The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-11-28
53 PERSONS INJURED
IN RAILROAD WRECK
A. G. l.. PASSENGER TRAIN TURNS
TURTLE NEAR CITY LIMITS.
Running 40 Miles an Hour White and
Colored Day Coaches Turn Over
Injuring 53 Passengers.

9.O3 p. m. was wrecked a mile south
OF the city limits Sunday night and
So passengers were injured. The
wreck occurred on a straight stretch
OF track and it is said the train was
making about 40 miles an hour when
the coaches left the track.
The railroad officials have not
made an official announcement as to
the cause of the wreck, but it is evil
dent that the coaches were derailed
by broken rail. DR.. Joe Cabell
Davis, who arrived at the scene short
iy after the wreck occurred, found
two feet of a rail broken off at a
Joint at the point where the trucks
left he tracks.
! The white and colored coaches were
crowded with passengers and it is
believed that nearly every passenger
on the train was more or less injur-
ed. After leaving the rails the trucks
ran along the ties a short distance
and then turned over. After turning
over the couplings held fast and the
coaches were dragged about 100
yards. Passengers occupying the up.
per tier Of seats were hurled to the
floor with considerable violence.
1t was a terrible moment when the
crash came, but with the exception
OF the groans of the Injured there
was comparative quiet in the coach
occupied by the white passengers. In
the colored coach just ahead pan
demonium reigned. Some one yelled
that the coaches were on fire and
the Wells nf
rent the air.
The lights went out the moment
the coaches left the track and after
they had settled on their sides some
one struck a match. Gas was leaking
from broken pipes and some one
shouted that the next person who
struck match would be killed.
An axe was secured and hole cut
through the rear Of the coach. Ev-
erything was in pitch darkness, but
the passengers crawled over broken
seats and other debris and reached
the end of the coach where the res
cuers helped them to the ground.
Fortunately for the passengers
there were about dozen railroad
men on the train returning to their
various posts of duty after spending
Sunday with their families, and they
rendered valuable assistance in help.
ing TO extricate the passengers,
many of whom were wedged under
the seats.
AS soon as the news OF the wreck
reached town doctors and nurses
were rushed to the scene with all
possible speed. The injured were
brought to Dillon where they were
made as comfortable as possible in
the station waiting room. Here they
were given first aid and the more
seriously injured were taken to
Fayetteville hospitals on No. 80
which came along a short time ar
ter the wreck
One lady passenger whose desti-
nation was Rowland said a moment
or two before the wreck occurred
some one said the train was running
too fast. A man in the next seat re-
marked that it was going pretty fast
but he could ride as fast as it could
go. At that moment the coaches
left the rails.
DIR. Stackhouse, who received
terrible cash in the back of the head
and cuts about the face and neck
from falling glass, was standing in
the aisle when the crash came. He
had risen from his seat to get his
overcoat from the overhead rack and
was in the act Of reaching for the
coat when the first jolt came. DR..
Stackhouse was thrown 10 the floor
with great violence. When he came
to himself he was buried under sew
eral seats. When taken home DR..
Stackhouse managed to walk into
his room and although his injuries
are painful and will keep him con-
fined for several days. they are not
regarded as serious.
An old darky in the forward end
OF the colored coach was held fast
by several seats that had piled up on
him. He was giving vent to most
distressing groans when the rescuers
reached him. He claimed that every
bone in his body was broken and
that he had only few minutes to
live. When taken from his rather
uncomfortable position he made n
hurried examination OF his anatomy
and grinning broadly said. For the
inb o de Lord, isn't got er
scratch"
Miss Ruth Lane, stenographer for
F.. c. Stanton, was with her sister.
Miss Bessie Lane, retsrning from
visit to her parents in Latta Miss
Lane was caught between two seats
and sustained injuries to her back