The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-25

ing the whistle to try to notify the
passenger crew SO that they might do
what they could to stop the train and
make their escape. The freight train
was nearly stopped, owing to the fact
that we were on a heavy pull. When
/ first saw the passenger train he was
shut off and rolling down this grade.
being on sharp curve to the left, he
did not see me. His fireman notified
cape. The engineer was hurt. None
Of the freight crew was hurt except
the brakeman, who received slight In
juries on his head and left hand.
That is about all l have to say"
Engineer Powell is a resident of
Savannah and has been in the service
Of the Seaboard Air Line railway for
ten years and eight months. He said
yesterday that he had never been in
serious accident before.
P. c. Pennington of Savannah was
the conductor in charge of the freight
train. He escaped injury.
S. A. Borders Of Savannah was the
conductor in charge of the passenger
train. He said that he was not in
jured and that it was pretty bad
smashup." Capt. Borders came to
Columbia on the rescue train. He
gave the following account Of the
wreck yesterday:
II am the conductor Of train No.
20 that met with the accident. The
collision occurred this morning at
10.41 o'clock, just after we left Gas
ton and just before We reached Dix
lana. Several Of my crew were in
jured. j do not think that any Of
the freight train crew were hurt to
any extent. l understand that the
freight crew misread their watches,
which caused the wreck. / was rum
ming on time and had the right Of
way. / had, / should say. about so
passengers on my train and I do not
think that any were seriously injured.
We were running from 20 to 25 miles
an hour and ran into the freight train.
which was the second section of No.
81, on a curve. We could see only
a short distance ahead. The express
car was completely demolished. Sew
eral box cars on the freight were
damaged by the impact. We notified
the Columbia office just as soon as
possible and the wrecking train was
sent out"
we will make thorough investi-
cation Of the wreck and a hearing
will be held whenever the witnesses
are able to attenu,' said John G. Rich
ards, Jr., chairman Of the railroad
commission, yesterday. after his re-
turn from the scene of the accident
Following the wreck. the railroad
commission was notified and Commits
sioners Hampton and Richards left by
the special train sent out OF Column
bia by the Seaboard. Secretary Darby
also accompanied the officials Chair
man Richards said that he had no
statement to make concerning the
wreck other than that q thorough in
vestigation Of the physical condition
Of the track had been made.
Full notes on the accident were
made by Secretary Darby. He will
prepare a report to be submitted to
the commission.
The point OF collision was on q down
grade. The curve was three degrees
According to the officials the crew Of
the freight train. going south, could
see ahead for only 200 feet because OF
the woods. The crew Of the passen-
ger train could see only two car
lengths. according to the trainmen
who went to the wreck.
II was riding In the passenger
coach. i felt the emergency brakes
60 on. l was thrown from my seat.
The passengers were tumbled about
and some were injured" said Ollie
Moore, agent for the Wise Construc-
tion company Of Richmond, a passen-
ger. who was on his way from Estil
to Union. He was slightly bruised.
Il don't see how the mail clerk
escaped. The car was telescoped. The
hoor split open and the clerk dropped
down to the track. 1t was biz
smashup," said C.. II. Schwerin of
Sumter. who was slightly bruised by
the accident.
There was an insane woman on the
train who was being brought to the
State Hospital for the Insane. Her
left leg was caught between two seats
and she suffered a severe flesh wound.
She was brought to Columbia on the