The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-12
TWO TRAINS TELESCOPED.
THREE KILLED AND SIX INJURED
NEAR CHARLOTTE.

ders-A Postal Clerk Dies After Be
ing PiniOned Under the Engine an
Hour and Half in Horrible
Agony.
Charlotte, N. c., April 1.-THE differ
ence of a minute in watches or train or
ders to-day caused the loss, on the South
ern railway, of three lives, injuries to
six people, and the loss of thousands Of
dollars to the railroad.
The most frightful railroad accident that
has startled this section since the great
wreck at Bostian. near statesville, in Aug
ust, 1891, occurred this morning at Har-
risburg, a small town about thirteen miles
north of this city.
Train No So, the northbound Florida
special, on the Southern, and train No.
II, the south-bound local passenger, col
lided, killing three persons and wounding
six. The killed are:
T. CLINGMAN BENTON of Charlotte,
aged 35 postal clerk on No. II.
JOHN EUDY of Forest Hill.
WILL DONALDSON, fireman on No. SO.
The wounded are
w. b. TUNSTALL of Danville, engi-
neer of No. sc. badly scalded about the
head, arms and face.
j. c. KINNEY of Thomasville, engi-
neer of No Il, scalded about chest back,
arms and neck; will die.
JAMES LOWELL, conductor of No. Il.
cut on the face.
FITZHUGH LEE, colored porter on No.
II, legs hurt.
WILLIAM CLEMENS of East Durham,
slightly hurt
r. E. GALLAGHER, express messen-
ger, hurt about the head and arms; also
badly bruised.
The accident occurred at ILLS O'CLOCK.
Train No. 36 was manned by Engineer
Tunstan, Fireman Donaldson and Con-
ductor Gentry. 1t left Charlotte late, but
had orders TO have the right-of-way and
meet No II al Harrisburg. The trains
makeup consisted of the engine, mail
car, two express cars full Of vegetables,
a baggage car second and frst-class
coaches and two sleepers
The track for a mile or so approaching
Harrisburg is perfectly straight, except
at one point, where there is a small curve.
and a considerable cut. The sidetrack at
Harrisburg can be plainly seen for more
than a mile, approaching from this side
Engineer Tunstall, who was of course on
the lookout Tor No. II, kept his eye on the
distant siding expecting every minute to
see No II run into 1t, but, seeing that the
track was clear and no train approaching
and having the right-of-way, he steamed
ahead at the rate of forty-five miles an
hour, losing sight, by reason of the to-
Biography of the country, of the siding as
he neared it.
No. II. the local passenger, left Concord
Ill
Kinney Fireman Ed Lee and Conductor
James Lowell. II had orders, so one of the
trafnmen say, to meet No. 36 at Harris
burg at 11:14. 1t had slowed up prepara-
tory to running into the siding, and was
only a hundred yards from the north end
of the switch when No. S5 dashed into the
cut. The two engineers faced each other
with faces blanched with the fear of hor-
rible death Engineer Tunstall applied his
breaks and jumped.
Almost at the same instant that the
headlights faced each other, the deadly
crash came The crash was heard for
miles around, and the noise was like that
of a sharp crack of thunder.
There were ninety-six passengers on NO.
3s. AS soon as they felt the jar of the
air-brakes, they knew something serious
was wrong Several Of them were thrown
forward in their seats, but none OF them
were hurt The instant the train stopped
they jumped out to see what had nap
pened. The scene that met their eyes beg
CARED description. There were the TWO
great engines piled one above the other,
so that the headlight on one-No. rs
was up amongst the telegraph wires the
two express cars Of No. 36 were splintered
into a thousand pieces, hardly plce as
big as a mans arm being left.
In less than three minutes time the pos
tai car Of No. II was on fire, and but Tor
a. H.. r1n af
heroic work Of Postal Clerk John HIN car
ter. both trains would have been in hames
in a few minutes time.
But the first thought Of those, who hur-
ried from the trains to ascertain the cause
Of the stoppage, and who were greeted by
the frightful scene described, was Tor
those. who were in the cabs and toward
cars.
"What Of them? Where are they?"
The eager questions were soon answered
by sights which made the heart sick, and
a sense Of faintness to overcome one.
out of the rear part Of postal car No.
II, which was demolished by the engine
of SO, hung Postal Clerk Benton. head
downward HIS body was out Of the car,
but his legs were pinioned in under the
engine and so close TO the boiler that he
was being burnd by the heat and steam. He
begged piteously TO be extricated. "Cut my
legs off cried he. Il am being scalded
TO deathl' heElOG eIOTls were udQe 10
rescue him Three jacks were placed un-
der the engine and the passengers worked
hard, but there, for an hour and a half.
he hung with his body out Of the car, and
his legs plnloned next TO the hot boiler
The only relief that could be given him
while In this frightful situation was the
keeping Of his body wet with cold water
A bucket brigade was formed and bucket
after bucket was thrown on him, but II
could not counteract the effects OF the
steam
He lived fifteen minutes after being
taken out. During that time his agony
was frlghtful. lie refused to take any
spirits, saying that he would soon be
dead. and that Il was not worth while.
When asked whether he wanted 10 be
taken 70 the hospital or his home he said.
II win be dead; IL will not matter" He
told the by-standers OF his wife and chill
dren In Charlotte. and with their names
upon his lips. expired.
The body Of Fireman Donaldson OF No.
80 was found in the center Of the wreck.
IL was a sickenlnR sight His head WIS
mashed perfectly fiat. and his body was a
mass Of pulp one arm could not be
found for some time.
John Eudy was found about the center