Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-02-24
PASSENGER TRAIN WRECKED.
Engineer w. j. o'Neal Killed i'm
Wreck Near Westninster.
(By A. Il. Gossett.)

SouthDGund passenger train, No. 30,
due here at 2.32 a. M, was wrecked
at Harbin's, five miles south Of West
minister at 2.47. while running at a
speed of fifty miles per hour Monday
morning, resulting in the death of
Engineer William J. O'Neal and the
serious injury of the colored fireman,
Joe Clay.
Through passenger train No. 35
was in charge of Conductor John
Nash and Engineer O'Neal and was
running nine minutes late when
engine No. 1898 jumped the track
mt the frog near the north switch,
demolishing the iron monster, de-
railing the baggage car, two day
coaches and two Pullman sleeping
cars. This train does not carry a
mail car. The track was torn up
for considerable distance, some of
the rails being bent into the shape of
horse shoes. The way was not clear
ed until about midnight. The e-s.
train to pass over was No. 81, South
bound vestibule. Nos. SO and 43
and 80 and IL transferred, while the
vestibule trains remained on either
side of the wreck until the track was
cleared
There is cut As feet deep Just
after leaving the north switch at
Harbin's, and it was here that the
wreck occurred, and the forces had
to work at a great disadvantage in
removing the engine and cars.
Wreck ut Same Place in 1902.
In many ways it was similar
wreck to the one that happened at
the same spot on August 25, 1902,
when Engineer Henry Busha and
Mail Clerk Nathan Lowenthal suf-
fered injuries. In the former wreck,
however, it showed that the switch
had been tampered with and the en-
gine followed the side track and then
turned to the left across the main
line. In this wreck the switch was
intact and the train followed the
bed of the main line about the same
distance, the engine turning to the
right on the siding and the tender
falling diagonally across the main
line. The baggage car, which was
next to the engine, jammed itself
into a ledge of rock, and the for
ward end was considerably splinter
ed. The tracks were knocked from
under the passenger coaches and the
sleeper, and they dropped fiat on the
ground and did not turn over. Aside
from the breaking of few windows
and the loss Of the trucks these cars
were only slightly demolished.
Passengers Slept-Engineer Killed.
1t Is little remarkable that two
ladies In the rear sleeper were not
awakened by the sudden jar and
crash. Ed. Dean. of Norcross, was
the baggage master and miraculous
~ escaped uninjured. So far as can
be learned none of the passengers
was hurt.
Engineer O'Neal and his fireman
were scalded by escaping steam. I'm
aided they crawled from the wreck
ed cab, though suffering intensely
from their injuries. Mr. O'Neal was
attempting to climb the bank and
the fireman was walking down the
track when first seen. Drs. G. M
Walker and w. A. Strickland were
the first physicians to reach the in
jured men and render medical aid.
They arrived within is minutes after
the accident
Mr.. O'Neal was conscious for seve-
raj hours, talked freely to the ply
sicians and others, directing their at
tention to the fact that the switch
was properly set, and that he did
not carelessly run into an open
switch and no blame could be traced
to him for the accident He also
spoke tenderly and affectionately Of
his wife and gave her address. He
lived about six hours, dying at Toe
Goa at about 8 o'clock while being
taken to his home in Atlanta.
Mr.. O'Neal was well known and
much liked on the Atlanta division
Of the Southern, where he had run as
passenger and vestibule engineer for
27 consecutive years. In 1891, when
Nos. 81 and 3S, the finest trains in
the South, were put on the Southern,
he was chosen as one OF the engineers
to have charge Of the engines of
these trains. Since the death of II.
ID. Spinks Mr.. O'Neal was the Oldest
engineer Of the division in point of
service.
Joe Clay, the fireman, was badly
scalded about the neck, head and
face. Hopes are entertained for his
recovery. He was brought here.
where he remained several hours, but
was later taken to his home in Green
vile. 1t was reported here last
night that he was dead, but 1t was
later learned that the report had
been circulated by some irresp onsi-
BILE party.
Officials Quickly on Scene.
Superintendent b. G.. Falls, Mas
ter of Trains p A. Sellers, Chief En-
gineer Julian Neville, Detective La
Far and other officials and head men
OF the Southern were quickly at the
scene of the accident. Two wreck
Ing crews were there and everything
possible was done to prevent long
delay OF traffic.
Lame Shoulder.
This Is common form of muscu-
lar rheumatism No intarnal frnat-