Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-10
ROCK HILL AND VICINITY.
Express Company In New Quarters
Accidental Death at Catawba River

Bridge.
Correspondence OF the Yorkville ENQUIRER.
Rock HILL, Jan. 10-The Southern
Express company has moved its office
from the passenger depot, where 1t
has been located for a number of
years, to the store room on Railroad
avenue recently vacated by Plyler &
Gordon. This change was made last
Friday and Saturday, and as I stated
in my letter of some time ago, was
made necessary in order to make room
in the depot building for Train Master
J. r. Murray's office. The old ex-
press room is now being fitted up for
Mr.. Murray, who will move his office
here from Blacksburg, at an early
date. The express company will have
great deal more room than they had
at the depot and will also be more con-
venient to the business portion Of the
city in their new office. The new
agent has not arrived yet and Mr..
Forney Is still in charge Of the office.
Rev. Ellison Capers, d. D., Bishop
Of South Carolina, was expected to be
present and conduct services at the
Episcopal church Sunday morning;
but was detained on account OF Ill
health. The large congregation that
assembled in the church Sunday
morning with the expectation of lis
tening to a sermon from this able di-
vine, were Of course, somewhat disap-
pointed when they learned that he
would not be there; but they were not
wholly disappointed by any means, as
the pastor, Rev. ]. c. Johnes, deliver
ed a very forceful and eloquent ad-
dress, which was enjoyed very much
by the large congregation.
Mr.. F. B. Ayers, brother Of G. w.
Ayers of this city. and a workman
employed In the construction Of the
new bridge across Catawba river, was
thrown from the top of the bridge
while at work Sunday afternoon and
was killed instantly. He was work.
ing near one Of the large guy ropes
that are operated by the hosting en-
gine, and noticing that the rope was
caught under the end Of a cross tie
he undertook to release it. AS he did
so steam was turned on without warn
ing and the sudden Tightening Of the
rope jerked the unfortunate man from
the bridge and he fell upon the false
works below. His neck was broken,
skull fractured. right shoulder badly
crushed and there were several other
bad bruises on the face and body.
The body fioated for some distance
down the river before 1t was recover
ed. After the body was taken from
the river, it was carried to Fort Mill,
and examined by DR.. Thompson, who
pronounced that death was produced
by breaking Of the neck. The body
was turned over to an undertaken and
prepared for burial. In the mean
time, his brother, G. w. Ayers Of this
Cit and his widow, who lives in Co
lumbia, were telegraphed for; but the
latter did not arrive until Monday
evening. The dead man was 43 years
old and leaves a widow and two chill
dren. He has been in the employ OF
the Southern Railway as bridgeman
for eighteen years, and was considered
one of the best workmen on the road.
He was we'll known in this city and
had quite a number of friends here.
Coroner Louthian held an inquest over
the body Monday morning and the
verdict Of the jury was that death
was caused by accident.