Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"THE FORGOTTEN TRAIN ORDER." Writter for The State l>y J. S. I.; ml. - _-.w-w?wwwww?v TT-TT TTTTTTT1 Reading u Btory entitled "Head On" in Tho Saturday livening Tust of May 7. written by Cy Wnruinn, recalls i<> my recollection of a similar but ronl Incident, which occurred on tho Coluin bia ami CJroenvillo division of tlx Richmond <\- Danville railroad, now tho Southern railway, back in the year 1881), when I was tilling the bo uillon of master of trains for the Richmond & Danville, with hendquar tcrs ami offices at tho old Blooding street station in this city. At tho time, tho old I.aureus railroad, from Helena to I,aureus. :;| miles in length, and afterwards purchased by Hie Co lumbia. Newherry a Laurens and dis mantled, was owned by the Richmond Ai Danville and operated as a branch ol tne Columhln and Qi.nvlllo dl-I vision. PUHSOUger train No. :! left Laurens about 7 o'clock a. 111., daily, except Sunday, running through to Columbia, reaching this city nboul 10:30 a. m. and returning as No. I to Laurens in the evening. Tills was I may say. a shopping train, people on tbi' line between Newherry and Columbia using it for the purpose of coming into Columbia in tho morning to do their Shopping and returning the same day, consequently the travel on the train was always considerable and on the day in question the train was well tilled with passengers. At that time trains wero pretty thick between Columbia and Alston espe cially between the hours of 7 o'clock a. m. and noon. To relieve the situa tion, and expedite the handling of the traffic, a telegraph office had been es tablished at Bookman, a small sta tion half way between Columbia and Alston there being no otb ?? telegraph, office in the 2u miles distance botWCt 11 the two lust named places. Freight train No. 22, for Spnrtnnburg, left Columbia a little late one morning.' and on arrival at Hookman the con ductor requested tho operator at that point to call up c. O., the dispatcher's office at Columbia, and ask the dis patcher to give him a little help against passenger train No. It, other wise he would be in a bole at Book man and be tied up for several hours. The dispatcher at once sent the fol lowing order to Alston and Bookman simultaneously: "To C & E No. :!. Alston. "To C ?<? K No. 22, Bookman. No ::. engine 81, will wait at Wnl lacevlllo until !?:::."> a. m? for No. 22, engine 235." The operators at both places re peated back at once the order and received the 0. K. from the dispatcher. 'I'be conductor and engineer of No. 22 at Bookman signed the order, and getting the complete from the dispatcher, their copies of orders wen? banded to them and they pulled out for Wnllacovillo, having now the right of track over the passenger train to Wallacevlllo until '.?::::. a. They did not Know then that their lives were In Jeopardy. When the operator at Alston got the O. K. to the order from the dispatch er, it became a holding order for No. 3, and the operator was responsible for the holding of said train until the conductor and engineer signed the order on arrival and got complete thereto from the dispatcher. Unfortunately, however, this opera tor, although he bud taken this order but a few moments before, forgot It and gave the crew of No. It a clearance card, stating that there were no orders for the train. You can imagine the amazement experienced by the dispatcher when the operator at Alston called and sent the following: O. S, I which is the train report signal) No. " ar 0:15 ?1 0:17. Upon receipt of this report of tin' passing of No. " the dispatcher real ized in an instant that in about 10 or 12 minutes a head-on collision was inevitable between a passenger train crowded with passengers and running about '.'.'?< miles per hour and a heavy freight train going at full speed in the opposite direction, unless one of the trains could be caught before getting out of sight. The dispatcher then called Rook man and tolil the operator to run out and signal to No. 22 to stop If she had not got away. The operator did as directed, ha: quickly returned with the Information that No. 22 had pass ed out of sight and that he could bear the rumbling of the train in the dis tance. The operator at Alston baft by this time discovered his mistake and be frantically dashed upon the platform of the station, hoping to get a signal to No. 3 and stop It before It got nway, but be was too late. It was reported that the operator began to pace the platform like a madman, be ing conscious that his forgetfnlness would, In all probability, cause the loss of many precious lives and val uable property. W. L. Williamson, who is now hold ing a similar position with the South ern railway in this city, was chief dls pntchor, and was working II ist trick on tiio morning in question. I was scaled at my desk in a room adjoining the dispatcher's ofllcc, un conscious of Lliu Impending disaster, when Mr. Williamson uppeured in Ihe doorway. A glance at Iiis face re vonlod that something serious hud oc curred, for In- was usually a very cool-headed man under nny and all circumstances. I Jo fore he had time to he Interro gated he said, "Wo had better llud ttu> material train (at that time we had no regular wrecking crow, the mate rial train forces being used to clean wrecks) for," said he, "there will he a collision le t ween No. '.'