The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-16

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There was considerable excitement
among railroad men yesterday after
noon whe it was learned that there
had been a head on collision on the
Coast Lin and that several men had
lost their lives. The wreck occurred
just south OF the Pee Dee trestle and
was two f~reights. No. 10. north bound
and NO. 34I, an extra south bound.
Those who were killed were: Bruce
Taylor. engineer On the extra freight;
Ishn Hays colored. fremen on h ex-
ira freight and another. colored train
hand.
The injured were: Engineer Nc
LaughIin, No. 10, bruised; John Mich
OILS, a train hand on No. SAT, right leg
and shoulder injured; Arthur Branch
train hand. left hand injured and also
right ankle; Dan Poe, train hand, right
shoulder bruised; Alonzo Moravan,
train hand or No. 10. back injured AMI
legs slightly bruised.
The collision occurred just south o.
the Pee Dee trestle on a fill and OH a
---~- SNA OAA ~NO@AA IA liz NoA v"
in the track at that point the en-
gfneers were not aware of their danger
until the engines were too close 10
possibly stop. Both of the trains were
running at fast speed and they came
together with an awful crash. Several
Of the men jumped n in this man
ner escaped serious injury. Both Of
tse engines are badly damaged and
are said to be lying across the track.
Two cars on No. 10. were demolished
and several others damaged. Three
cars of No. 34T were demolished and
several others damaged.
Quickly as possible after the accident
9phySicians were hurried from Florence
: to the scene Of the wreck. A wreck
ing train was also sent from Florence.
The news of the accident was receiv-
ed by General superintendent Royal
shortly after 3 O'Clock and a wrecking
train was at once gotten in shape n
dispatched to the scene of the acct
dent.
Sae accident is said to be due to Con-
ductor Skinner on the extra freight, No.
s47 overlooking the fact that ne had not
passed No. 10, which was running
Sabetu six hours late. No. 347 SHOULD
nave taken the side track at Pee Dee
station. The railroad officials stated
last night that they expected to haye
the track clear by $3.50 this morning.
The acciden occurred on the main l:ne
and consequently all the trains on both
the main line and the line running
from here to Florence are tied up.
The main line trains were detoured via
Darlington, MaXton and over the c. +
and Y. V. to the main line.
The train from the south. due to ar
rive here at 11:5G D. m. did not arrive
last night until , o'clock and then it
only came from Pee Dee. The ftrain
Frnn7 Column hin was SrOnDa6 ar EICr-
ence and no mail or passengers were
brought in on last nights train. The
train that came from Pee Dee was
the same train which left here yeSter-
day afternoon for Columbia. The train
from Columbia will arrive some time
this morning.
LIVED HERE.
Engineer Taylor lived in this city. his
home being at at No. 211 Castle streeT.
He leaves a wife and two small chill
dren. Mr.. Taylor was a young man
and had been running as an engineer
shout one year. He was a member OF
Lodge No. 319 of the A. F. and A. NJ.
and was also an Odd Fellow. Those
who knew Engineer Taylor speak of
him in the highest terms and many
expressions of sorrow were heard when
the news of his untimely death was
learned. The remains were expected
to reach here this morning on the be-
lated train from the south. The re-
mains will be inferred in h family
burying ground at Myrtle Grove Sound.
WRECKS UNUSUAL
IA wreck on the Coast Inc is an n
usual occurrence. There have been
several wrecks in the past near the
Pee Dee trestle, but none recently.
there has possibly been no road in the
south as free from wrecks as the Coast
line system
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
n following was received from the
Messengers correspondent at For-
ence. s. c.:
"a head-on collision occurred at Pee
Dee on the Atlantic Coast Line this
afternoon at 5 o'clock and Engineer
Bruce Taylor. his colored fireman
a negro train han were killed. The
facts are hard to secure. but from rail-
road men 1 have procured the following
statement:
The wreck occurred on the fill at
the foot of Winona hill on the Pee Dee
trestfe. Train No. 10, in charge OF
Engineer Mclaughlin going ITO Fay
~etteville and an extra freight from
Wilmington, in charge Of Engineer
Bruce Taylor went together. head-on
at full speed. The only reason for col
Iison is Tia it is supposed the conduc-
tor the extra overlooked the non ar
rival at Pee Dee of No. 10. which was
six hours late and went ahead.
The two engines and several cars are
a pile OF wreckage and it will take
sometime to clear the main line.
Engineer Bruce Taylor. is from Will
mington, n. c., and Is married. The
Wrecking train and a large force of
hands from here have gone to the
scene to clear the track. All trains
from Wilmington are abandoned. |