The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-09-24
THE EXCURSION WRECK AT FLORENCE.
Meagre Details of the Accident on Fri
day Night.

The Florence Times Of Saturday, the
Goth. gives the subjoined account Of
the wreck of the excursion train IN
the Florence yard on Friday night.
AS is seen no details are given and no
statement, as to the wreck has been
made by the railroad officials:
ssThe excursion train from Whining
ton, returning to Columbia last night,
was wrecked at tie passenger sts ton
here and number of people, various
" estimated from 20 to so, were lnjur-
ed more or less.
est seems from what can be learned,
for very little can be learned at all,
that the excursion train was run IN
two sections. The first section had
discharged its passengers at the station
and sidetracked on to the main line
used by the freight in going to the
yard. It had been there but a few
moments when the Wadesooro freight
came round the curve at lively gait
and the engines crashed together.
The freight train being the Eghtest,
one of the wood burners, mounted the
moeul that was pulling the excursion
train and toppled eff into the ditch.
s.The coaches on the excursion tgaln
were not injured, but the passengers,
many of whom were standing IN the
aisles and sitting on the arms of the
seats, were thrown down and bruised
and cut and hurt in. various ways, but
more frightened than hurt. There
was the greatest excitement for time
and the train was quickly emptied and
the hurt and frightened passengers
were crowded into the waiting rooms
and dining hall, where their wounds
were looked after by Drs. Evans,
Gregg and Hicks. The panic having
subsidized after while the excursion
train was made up again and went on
to Columbia with the wounded, the
physicians accompanying it.
"Where the faultlay it is impossi BILE
to say, the rules of the trains through
the Florence yard being known only
to the railroad men, and they are very
silent On an occasion of this kind.
The matter will be investigated by the
authorities.
Engineer Bowser, of the excursion
train, and Engineer Tom Bissett, OF
the freight, had narrow escapes. Mr..
Bissett is laid up with several gashes
on his head and other bruises. Mr.
Bowser was not hurt so badly and
was out this morning. He was on
the engine at the time the collision
occurred and his feelings may be bet
ter imagined than described Engin-
eer Bissett is said to have jumped, but
to have been caught under the wreck
age and to have crawled out after the
accident. His escape was marvellous.
Zone of the wounded, Brooks
Brown, of Sumter, is now at the Jacob
House, where he is receiving the at
tention of the physicians. His back
is wrenched. r. H. Gamble, Of Sum-
ter, is staying over with him..
The injuries that some OF the pas
sengers received we're more serious
than has been stated, but no list of the
wounded has been made public. Sey-
eral negroes who we're injured have
passed through this city on their way
to their homes, and it is reported
there are others still in Florence who
are unable to travel. One negro who
lives in Bishopville was brought here
last night On stretcber and sent
through to Bishopville this morning.
Mr.. Brooks Brown is still in Flor
eDce and as his injuries are quite pain
full it is not known when he will be
able to travel. It is feared, though
nor positively determined yet, that his
spine was injured. If this he true he
will suffer long time, but may ever
tually recover.