The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-15
BOTH TRACKS
BLOCKED ON
SOUTHERN R, R. |'
Wrecking Crews at
Spartanburg a n d
Greenville Decline
to Respond to Call
and P a S S e n G e +
Trains Are Being
Held Up

line of the Southern railway was
blocked by the wreck of a peach
train at e7:15 o'clock this evening
between Wexford and Fair For
est. in this county, Is miles west
of this city. and wrecking derrick
crews called here and in Greenville
have refused to respond. While the
wreck K: on the Greenville division,
the Spartanburg division forces
stationed at Hayne, the junction
point, were called upon by Superin-
tendent Maxwell OF the Spartan
burg division. to aid in clearing
the main line. The reply of the
foreman of the crew. according
to Mr. Maxwell. was that unless
some one was under the wreck, the
men would not work. While no one
was injured and the wreck con-
sist:s of only four cars loaded with
peaches. they are SO situated as
to block both the north and south
line and thus stop all traffic. Pas
senger trains are being held both
here and in Greer. but with little
prospect that the line will be open
before well in the day tom orrow.
Under normal conditions. accord
ing to officials of the road, the
wreck should have been cleared, ia
something like two hours and but
for the strike Of shopmen little IN
terruption of traffic would, ,haYe
occurred.
At Spartanburg 40 men are ont
of the Hayne shops. There has
been no break in their ranks. -
!, 1t was reported here late tonight
that a volunteer wrecking crew was
being made up at Greenville and
would be sent to the wreck -
Spartanburg, July IA freight
wreck. which under normal condi-
tions would have. been cleared in
two hours. occurring at. I:to
O'Clock this evening, blocked the
main line OF the Southern railway
near. Fair. Forest, ter miles. west
Of Spartanburg. At , o'clock this
morning the wrecking, crews at both
Greenville and Spartanburg have
refused to work. The efforts to
clear the tracks are being made
without the assistance of derricks.
locomotives keing used to butt
the derailed cars off the tracks.
While the wreck is not on the
Spartanburg division of the South
ern. but on the Charlotte division.
only few miles from where they
join at Hayne. Supt. William Max
well of the Spartanburg division
early in the evening called upon
his derrick crew for service in
clearing the main line. The re-
ply came back, through the fore
man of the crew. that the men
would not go unless it was a mat
ter of saving human life. "If some
body is under the:wreck we will
go. otherwise we will not" was the
answer given Superintendent Max
well. according to his statement
tonight.
Mr.. Maxwell was not informed,
he said. as to what experience Su-
perintendent Hungerferd was hav-
ing with his derrick crew at Green
vile. It was reported in railway
circles at Hayne. the junction point
tonight that derrick had been TAX
en- from Greenville to the wreck.
but was not in operation, the en-
gineer refusing to work. 1t was
understood here tonight that the
action of the foreman of the der
rick crews was in sympathy with
the striking shopmen, since they
are not supposed to be involved in
the strike. No statement was to
! be had from union sources.
The wreck is holding passenger
trains No. so. northbound. in Green
Vile: No. So. southbound. at
Hayne: No. IS and 235 at Spar
tanburg. At o'clock, it was stat
ed. there was some prospect Of
having the southbound track open
by $3.50 o'clock.