The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-04-14
4 Horror Of The Rail.

CHARLOTTE, y. C., April 1.-THE diff
ference of u minute in watches or tain or
ders to-day caused the loss on the South
ern of three lives, injuries to six persons
and the loss of thousands of dollars to the
railroad. Tie most frightful railroad ac-
cident that has startled this section Of the
State since the great wreck at Bostian,
near Statesville, in August, 1891, occurred
this morning at Harrisburg, small
town about thirteen miles north of this
city.
Train No. SO, the north-bound Florida
special on the Southern. and train No. II,
the south bound local passenger, collided,
killing three persons and wounding six
The killed ere: II. Clingman Benton, Of
Charlotte, aged 80, postal clerk on No.
II; Titus Eudy, of Forest Hill, Concord;
Will Donaldson, fireman on No. 81.
Wounded w. B. Tunstall, of Danville,
engineer of No. 3G, badly scalded on the
head, arms and face; j: c. Kinney, Of
Thomasville, engineer Of No. II, scaded
about chest, back, arms and neck-will
die; James Lowell, conductor of No. II,
cut on the face; Fitzhugh Lee, colored,
porter on No. II, legs hurt; William
Clemens, of East Durham, N. c., slightly
hurt; r. Z. Gallagher, express messenger,
hurt on the head and arms, also badly
bruised.
The accident occurred at Ills o'clock.
Train No. 36 was manned by Engineer
Tunstall, Fireman Donaldson and Con-
ductor Gentry. Ii left Charlotte late,
but had orders to have the right of way
and meet No. II at Harrisburg. The
train consisted of all engine, mail car, two
express cars full Of vegetables, baggage
car, second and first class coaches and two
sleepers.
The track for mile or so approaching
Harrisburg is perfectly straight, except
at one point, where there is small curve
and considerable cut. The side track at
harrisburg can be plainly seen for more
than q mile approaching from this side.
Capt. Tunstall, who was, Of course, on
the lookout for No. II, kept his eye on the
distant siding, expecting every minute to
see No. IL run into it, 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-fve miles an
hour, bu. by reason of the topography OF
the country losing sight of the siding as
he neared it. No. II, the local passen-
ger, left Concord late. 1t was manned by
Engineer J. C. Kinney, Fireman Ed Lee
and Conductor Jas. Lowell. 1t had or
ders, so one of the trainmen says to meet
mo. 90 dI ldIIlSUuIS az 1i'Ai' ~ nav
slowed up, preparatory to running into
tbs siding, and was only hundred yards
from the north end of the switch when
No. Sc dashed into the cut.
The two engineers faced each other
with faces blanched with the fear OF a
horrible death. Engineer Tunstall ap-
piled his brakes 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 sharp crack of thunder.
There were ninety-six passengers on
No. 36. AS soon as they felt the jar of the
air brakes they knew something serious
was wrong. Several ofJhem were thrown
forward in their seats, but none of them
were hurt. The instant the train stopped
thew Jumped out to see what had happen
ed. 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. IL
was up amongst the telegraph wires; the
two express cars of No. 36 we're splinter
ed into thousand pieces, hardly piece
as big as mans arm being left. In less
than three minutes time the postal car
of No. IL was on fire, and but for the use
of the chemicals at hand. and the heroic
work of Postal Clerk John Hill Carter,
both trains would have been in flames in
few minutes time. But the first
thought of those who hurried from the
trains to ascertain the cause of the stop
page, and who were greeted by the
frightful scene described, was for those
who were in the cabs and forward cars.
What of them, where were they? The
eager questions were soon answered by
sights that made the heart sick and a
sense of faintness to overcome one.
Out of the rear part of the postal car No.
IL, which was demolished by the engine
of No. SO, hung Postal Clerk Benton,
head downward. His body was out Of
the car, but his legs were pinioned in un-
der the engine, and so close to the boiler
that he was being burned by the heat
and steam. He begged piteously to be.
extricated. "Cut my legs off," cried he
"I am being scalded to DEATH" Heroic
efforts were made to rescue him. Three
Jacks We're placed under the engine, and
the passengers worked hard, but there,
for an hour and half, he hung with his
body out ofthe car and his legs pinioned
next to the hot boiler. The only relief
that could be given him while in this
frightful position was the keeping of his
body wet with cold water. A bucket
brigade was formed and bucket after
bucket was thrown on him, but it
could not counteract the effects of the
| steam.
Helived fifteen minutes after being TAX
en- out. During that time his agony was
frightful. He refused to take any spirits,
saying that he would soon be dead and
that it was not worth while. When asked
whether he wanted to be taken to the hos
pital or his home, he said: 81 will be
dead, it will not matter" He told the
bystanders about his wife and children in
Charlotte, and, with their names upon
his lips, expired.
The body Of Fireman Donaldson, of
No. 3G, was found in the centre of the
wreck. It was a sickening sight. His
head was mashed perfectly flat, and his
body was mass of pulp. One arm could
not be found for some time.
John Eudy was found about the centre
of the wreck, under the mail aud express
cars. He never spoke, but died few
minutes after being taken out.
Capt. Tunstall was picked up on the
embankment unconscious, and was found
to be badly scalded, on the face, arms and
head. He regained consciousness after
being carried into the am bulance car.
Capt. Kinney was pulled out from the
wreck alive, but so badly scalded that he
was not expected to live through the
night. It was thought that he had in
hailed the steam as he begged constantly
for something to cool him inside; that he
was on fire. He became unconscious
shortly after reaching here, and tonight
his recovery was pronounced impossi-
BILE.
From the rear part of this engine the
colored porter, Fitzhugh Lee, who had
gotten on the cugine to flag at Harris
burg, was taken out from where he was
fastened down by the tim bers Of the mail
car of No. sc. He had to be sawed out
From his knees down be was fastened.
Fireman Ed Lee, of No. II, was not
hurt, but his clothing caught on fire and
it as nearly all torn off him in order to
save him. He came to Charlotte clad in &
blanket He was unnerved by the shock
of the collision, the sight of his engineers
sufferings.
Express Messenger Gallagher was not
seriously hurt. William Clemens was
painfully hurt, but not seriously. He was
found with Capt. Tunstall on top Of the
embankment.
John Eudy, who was still living, was
put on board the car. He was not mash
ed, but was hurt internally. He died