The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-09-25
5AIRBRAKEs AT FAULT.
Terrible Wreck Mt Branohviile
Very Narrowly Ayerted.

What might have been serious
wreck on the Southern railway at
Branchville Tuesday night OF last
week was averted by the GOODNESS OF
Engineer Rogers OF a work train. The
regular train to Charleston, No. IA,
was on the main track while the en-
glneer and conductor were receiving
Instructions from the Office, and the
Augusta train was also at the station.
The excursion from Ashcyille was
running as the second section OF No.
IA, and was ten minutes behind it.
For s0ine reason, the brakes OF the
special refused to work, and there was
imminent danger Of Il dreadful col
lision, and actually u serious bump.
The Charleston Post says: When
the excursion train, which had been
blowing the alarm signal, was within
100 yards OF the regular train, En-
gineor Rogers realized the peril, and,
leaping into the cab Of Nh. l4'S en-
CINE, he pulled open the throttle.
The train had just begun to move
when The excursion crashed into the
rear, throwing passengers sprawling
on the floor and seats. Fortunately,
the excursion was going at com
parativcly low rate Of speed. Engineer
Rogers action in moving the Charles
Ion train prevented the force OF I'M
pact being very much greater. Had
the train remained stationary, the
collision would have been much worse
Engineer William p. Sullivan says
he attempted to apply his brakes
when he was three miles from Branch
Vile, and found that they would not
work Then he blew the alarm
whistle to warn the officials OF danger
lie declares that he did all in his
power to bring the excursion to a
stop, when he found the track was
not clear, by throwing on the reverse,
but his action was too late.
1t was Stated Wednesday morning
that the track was very slick from
the rain and that there was not Suttl-
Client air to work the brakes. En-
glnncr Sullivan discovered that his
brakes were not working when lie was
three miles from the depot and in
that distance could have slowed his
train by throwing off power.
Eleven were injured in the collision.
The only person who is seriously in
jured is Wells Pittman, colored, who
Is receiving treatment at the city
hospital. The others are: Dan Small,
A. N. Hampton, S. W. Synder, r. II.
Virgins, Spencer Hardy, j. j. Coles,
A. NJ. Foster, w. GrimShad, j. @.
Fordan and child of a Mrs. Culling.
The injured were Immediately attend
ed at Branchville and DR.. j. S. VIM.
berley accom- panied the train to
Charleston.
The reason for the failure OF the ex-
cursion engines brakes to work has
not; yet been explained I. q, nirldosi
iisSl SIS IS: = % as eSam| |asat 'l' :
c9tiisfon rests will be determined as
Soon as possible. ~
Passengers in the Charleston train
we're seized with panic when the COL
lision occurred and several jumped
from the platforms, fearing q disas-
trOus wreck. Conductor Myers calmed
the passengers who remained, and pre-
vented them from acting rashly. He
was cool and collected and told them
there was no further danger.
Had the excursion train been run
ming fast, 1T would have proved Il
'rrr'bi" disaster, 8, persons: in the
Charleston train and the 3I5 Ashe-
vile eXecursionists would have been
In Imminent peril Of their lives. IL is
claimed, however, that Sullivan was
mol running faster than seven miles
an hour Engineer Rogers efforts to
move the Charleston train is dcserv-
ing of comlncndation, as his action
prevented Il much worse impact when
the engine came together with the
rear car.