The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14

There was a bad collision in the
yards of the Atlantic Coast Line at
Florence yesterday morning at 8
O'Clock and resulted in a Wilmington
man, Captain Oscar Hinton, being Sc
r1ously and perhaps fatally injured.
He was carried to the hospital in
Florence where he is at the present
time. His wife and Mr.. w. G. Farmer
left for Florence yesterday afternoon.
1t is feared that Captain Hinton is
hurt internally. He is a brother of
Messrs. Joseph H. and Edgar Hinton
and has many friends in his city who
hope that his injuries may not prove
as serious as feared. The accident de-
layed the train from the south which
did not arrive until nearly 4 o'clock in
the afternoon.
The following special to The Mes
Senger from Florence tells of the ac-
cident:
The Atlantic Coast Lines pay train
n a switch engine collided in the
freight yard here at 8 O'Clock this
morning, resulting in the serious and
probably fatal injury of Conductor Os-
a Hinton, of Wilmington, shake III,
OF the entire crew of the pay-train and
demOlishing of two engines and several
cars. The collision occurred just in
front of the Jail Inc the force was so
great that it could be heard blocks
away.
Engineer Jack Johnson and Conduc-
tor Oscar Hinton, were in charge of
the pay-train with engine SO, the
switch engine No. 443 was in charge of
Engineer Darcy Thomas, and yard
Conductor Birdie H. Gordon.
At the time of the collision a heavy
fog prevailed and the two Engineers
could not see each other until just be
O i the locomotives went together.
The engineers and firemen of both
trains jumped and escaped serious in
jury. Engineer Johnson was hurt but
not seriously.
The track was blocked for about
three hours, delaying the train from
Columbia to Wilmington, as it was
necessary to transfer baggage, passen-
gers and express.
Conductor Hinton is 1t the Coast
Line hospital here and has one rib
broken and a number of cuts on his
face and body. besides he is suffering
from internal injuries.
The Florence Times, in speaking of
the wreck. says:
"The accident was due to d very dense
fog which hung owe the place, the
edge of the cloud being just about the
iron works. The shifter was pulling
her string down the yards backwards
and the engine of the pay train was
coming in from Mayesville pulling
backwards. The paymaSter's staff were
all in the living compartments OF the
car and escaped unhurt. The W end
ers were completely demolished and are
living in scrap iron on the sides OF the
track. The front of the engine OF the
pay train was driven half way through
the pay car. Conductor Hinton was III
the end of the pay car when the crash
came, and how he ever escaped DelnS
crushed to a pulp is beyond nulhaI
guess. Engineer OF the pay
train was hurt, but was able TO get
.awav from the scene. The other crew
escaped by jumping.
The crash was loud enough When
the cars came together, to attract the
attention of people several blocks away
and very soon a big crowd gathered
The wounded conductor was placed as
comfortably as possible on the ground
, beside the train and restoratves ad-
ministered by his friends. DOCTORS
King and Gregg were
promptly and were soon in charge OF
the wounded man.
Mr.. Hinton was taken TO the Hospital
at once and his family Informed OF the
accident. He is from Wilmington; d
moghtv fine fellow in the opinion OF the
people here who know him, and many
of them do. He is thought to nave
been injured internally. One OF mas
ribs was broken and he is SUFFERING
very greatly.
Engineer ]. NJ. Johnson. Of the pay
train, received only slight bruises.