The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-06-02
On the Aiken and Augusta Trol.
ley Line Ran Into and
SMASHED TO PIECES
A Passenger Car On Its Way from
Aiken to Augusta. Two of the
Crew Killed and Six Other
Persons Injured How
II Occurred.

Two person we're killed, three fat
ally hurt and three others more or
less injured Thursday night in COLI
sion on the Augusta Aiken Railway
line, near Clearwater, between regu-
lar passenger car and runaway coal
car.
Motorman J. E. Holdman, in
charge of the passenger, car, was In
stantly killed, his head being literally
crushed from his body.
Felix BOddie, an extra man on the
road, who was enroute to the city, and
in the front end of the car, was fright.
fully mashed, receiving internal in
juries, and both legs were broken. II
slived until the relief car reached
Broad street.
Three of the Injured, q. w. Chea-
ham, of Mccormick, S. c., A. w. RIB
erts, OF Augusta, aud Conductor A.
D. Hill, are seriously Injured, and
the attending surgeons give very lit
tie hope of their recovery. The first
two were passengers on the ill-fated
Car.
Claude Atkinson, OF Augusta, G.
w. Long, Of Troy, S. c., and e a.
Kearnes, of Knoxville, Tenn, while
severely injured, will recover or are
Only slightly hurt.
The accident was caused by large
coal car. Of the Louisville and Nash
Vile railroad, breaking loose from the
large express car, and daShing down
grade for mile or more, colliding
with an on coming passenger coach,
and practically demolishing it. Only
those who were on the rear platform
of the passenger coach, escaped with
light injuries. Those within the car
were either killed or seriously hurt.
SCENE OF TIRE ACCIDENT.
The accident occurred mile or
more beyond the power house, at pole
$780,. The actual collision took place
~ 1uBt at the edge OF the trestle that
occurs before reaching Clearwater.
The force of the Impact was some
thing terrific. The large coal car
which had been going down grade for
over mile, struck the front end Of
the car, demolishing the platform and
not only telescopiDg the double
trucker for three. fourths OF it's length,
but literally reducing 1t to kindling
wood.
The unfortunate motOrman, who
has been killed outright, was found
jammed in the top Of the rear Of the
car. The conductor was found jam
med beneath the seats on the floor.
Passengers, seats and other movable
things in the car, were found in one
mass in the rear end. The only for
tunate ones were Long and Cheatham,
who were on the rear platform.
The work of rescue was undertaken
by the crew Of the express car assiste!
by others In the neighbDrhood. A
quickly as possible message was got
ten to Augusta, calling for medical
assistance. A special Car was immedi-
ately rushed to the scene, bearing DR..
w. Fl. Doughty, DR. James b. Nor.
gan, DR.. Goodrich, DR.. Traylor, and
q trained nurse, Mss nenby. On
reaching the scene the interior CT the
express car was converted into hos
pital, and the injured were given
eepvry ossible attention.
It was midnight when the special
car and the express car, both ladened
with their CHASTITY freight, reached
the city. They were met at the foot
of the North Augusta bridge by the
two hospital ambulances, the nrn :.
patrol wagon and undertale le.s wagons.
On the advice nf-hu J'physicians the
cars were o'caown to Washington
.neet t.,J. u the injured were removed
and rushed to the city hospital. De
spite the lateness Of the hours hun
dred or more persons gathered tx
watch the removal Of the injured ane
dead.
The details OF the accident wer'
about as follows:
THE RUNAWAY CAR.
Thursday night shortly after dark
special crew, composed Of Motormal
A. A.. Whitmore, Conductor Gay AM
a negro brakeman, left the po"e
house and proceeded to Clearwater
after a car OF coal, to pull back to tn
power house. The trip out was sue
cessfulIy made, and the coal car,
heavy affair of the Louisville an
Nashville railroad, was ATTACHED d |
the Express car, which the specia
crew was operating, the trip back t
the power house was about successful
ly made when the coal CIR started O.
It's runaway career. The brakeman
was down and opening the switch o
to which the car was to be run. In
switch had to be backed on to, an
evidently in going over Ii, the couI
ling broke loose. The heavy coal cl
started down the Eill, increasing II
momentum at every turn OF I'll
wheels.
The crew we're unable to catch til