The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-05-11


Of broken timbers, the hiss Of escaping
steam and cries drowned out by borri-
BILE gurgling sounds and the rushing OF
waters 200 feet below the bridge. Ten
minutes later he mad aroused the Sec
ton gang, and they all went to the
bridge together.
Climbing down the framework OF the
bridge to the creek, no signs of disturb
ance or disaster could be found. There
was nothing unusual about the little
creek. The shallow bottom was plainly
visible when the men swung their Ian
terms down to peer into its clear waters,
nor was there bolt or rivet displaced
about the great new steel structure.
When Superintendent Belford Of the
southern division came to his Office the
next morning, there was the usual stack
of correspondence awaiting him. His
clerk had it all opened and nicely sort
ed, as was his custom. There were
three telegraphic reports that claimed
the great mans attention at once. All
three bore on the same subject, and an
axasperating subject it was. The first
message was from the dispatcher Office
and was to the effect that the operator
at Muldrow's Mountain had reported
train coming south at S:10 a. m., when
the train sheet showed that there was
no train on the road within miles OF
him, No. IS having been annulled and
no extras running. The report further
stated that the operator had insisted
that an engine and caboose had disre.
garded his red signal and passed south
at 3:13 a. M, and that no amount OF
arguing would make the man change
his statement.
Attached to this was second tele-
graphic report over the chief train dis
patcher's initials, stating that No. %
had been held at Cordelia Junction to
await the wild engine reported as "by
Muldrow's Mountain at 3:13;' that 90
was delayed l hour and S5 minutes
thereby. This account ended with the
following 30 Litchfeld operator has seen
nothing of the wild engine, and Leroy's
gravel train ran from Cordelia Junction
to Litchfeld and reports mo train or
engine between these points :"
The second report was from the con-
ductor Of the fast freight, No. %, and
briefly stated that they were delayed !
hour and 35 minutes at Cordelia juno
tion waiting for an extra, light engine
and caboose, which passed the Junction
south at 4:45 without whistling sig
nails.
The report Of the station agent at
Cordelia junction said: extra engine
and caboose south by 4:45. Disregarded
station signal and failed to whistle rail
road crossing. .
The superintendent read these twice
over carefully. Then he read the morn
ing report from the transportation de-
partment, and he noted that there were
ssno extra trains, . and that trains No.
1S and l6 were annulled. -
This, then, was the question that surg
ed through the superintendent's brain
and threatened to overwhelm him:
"What was the light engine? Whence
came it and whittier had it gomez"
Turning to his clerk, Belford said.
"Have the crew Of No. 20 come to my
ofice as soon as they get in.'' Then he
wrote out several kilograms that were
to set the machinery in motion for an
Immediate investigation. For trains to
run over his division without orders
and disregarding signals was serious
master-an alarming matter, in fact.
A full statement from the night oper-
ators at Muldrow's Mountain and Cor
della junction and talk with the crew
of 90 would probably clear it up.
The transportation department knew
nothing more than the report by wire
had shown. The sole representative Of
the motive power department. who could
throw any light ON the case was the en-
gineer of No. %.
None Of 22's crew was too well pleas
ed at the peremptory summons to ap-
pear ''on the carpet" They were
tired, sleepy and worn out, and it is not
d p46aSaut lu4uSS W 10 Cot4Oo ukAAOC1OA0 y
the high tribunal OF railroad life with
out knowing what charges are pending.
An hour later found The train crew,
Master Of Transportation Rainsford and
Superintendent Of Motive Power Small
assembled in the superintendent's Office.
| The two latter were at desks provided
for them. and the investigation had be-
gun.
The evidence of the fireman and
brakeman was of no value, as they were
inside when the wild engine passed and
saw nothing Of it. Conductor Blair's
statement was commonplace enough.
He was held for orders at Cordelia
Junction and got "hold order" for
an extra south, number of engine not
given. The extra had delayed them and
passed at 4:45. They were on the "Y"
waiting, and the switch was set for the
main line. This closed his statement,
and he was about to leave when the su-
perintendent said: "Wait minute,
Blair; one more question. Was there
1 ~, L<A n, WI h1y, ~