The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-09-15

UOdTu pdSSclSCl u dia .>o. Il SP>N
across sinking bridge 300 yards south
CT the Catawba river and two miles
from Catawba Junction, and then
plunged from the tracks down a steep
embankment about 80 feet high, only to
be followed by an extra freight engine,
No. 654, with a caboose attached,
mingling the two flyers in mass OF
wood steel and iron with about 40
pieces of human cargo There was not
single soul among them that escaped
unhurt.
1t was said by trainmen Of long ex-
perience that a more complete demol-
ishment of railroad equipment could
scarcely be imagined So thoroughly
ruined were the engines and the coach
es that the trainmen were on the point
o. setting fire to the debris, but the
authorities of York county stopped
them. The scene at the bridge beg
gars description. The engines lie over
turned-huge, shapeless monsters OF
iron, with their helmet-shaped sand
boxes and other parts scattered within
q radius of 100 feet. The coaches are
like crushed wooden shells, with their
red plush seats in indescribable confu-
sion; trucks, wrenched loose from the
bottom of the cars, are scattered
around; about the only part or parcel
Of the railroad equipment remaining
intact are the two red lanterns swing
ing from the rear Of the Pullman.
There were many theories advanced
as to the cause Of the accident. The
railroad men fell in line with the opin-
ion of Mr.. George S. Fitzwater. chief
detective Of the Seaboard Air Line, that
the collapse Of the bridge. and the tear
ing loose OF the right hand rails, were
the result of the work Of some mali
cious person or persons. Mr.. F1tzwater
showed six spikes and several angle
bars which he picked up near the wrack
and said that they bore the marks of
having been tampered with. Upon this
theory, it was concluded that the pas
senger train had struck weakened spots
on the lower half Of the bridge. A speed
cf 40 miles an hour had enabled the
train to carry itself almost over the
sinking structure. but the rails had
widened; the Pullman, which did not
quite clear the chasm. acted as draw
back, the engine careened, tearing
from their fastenings the rails on the
right hand side going south. causing
The train to be hurled over the en-
bankmeIt. What motive there could be
for anyone to bring about such slaugh-
ter, and who the guilty persons might
be- neither Mr.. Fitzwater, nor the other
railroad men attempted to explain. A
close examination Of the rails, ties,
road-bed and bridge was not produc-
tive Of much light on the subject; all
appeared to be sound and solid. The
rails on the side where the train top
pied to destruction were twisted to an
arc shape. The track is not IN q curve
il the vicinity; it stretches straight
way for perhaps mile.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
The killed are:
ENGINEER E. Y. BARkSDALE, Abb
beville. S. C.
FIREMAN ED ROBERTS, (colored)
Atlanta, Ga.
MRS. T. F. BLACK, of Ohio.
MRS. T. S. McMANUS. of Whining
ton.
The injured:
MRS. JAMES CLAY, Oakland, Tenn,
fractured jaw.
T. C. JEROME, Atlanta, Ca. slightly
bruised.
MRS. T. C. JEROME, Atlanta, Ca,
shoulder and head injured.
DIR. EDWARD BANKS, Athens, Ca,
back injured.
MRS. SIDNEY HERBERT, Maitland,
Fla. foot amputated; may die.
MRS. JEROME SILVER, Atlanta.
bruised.
G. W. HINsoN. Lenox. Ca. jaw in.
jured.
TOM MITCHELL. colored, brake
man, Abbeville, S. c., head and shoul-
ders injured.
o. S. COLEMAN, Bon Air. Va. arm
dislocated. head and chest injured.
PINK CARPENTER. Monroe, porter.
head and body injured.
V. S. ELERBY, Atlanta. Ga, colored,
Pullman porter.
J.G. CARPENTER, Atlanta, Ca,
Pullman conductor.
G. H. MEARES. Monroe, engineer;
bruised and wounded on the head.
]. ]. DUNCAN, Abbeville, brakeman,
badly wounded on the head and shoul-
6ers.
H. H. CHAPMAN. Abbeville, S. c.,
conductor; head seriously hurt.
G. H. DAVIS, Atlanta, Ca, express
messenger.
w. FAIRMAN. Atlanta, Ca, mail
clerk.
B. F. WEST, Monroe, conductor;
slightly injured.
F. C. TOPLEMAN. Henderson.
TOM JEFFERSON. fireman for No.
GAS: bruised on the head and shoulder.
F. C. TOPLEMAN. address unknown.
T. C. HORTON. address unknown.
T. F. BLACK. Ohio; Norfolk and
Western Railroad telegrapher
ROBERT SIEGLE. address unknown.
MOLLIE GRIFFIN, Tuskegee, Ala.
A number of colored laborers also
were slightly hurt.