The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-30


General Superintendent Denham.
Son of Capt. Dcnham Burned.
DEAD.
SAM Harris, coIored fireman, scald-
ed TO death.
INJURED.
William Denham, Savannah, pain
fully scalded and burned by heat of
engine Of rear train.
Mrs. NJ. 5. Byclx, Savannah, badly
bruised.
Miss Carolyn Bycl, Savannah,
Slightly injured.
q. G. Barnes, Savannah, bruised.
J. II. Owens, Savannah, badly
shaken up.
III. c. Lamb, hagman, seriously in
jured.
Mrs. G. c. Sonnenberg, YOung's Is
land.
A. j. Cannon, Young's Island.
A. J. BuerO, Augusta.
J.. J. Williams, Augusta.
II. II. Burns, Augusta.
&. j. SOnncnberg, Augusta.
Two passenger trains trying to run
on practically the same schedule out
of Charleston on the Atlantic Coast
Line was the cause of disaster on
that road about o'clock yesterday
morning, in which a negro fireman was
killed by escaping steam, and more
than a dozen passengers injured more
or less. Several We're SaVannahianS
who reached this city shortly after
noon.
llain No. So the Coast Line Florida
Limited, was stopped about seven
miles south Of Charleston by
a negro porter accidentally pull
ing the emergency brake cord.
The train had hardly halt
ed before No. Al, a local. crashed into
the rear car of the limited, carrying
death and destruction in its course.
Among the passengers on the train
was Capt. w. B. Denham, general SUI
perintendent OF the Coast Line, travel
ing in his private car with his three
daughters, son and private secretary.
His car was at the rear of the train
and was badly rammed by the engine
of the following train.
His son, William. was scalded and
burned after being caught between the
boiler of the eagine and the side of the
car, as he was making frantic efforts
to escape from the private car. The
boys coat was caught by the pursuing
to be cut with knife to release him.
Capt. Denham refused to be seen and
no statement from him with reference
to the collision could be secured.
Trains Close Together.
But for the fact that the Coast Line
train leaves Charleston in a very pc
culiar manner by turning around, the
loss of life would undoubtedly have
been greater. Had day coach been
exposed to the force of the ramming
engine from No. Al, the car would
have been smashed into kindling wood.
When the train came to a stop by
the emergency brakes being applied,
the trainmen started to make an in
vestigation. Hardly had they reached
the ground before train No. Al came
racing around the curve and in an in
slant had buried it's iron beak into
the rear of Capt. Denhams private
car.
Fortunately. Capt. Denham, his
three daughters and his private secre-
tary were in the forward part of the
car. In the kitchen was William Den
ham, the little son of Capt. Denham,
and Spencer Shotter, a friend of the
boy. The boys happened to be look
ing out of the rear door when they
saw the approaching train, and turned
to run. The connecting door to the
dining room was wedged so that their
combined efforts could not move it.
Badly frightened, the boys sought
other means of escape in the few Sec
onds before the approaching train was
upon them. Spencer Shotter jumped
from an open window and escaped in
jury. William Denham had just
climbed upon a table in the kitchen in
a frantic effort to find a place of safe
ty when the crash came.
Caught. between the boiler of the ~en-
CINE and the side of the car, and with
the steam and heat from the engine
burning him, the boys position was
perilous. He was rescued before he
WAS seriously injured.
Fireman slowly ScaIded.
In the engine of No. Al Fireman Sam
Harris, colored, bore the brunt of the
shock Engineer Horton having jumped
On time to save himself. Just as the
negro turned to jump he was caught
by a mass or coal from the tender
and firmly imprisoned in the cab
Stunned by the impact and pinioned
by the coal, the helpless negro was
slowly cooked to death. his cries grow
ing fainter and fainter. until they
seaced altogether. Those who saw the
sight, yet were still >sable to extend
help, turned away, sickened by the
scene.
When the heat had subsidized sufi-
ciently, the negro was dug out of the
coal. which reached nearly to his arms.
AS the men tried to pull the body out,
the scalded flesh peeled off the bones.
In the list OF less seriously injured
were the other occupants OF Capt. Den
hams private car, who were all shaken
up and bruised By the violence Of the
shock. Flagman II. c. Lamb was Sc
Tiously injured, though the extent Of
his injuries could not be ascertained
here, the officials refusing to discuss
the subject Of the accident, saying it
occurred on another division.
Mrs. NJ. :. Byck and Miss Carolyn
Byck of Savannah. who were in the
sleeper. suffered painful injuries. Mrs.
Bycks arm was hurt and she was
roughly shaken up. She was returning
from a visit 10 summer resorts for her
health. Mr.. @. G. Barnes was also in
cured.
just In front OF the private car OF
Capt. Denham was the mail car, and
this WAS partially demolished by the
blow from the heavy car just behind.
The coaches and baggage car were also
damaged more or less. The sleeper was
unhurt.
After a delay Of about two hours
train No. % came on 10 Savannah. ar
irving shortly after noon The passen-
gers on the local were transferred.
Was neadinR a Paper.
Mr. A. r. Cart wright. of Charlotte.
-. g.. WIS ono ~ the passengers DID,
abe day coach ana gave "a graphic de-
FcTipfl0u ~ she wreck a. viewed in