The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-08-24
SPECIAL" WRECKED.
Fireman Bennett Killed, All Others
Escape Unhurt.

Columbia, Aug. 20.-Fireman Luz
ther W. Bennett, white, of Columbia,
was crushed to death to-day in the
first wreck that mas befallen the
Southern Railways Cincinnati Char
lesion flyer, the Carolina Special"
since that train was established,
about six months ago.
The wreck occurred at 4:45
o'clock just when the train was due
here, both locomotives plunging into
a ravine, where $50 feet of frame
trestle had been burned away, at
Sueville, an Industrial siding four
miles north of Alston and "a miles
north of Columbia. Nobody except
Fireman Bennett was hurt. The
passengers were not even Jared.
Relief Train Sent.
A relief train, sent from Co1um-
bia, returned at 9:15 tonight, with
the passengers and baggage, and de-
parted shortly afterward for Char
lesion. The bridge will likely be re-
placed by noon tomorrow. Mean
while, traffic is being detoured by
way of Charlotte.
The train was crowded, large
number of the passengers being CO.
lumbia and Charleston business men
returning from a Sunday visit to
their families sojourning in the
mountains of Western North Caro-
lima.
Fireman Benefits body was
brought here on the relief train and
taken to his home, 1,410 Barnwell
street, where his wife and babies
were awaiting him.
Both Engineers Escaped.
Engineer DeLand G.. McAlister, Of
No. 1,217 Blanding street, driving
the head engine, No. 1,019, saw the
gap in time to apply the emergency
brakes and to jump to safety, with
his colored fireman, Hal Robertson,
but not>in time to warn the crew OF
the second engine.
Mr.. McAllister's locomotive plung-
ed into the ravine and turned up
side down, and locomotive 1,006 al-
so toppled over the brink. Engineer
William H. Green, somehow, escaped
injury, but Fireman Bennett was Inc.
stantly crushed to death beneath the
ponderous machine. The train was
in charge of Conductor James +.
Weaver, Of No. 1920 Gregg street.
Engineer Green lives at No. 1880
Henderson street. g
Baggage Car Ablaze.
Prompt application of the emer-
gency brakes so checked the momen-
tum of the heavy train, without Inc
juring any of the passengers, that
the coaches were barely moving when
they reached the trestle.H The for
ward end of the baggage car, how
ever, projecting over the brink, took
fire from the blazing timbers and SO
endangered the rest of the train
that it seemed likely nothing would
do but to uncouple this car and push
it into the gulch, on top OF the
wrecked locomotives; but the flames
were put out eventually by the la
bors of bucket chain, formed by
members of the crew and volunteers
from among the passengers.
In the list of workers were: Sgd
ney O. Izlar, of Charleston; Travel
ing Passenger Agent jenkins, Of
Augusta, and several Columbians, in-
Guiding R. B. Cooner, wholesale pro-
vision dealer; R. J. Blalock, city )
councilman, and Charles H. Barron,
lawyer.
Fireman Bennett is survived by. his !.
wife, the daughter of Hiram B..
Mitchell, recording clerk in the Of
fee of the secretary of State, and
by several children. ~
Leaves on Time To-day.
The Carolina Special equipment
left at the wreck is tonight being
taken to Charleston, by way Of Car
Isle, Chester and Columbia, so that
the train may leave Charleston for
Cincinnati tomorrow morning at the
schedule hour, 9 o'clock.
AS required by law, in case of ac-
cidents involving loss of life, the
wreck was promptly reported to the
South Carolina railroad commission, s
which will make the usual investigar
ton. The company's investigation
on it's own behalf has already COM
menced.