| From the Wilmington Journal |
| October 1, 1861 |
| |
| Rail Road Accident |
| We learn from a gentleman who
arrived in our city Sunday morning by the Northeastern R. Road, that
the non-arrival at Florence on Friday afternoon of the train of cars
due from Wilmington, was owing to an accident. A large, dead cypress
tree, standing a little outside of the cleared margin of 65 feet from
the center of the track, fell during the storm of that day across the
track, about a mile distant from Marion Court House. The Engineer saw
the tree fall, but it was so little in advance of the train, that he
was unable to diminish materially the speed the train had acquired.
The engine, upon striking the tree, jumped forward at least 100 feet,
and was overturned and precipitated into the swamp on the side of the
track. The tender and two baggage cars were stripped of their wheels
and undercarriages so that the bodies of those vehicles were carried
forward by the onward impetus of the train, until it was expended, and
thereby the after cars which the passengers occupied sustained no
injury. At the spot where the wheels accumulated, (in all fourteen
pair) the trestle-work that the train was in the act of crossing gave
way, and the forward part of the third car remained supported by a
confused heap of iron wheels. Wonderful to say "nobody was
hurt." The Engineer and Firemen were thrown from the engine and
in advance of it, and yet sustained no serious injury. The Conductor
was slightly bruised, but no one else was hurt. |
| Charleston Courier, 30th |
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