The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-13

funeral of Postal Clerk Benton was held
this afternoon, the body being carried to
Monroe for interment The wounded will
all probably recover.
Both train crews are suspended pend
ing an investigation.
Among the passengers in the wreck
were General Julio Sanguilly, Congress
man II. ID. Manly, and three prominent
Cubans.
STORY OF THE WRECK.
The difference of a minute in watches
or train orders Sunday caused the loss on
the Southern of three lives, injuries to
six people, and the loss of thousands of
dollars to the company. 1t was the most
frightful railroad accident that has start
led this section or State since the great
wreck at Bostian, near Statesville, in
August, 1891. 1t occurred Sunday
morning at Harrisburg, small town
about thirteen miles north of this city.
The north bound Florida special, No.
36, and the south-bound local passenger.
No. II, collided.
The killed were:
T. CLINGMAN BENTON, Of Char
lotte, aged thfrty-fve, postal clerk on
No. IL.
TITUS EUDY, of Forest Hill, Con
cord.
WILL DONALDSON, fireman on &C.
Injured:
w. B. TUNSTALL, of Danville, en-
gineer of No. 36, badly scalded about
the the head, arms, and face.
J. c. KINNEY, of Thomasville, en-
gineer of No. II, scalded about chest,
| back, arms and neck; will die.
JAMES LOWELL, conductor of No.
| IL, cut on the face.
FITZHUGH LEE, colored porter of
No H. legs hurt.
WILLIAM S. CLEMENTS, Of East
Durham, N. c., slight hurt.
r. E. GALLAGHER, express messen-
ger, hurt about the head and arms, also
badly bruised.
WATCHING FOR THE LOCAL.
Train No. SO was manned by Engineer
Tunstal, Fireman Donaldson, and Con-
ductor Gentry. 1t left Charlotte late, but
had the right of-way, and was ordered to
meet No. II at Harrisburg. The train
consisted of engine, mail car, two extra
cars full of vegetables, baggage car, Sec
ond 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 considerable cut. The sidetTack at
Harrisburg can be plainly seen for more
than mile, approaching from the side,
except at one point.
Capt. Tunstall was on the lookout for
No. II, kept his eye on the distant siding,
expecting every minute to see No IL run
into it, but the track seeming clear, and
| having the right of way, he steamed
| ahead at the rate of forty-fve miles an
| hour, losing sight of the siding as he
neared it by reason of the topography of
the country.
No. II, the local passenger, left Con-
cord late. 1t was manned by Engineer
J. C. Kinney, Fireman Ed. Lee, and Con-
ductor James Lowell 1t had orders, so
one of the trainmen says, to meet No. 36
at Harrisburg at 11;14. 1t had slowed up
preparatory to running into the siding,
and was only a hundred yards from the
north end of the switch when No. 36
| dashed into the cut.
The two engineers faced each other
with faces blanched. Engineer Tunstall
applied his brakes and jumped. Almost at
the same instant the deadly crash came,
and was heard for miles around.
FIGHTING THE FLAMES.
There were ninety-six passengers on
No. &C. Several of them were e thrown
forward in their seats, but none hurt
The instant the train stopped they jump
ed out to see what had happened. The
two great engines were piled one above
the other, so that the headlight on No.
IL was among the telegraph wires The
two express cars of No. So were plinter-
ed into a thousand pieces In less than
three minutes times 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 Car
ter both trains would have been in flames.
Out of the rear part of the postal car
No. IL, which was demolished, 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
burned by the heat and steam He beg
ged piteOusly to be extricated. Heroic
efforts were made to rescue him. Three
jacks were placed under the engine, and
the passengers workd hard, but there,
for an hour and half, he hung, pinioned
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
bucket brigade was formed, and buck
ct after bucket was thrown on him, but
it could not counteract the effects of the
steam. He lived fifteen minutes after
being taken out. 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 his hospital or his home, he said:
Il will be dead; it will not matter. He
told the bystanders of his wife and chill
Continued ON Fourth Page.)