The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-24
Train Of Negro Excursionists
PIunges Into River.
WATERY GRAVE FOR MANY
Engine and Two Passenger Coaches
Under Twenty-Five Feet Of Water.
Engineer Lost Control of the
Brakes at Critical Moment.

Owing to the inability OF Engineer
Reig to control his a:rbrakes, an ex.
cursion train from kinsIon, n. c.,
bound to Norfolk, Va, plunged through
en- open draw in a bridge over tn.
western branch of the Elizabeth river
at Bruce Station, eight miles from
Norfolk, Thursday, and a half hun
dred persons, mostly negroes, were
drowned.
Up to a late hour Thursday night
only seven bodies had been recovered
from the wreckage. The list Of n.
jured, so far as can be ascertain,
numbers nearly one hundred, though
most Of these are slightly hurt A
hrge number of physicians from Nor
folk and nearby cities went to the
scene.
Among the victims, the only white
ones were Edward Jolieffe, manager
OF the excursion, and Edward Forbes,
who assisted him, both Of Greenville.
N. c.
The Merritt Wrecking organization,
Thursday night, dispatched an expedi-
tion to the scene for the purpose OF
raising the sunken cars, which lie in
about 25 feet of water. Until the cars
are raised, no accuratea estimate Of
the number of dead can be given.
Engine and Two Cars in River.
The train was composed Of an en-.
gine and six passenger cars. The en-.
gine and two cars went through the
draw, leaving the four rear cars on
the track. One car was completely
submerged, and the other partly sub.
merged. Nothing is visible of the en-.
Sine, not even the smokestack. 1t is
believed that every occupant Of the
first car perished. The dead can be
gotten only by diving under the car.
The scene following the wreck was
one Of indescribable horror, with the
shrieking Of men, women and children
who were drowning, struggling out Of
the partly submerged coach and float
ing in the river.
The passengers who were uninjured
Immediately started to rescue those
imprisoned in the cars. Norfolk and
Portsmouth were communicated with
and physicians were sent out on
wrecking train. Many people in the
neighborhcod went to the scene of the
wreck and helped in the rescue. The
injured were taken. to the track en-
bankment and were attended there by
the physicians.
Collins Ferguson, the negro bridge
tender Of the Atlantic Coast Line, was
knocked from the bridge by the i'm
pact and killed.
Engineer Reig and Fireman Alfred
Cooper, negro, escaped by jump
ing.
The wrecked train left Kinston, N.
c.. at o'clock Thursday morning with
165 negro excursionists for Norfolk.
It was due to arrive at Norfolk at l
o'clock in the afternoon. Following
this train was another excursion train
over the same road bringing 800 ex-
cursionists from Rocky Mount, N. c.
Preceding the wrecked train was still
another excursion train carrying some
three hundred merchants and others
from Augusta, Ga, Charleston, S. c.,
and Jacksonville, Fla, bound to Bal
ttmore, Philadelphia and New York for !.
the purchase of fall goods.
The first train arrived in Norfolk
at $3.50 a. M, without accident and
the Augusta, Jacksonville and Charles
ton merchants all left for the north
by water.
The Atlantic Coast Line officials
are at a loss to know why Engineer
Reigs failed 70 stop his train before
coming to the draw, as required by
the rules of the road. An investigation
of the cause Of the wreck will be made
at once and the responsibility placed
where it belongs. Relgs himself could
make no explanation.
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