Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-26
EA1AI RAILRoAp WRECK.


North Western railroad jumped the
track at point about three miles
south Of Yorkville last Wednesday af-
ternoon at s o'clock, and as the result
Of the accident, Fireman Frank e.
Hardin was killed. Engineer Robert d
Smyre was somewhat shaken UP and
several passengers received more OF
less trivial scratches and bruises.
The train consisted Of an engine and
tender, combination car and pas
senger coach, in charge Of Capt. II. 8.
Ross, the veteran conductor, and had
on board thirty-nine members Of the
Chester Commandery No. knights
Templar, and thirteen ladies Of their
families on their way to join Knights
and ladies of Glover and Yorkville at
banquet that had been spread at this
place.
The extra left Chester at 4.20 p. m,
being pulled by an, engine running
backward with the tender In front, and
making no stops, was going at the rate
Of about thirty miles an hour. Then
came a humping and jumping Of the
train. and before anybody could realize
what had happened a sudden stop, with
the two cars careening Off the track,
and many Of the passengers who were
standing up at the moment, jerked off
their feet.
1t was but moment or two before
everybody in the coaches realized that
there had been wreck; but strange
to say there was little excitement. All
the ladies were seated, Of course, and
none Of them suffered discomfort
from the shock.
After having ascertained that no one
was seriously hurt In the coaches, the
work Of a moment, DR.. Harvey E. Nc
Connell, one of the Knights, hurried
forward to the head Of the train and
found both the engine and tender over
turned. He got there in time to see
Engineer Smyre climbing out Of his
cab, from which he had escaped as II
by miracle, and peering anxiously
down the track toward the coaches.
How many Of them gomez" tremu-
lously inquired Uncle Bob" Nobody
hurt down that way" replied DR.. NC
Connell; "but what about Hardin?"
Uncle Bob explained that the last he
saw Of the fireman, he was going off
between the engine and tender and he
and DR.. Mcconnell went on to look
further. They found Hardin lying
about thirty feet east of the track to
the front Of the wreck. DR.. Mcconnell
got to him first, but beyond slight
tremor Of a muscle, noticed no sign Of
life. His skull was crushed and his
neck was broken, and 1t was evident
that he had been killed instantly on
striking the ground. Uncle Bob, who
had held up bravely until now, broke
into tears and sobs. His first thought
had been for his passengers; but he
was no less overcome by the death Of
his friend and companion-thef fireman
Examination Of the situation showed
which were in front had jumped the
track first, and had been followed by
the other trucks and then the trucks
Of the engine. The derailed tender
engine and cars had ridden the cross
ties for perhaps hundred feet before
the tender and engine turned over. 1t
was the humping Of the engine and
tender that shook up the cars that
because the engine and tender re-
mained upright for such long distance
that the wreck was not more serious.
The wreck occurred just as the
Knights had begun to buckle on their
swords and get their paraphernalia In
shape for the parade, which they ex-
pected to enter on their arrival at
Yorkville. Some were ready, others
were in different stages Of preparation,
and many were standing up. All were
In a good humor. 1--WE are gone" one
Knight heard somebody say. At the
same time he felt the weight Of the
man in front falling against him, he
pushed him back. This man fell
against another, and the other against
Capt. Ross, who fell against a door
and bruised his face. 1t all seemed to
occur in an instant and 1t was several
moments before this man realized that
his little game Of push was not the
cause Of the whole trouble. Another
Knight, Mr.. w. o. Guy, was standing
near the baggage car door dressing for
the parade. He was thrown over into
the plowed ground unhurt. Mr.. w. w.
Lumpkin Of Columbia, was pretty bad
ly shaken up and so also was Mr. ]. c.
Husbands, who by the way, Is just re-