The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-11-09
ENGINEER DEAD IN WRECK
SWANSEA MAN UNDER ARREST,
CHARGED WITH CRIME.
Fireman, Express Messenger and
Mail Clerk Injured-Blood-
hounds Lead to Suspect.

nOunQS Lead 10 suspect.
Columbia, Nov. 6.-Lawrence
Robinson, colored, was arrested to-
day, charged with breaking the
switch which caused the wreck Of
Seaboard passenger train No. 43, at
Swansea, early this morning, when
engineer w. Edward Pritchard lost
his life and Fireman Prince Davis,
Express Messenger H. G. Freeman
and Mail Clerk T. W. Moore were
injured. No. 43 ran into an open
switch and crashed into eight empty
box cars, standing on the siding,
overturning the engine, the baggage,
express and mail cars, and tearing
up the track for considerable dis
tance.
Evidence showed that the switch
had been tampered with and blood
hounds of Penitentiary Guard John
Robbins were put on the trail and
followed it to the house Of Lawrence
Robinson, colored, in the town of
Swansea.
Lodged in Jail.
Robinson was away from home,
having gone on wagon to a mill.
The officers soon found him and put
him under arrest. He was brought
back to Columbia and taken this af-
ternoon to Lexington and lodged in
Jail. Robinson denies the charge
and protests his innocence. He said,
however, that he served three
years sentence on the Lexington
chain gang, beginning in 1903, for
attempting to tamper with switch
at Dixianna, on this same road,
pleading guilty on the charge when
arraigned in court. He is negro Of
medium height and the only dis
tinguishing mark about MIN is his
lips, which are all covered with
sores. Constable Tod Martin, OF
Swansea, took him to Lexington and
turned him over to Sheriff Miller.
A Horrible Death.
Engineer Pritchard was pinned un-
der the engine and killed before he
could be rescued. Fireman Prince
Davis, colored, escaped, although
badly bruised and shaken up. Ex-
press Messenger Freeman received
a deep cut in the back of his, head,
eight inches long, and his right
shoulder was sprained. Several of
the passengers were shaken up, but
fortunately the day coach and the
sleepers stuck to the rails. A wreck
ing train from Savannah came to the
scene and cleared away tho wreck
age.
The body of Engineer Pritchard
was sent to Savannah, Express Mes
senger Freeman also going there,
while the wounded fireman was
brought here and given treatment at
a local hospital. The passengers
! were taken on to Savannah and
southwark by train No. 81. Conduc-
tor Bates was in charge Of the train.
Work of Miscreant-
The wreck occurred between 1 and
2 o'clock this morning. A freight
conductor, who went to the scene of
the wreck, and who talked to the rep
| resentative of the News and Courier,
said that it was plainly seen that
some miscreant had broken the lock
of the switch and caused the wreck
of the train. The switch locked show
ed that some heavy inst strument had
been used in battering it loose, and
this gentleman said he found the
switch lock all broken and hammer
ed UP, about ten feet away in the
weeds. Bloodhounds were taken
from here by officers, in an attempt
to follow the trail of the miscreant,
who is thought to be responsible for
the wreck.
This man, in describing the wreck,
said that one box car was thrown
across the main track by the force
of the contact. He said that the
hotel keeper at Swansea stated that
the hotel shook from the effects Of
the contact of the train with the sta
tionary box cars.
Main Line Cleared.
He said that the box cars, thrown
upon the embankment by the force
of the contact, caused some lumber
piled nearby to be thrown over the
main track, thereby adding to the
debris. A considerable amount. Of
damage resulted from the wreck, al
though the wrecking crew soon clear
ed the main line and allowed the
trains to get through. Northbound
passenger train No. 66, due here at
about a. m, was delayed by the
wreck and arrived at II o'clock, six
hours late.
Mr.. Ed Pritchard, the engineer,
who was killed in the wreck, was a.
resident of Savannah, Ca, and his
body was shipped there. He leaves
wife, who resides there. Mr..
Pritchard had been in the en-
ploy of the Seaboard for some time
and was highly esteemed by the Of
ficials and the men. AS stated, En-
gineer Pritchard was pinned under
the engine at the time of the wreck.
A leg was cut off and there was
severe cut on the chin, besides other
bruises on the body.
His Second Run.
Express Messenger Freeman, who
was injured by cash in the head
and his right shoulder sprained, is
So