The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-02
Investigating the
Train Wreck.
Coroners's Inquest Takes
Testimony.
Takes

l
Testimony.
This morning at 10 O'Clock she
coroner's jury which was swcrD IN last
Saturday me. 10 inquire into the cause
of tho collision of last Friday morning
between the Northeastern local pas
senger train and the New York and
Florida special, killing Wesley Bishop,
Robert James and John Sellers.
The jury is composed Of an intelli-
gent body Of neo aud are doing every
thing possible to arrive At all tho facts
copnecssd With the crssh that short
eBed the lives Of three men.
The Investigation, while begun this
morning, vas not concluded. as it wss
deemed necessary to have che testi-
moDy Of one or both Of the engineers,
aud as they we're not in condition
70 give testimony the investigation was
continued until next Thursday morn
ing. The evidence Of the engineers
will be very important and the coroner
desiring 10 get At the bottom of the
cause OF the wreck readily agreed TO 8
cootiouaoce Of the Investigation.
Several witnesses we're examined this
noreiDg. the first being Conductor
Webb who vas in charge of local pas
seoger No 50 His testimony in cub
stance was as follows:
CAPT WEBBsS TESTIMONY.
81 am employed by the Northeastern
road, Atlantic Coast Line, in the ca
pacisy Of conductor. I left CharIestoc
on Friday morning last at : O'Clock.
schedule time. / passed the seven mile
junction at 7:15 to meet train 81 at
eight mile siding. the regular meeting
point. When / was about $50 yards
from the switch / was thrown against
the hand railing BY the emergency and
pressure brakes being applied. The
time was 7 II.
..The collision occurred Immediately
after the brakes we're applied was
thrown forward over the hand railiog
of the baggage and mail car. / desire
to state had foil schedule time to make
the siding. Ny arriving time is Til
my leaving time 1922. Train No 37's
leaving time is 7:19 When pressure
brakes we're applied i bad DO idea there
vas going to BE collision. I Thought
my train had run up on the switch
..Thas morning the fog was heav?
bo. had lifted considerably Eight
mile siding is the regular meeting
point. not the junction unless orders
are specially given
No. 81 being northbound has the
eight Of way over all trains unless or
dered otherwise. Whenever 81 got on
my time she would have to lay up. |
being rorthbonnd had absolute right
of way, bnt as the vestibule was so
much more important q train We we're
made the inferior train
Here be fesd rule 81, form G. regsrd-
ing the right Of way of sraina-
1t Vas my place to take che siding
The orders gave 81 The righ. of track
to the junction. provided they did not
pass the eight mile siding before 7:19.
He read rule SO Of the company
that he y.as safe in proceed
log to the eight mile siding.
TRAIN DISPATCHER.
The next witness vas J w. Brsseel,
a train dispatcher of the Atlantic Coast
Line He said:
esOn last Friday morning l received
train orders from the chief dispatches
10 Wilmington, N G for train So
leaving Charleston that morning at I
O'Clock. The following is a copy Of the
order: For Charleston, TO conductors
and engineers on 78 and So; tsain 81
bas righ. of way over IS Florence to
Ashley Junction /; 81 has right Of way
over 81 from Lanes to Ashiey juoctiou.'
TIE conductor aud engineer were
we're each given copy
sTbere was furnished to Captain
Webb Two copies. one for himself and
one for bis engineer 1t is DOT cusso-
mary to get orders from Wilmisgson.'
CONDUCTOR OF NO. 81
John B. Bullock. conductor on the
vessibule. sworn, said:
On les. Friday morning received
order No. 8, a copy Of which has been
introduced. giving me right of wsy
over train SO to Ashley Jructiou. |
received the order at Florence.
"Wheo We reached poiot about one
milo posth of eight mile siding look
ed a. my watch and it was 1913.
Wben The collision occurred / did nos
look at my watch Az soon as ! got