pitch
ed head first a long distance, his
shoulders finally striking a stump.
He felt himself to see that no bones
were broken and then tried to get back
up the embankment to find Mr.. Bell.
The train blocked his way. Then he
went forward where voices were call.
ing for help. He said the crash had
been dreadful. He thinks Mr.. Thomas
was instantly killed. He did not know
ANYTHING of Mr.. Ulmer. but under
stood he was between the ex'
press car and the first coach when
the crash came. He saw nothing OF
these two. He only remembers seeing
a mans leg protruding from beneath
the wreck. He met Engineer Petit
and found that he was all right. Then
they heard Mr.. Lines hollering.
Conductor Taylor rushed up and
asked where LINES was. They went
near the car, which was badly tele
scoped and smashed and found the
flames beginning to break out. Mr..
Lines was inside the car pinned down
by the mass of trunks. He said he
had not been hurt, but could not extri
cate himself. He and some other train
hands got axes and tried to cut their
way in the side of the car, after he
had tried to get in through the roof:
Meanwhile the flames broke out and
the fire spread with dreadful rapidity.
They worked all the harder, MIR.
Lines begging them most piteously to
save him from being burned to death.
Finally when the fire had gotten SO
hot they could scarcely stand 1t and
the side of the car was in flames, they
got hole large enough to enter.
They pulled out two pieces OF baggage.
lie then crawled in and managed tc
get hold of Mr.. Lines hand. The
heat was intense; he strained every
muscle to extricate the unfortunate
man, but could not move him. The
whole car was afre by this time and
he had to flee for his own life. Lie
left Mr.. Lines in a standing position,
his left arm resting up on a trunk.
AS the flames drew nearer to him
terror entered his eyes now bloodshol
from the intense heat. His lips con
tinued to repeat the piteous appeal,
my God, save me; my God, save
me-" Then came the horrible scene,
the scene that made the blood of the
spectators run cold. The flames
swept around the doomed victim, and
all had to stand powerless and see
him burned alive. His lips continued
| to move as if in prayer to the very last:
Before he lost consciousness one-halt
of his arm was seen TO burn oil and
drop and the skull bone could be
seen. Finally he sank down in the
debris and was seen no more. Many
had to turn their backs.
As stated the car was full OF
baggage and Mr.. Lines was at his
desk in the forward corner Of the car
when the wreck occurred and the
baggage was piled against him.
Express Messenger T. 9. Farmer on
sc happened to have his car door open
when the emergency cord was pulled.
He knew what it meant and he jump
ed, following Michael down the EN-
bankment and stopping colliding with
a telegraph pole. Extra Messenger +.
| w. Price remained in the car which
telescoped and mounted the engine
taking the cab away, but was not In
iured, being extricated from the bag
gage piled on him without difficulty,
Baggagemaster Palmer of 80 was
considerably shaken up, but not In
iured. Mail Clerk James, colored
man, also escaped any serious injuries
There was no other warning to any o
the people aboard the trains than the
application of the emergency brakes
After it was seen that the flame:
could not be stopped the train crews
assisted by the passengers, uncouplet
the Pullman cars and one by one they
were pushed back to place of safety
and thus saved. They were taker
back to this city and Savannah respec
lively. The mails and practically
everything aboard train IS were dc
stroyed.
It is quite remarkable that not &
single passenger was injured in th'
wrecks. The railroad authorities o
this line, which, by the way, has nevel
before had a wreck that was at all seri
Gus, the worst being that near Savan
nah last spring. did everything they
could for the convenience of the pas
sengers, and were quick to get to work
to clear the wreckage.
Mr.. Lines spent his last night on
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