The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-12-07
ASHBY DAVENPORT AND
WILLIAM SWlTTENDERG
AUTO CRASHES. INTO SEABOARD
FREIGHT TRAIN.
Accident Occurred on ElmWOOd Ave-
nue. in Columbia Early Sun
day Morning.
Special to The Herald and News.

Special to The Herald and News.
Columbia, Dec. 6.-Mr. Ashby wv.
Davenport and Mr.. VIM. C. Switten-
berg. both Newberry boys who have
been living in Columbia for the past
several years, met horrible death at
an early hour on Sunday morning,
when an automobile in which they
were riding dashed into freight train
on the Seaboard Air Line railway
which was crossing Elmwood avenue,
this city. Mr.. Swittenberg was in
stantly killed, his body being mangled,
and Mr.. Davenport died in very short
time in a local hospital to which he
was rushed in an unconscious condi-
tion.
The bodies of the two young men
were taken to Newberry this morning
for interment in Rosemont cemetery
this afternoon.
In the car with Messrs. Davenport
and swittenberg at the time of the
fatal accident was MI. ]. Frank Falls,
a Newberry boy who has also been
working in Columbia for some time.
The young men lived on Elmwood
avenue, near Main street. 1t seems
they had gone up Elmwood across the
Seaboard track, and had turned and
were coming back down Elmwood to-
wards Main, when they ran into the
train. The testimony at the inquest
was to the effect that the gates had
been lowered upon the approach OF
the train, and that the automobile
smashed the gates. The gates have
red lanterns attached, and the watch
man says these were burning.
A coroner's jury was enpanelled
and the inquest was begun on Sunday
afternoon. Owing to the inability OF
Mr.. Falls to appear, as result OF the
! severe shock which he sustained, the
/ inquest was adjourned until tonight.
Mr.. Falls had a miraculous escape from
death. being thrown from the car and
only bruised.
The freight train was north-bound,
and consisted of more than forty cars,
, The watchman at the crossing says
an automobile which he took to be the
I same car that was wrecked a few
minutes later, crossed the track, 60
ing towards Elmwood cemetery, just
ahead of the train, and few minutes
later smashed into the train on the
other side of the street. The young
men had evidently gone up towards the
! cemetery and turned around, and were
coming back down Elmwood to the
home at which they boarded.
Mr.. Davenpart represented the At
! Iantic Life Insurance company, and
Mr.. Swittenberg was bookkeeper for
]. M. Van Metrey Mr.. swittenberg had
worked late on Saturday night on his
books, and the supposition is that Mr..
Davenport had picked MIN up after the
/ store had closed.
Messrs. Davenport, Swittenberg,
Falls, and !Messrs. William Scurry and
Roof, Mr.. Scurry being also from New
berry and Mr.. Roof being Newberry
college man, had been rooming at the
same home in the same community
for the past couple of years. They were
all doing we'll in business way IN Co
.lumbia; and were popular among
large circle of friends. 1t was only
on Friday that Mr.. Scurry was called
to Newberry on account of the sudden
death of his father. Within the short
space of forty-eight hours afte had
been cruel to four Of the five close
companions.
Messrs. Davenport and Swittenberg,
the deceased, were we'll liked in busi-
ness and social circles, and their un-
timely death was severe shock. The
car which Mr.. Davenport was driving
at the time of the accident was an
Oakland touring car, which he had Sc
cured through an arrangement with
his company on account OF his increas-
ing insurance business. They were
sober and industrious and genial, and
the future was bright for them.
Mr.. Swittenberg and Mr. Davenport
;5;,,o - tho front Seat of the