> and No. 22 east of Wallaeeville in a tew moments, and ? will be nbout on Freshley's curve", a very crooked piece of track, with reverse curve's about a mile and a half east of Wallaeeville. I went at once to Superintendent Talcotts ofllce and apprized him of the terrible news. Orders were at once given to II. A. Williams, then yard master, and now the elllcieut di vision superintendent of the South ern railway, to gel up a relief train with an extra wrecking force to he made up from among the workmen in the shops. Physicians were sent for so as to he in readiness to start for the scene of the wreck as soon a* pos sible after receipt of the dreadful de tails of Which there could he no doubt. The suspense in thai olllce was something terrible and. while no one in the room was in any manner to blame, still, there could not hut' he a sense of anxiety and nervous dread, in wailing to receive tidings that perchance would stagger the stoutest of hearts. Cy Wanna II in bis story relates that the chief dispatcher knelt upon the door and prayed, "His face up turned to the Herce light, his lips moving in prayer, tears streaming from Iiis closed eyes." No scene like this was enacted in this instance, hut the writer of this narrative can say in all truthfulness that, from one at least, a silent prayer ascended to the; Almighty, imploring llim to arrest the flight of these trains and save those poor unsuspecting, unprepared souls from being dashed Into eternity. Wallaeeville is live miles east ol Alston, and No. It stopped only on Dag at that point. There being no telegraph office there it will he seen at a glance that, after No. :: had left Alston and No. 22 had also left Book man, tin-re was no possible way in which the two trains COltld he coni municnted with, and that within in or Iii minutes after these trains had departed the crash would take place. ('apt. Frank B. Fielding, now dead, one of the best and most trust, work thy passenger conductors on the division, was pulling the hell cord on No. Upon being handed a Clearance card. Indicating that there, were no ordorR for his train at Al ston, he gave the signal to start, and his engineer, whose name the writer can not recall, opened the throttle and pulled out about on time. The long stretch of trestle east of the switch was carefully crossed, the train gaining momentum with each stroke of the piston, and In a few seconds the green markers, fluttering to the breeze on the rear of No. It, dis appeared round the sharp bend to the left, east of the long trestle. During this time No. 22, being a heavier train and with seven miles to cover within the limited time, was crowding on all possible speed in or der to reach Wallaeeville and be clear on the siding by 9:36, tin- crew of this train having no thought but that No. :? had received the time order at Als' ton and would bo waiting for them. The conductor of the rrelgbt train had sent his head brakeman over the top of the long line of box cars to the engine to be in readiness to open the cast switch, so that there should be no unnecessary delay In clearing for the passenger train. On this par ticular morning a passenger was wait-' ing at Wallaeeville to flag No. :? for 1 the purpose of going to Columbia. As the train approached at full speed, he waved the signal for the train to stop I for him. the engineer promptly an swered the signal by the usual two short blasts of the whistle, the air brakes were applied and the train was brought up standing, opposite the lit tle platform and warehouse, at 9:25, dead on time. The embarking passenger scram bled upon the coa. ;> platform, and ('apt. Fielding, who had alighted up on the ground was in the act of raising bis hand as a signal to go ahead when a bystander, one of the kind that usually comes to the depot to see the trains go by, said, "('apt. Fielding, I hear a train coining from down the road" pointing In the di rection of Columbia. Capt. Fielding said, "Oh, no! I I guess not; 1 have no orders to meet a train here." And tin; man said,! "Step out here a little way and list en." Sure enough, tit that moment, was plainly heard a road crossing signal. Idasts of the Whistle, for Freshley's road crossing. ('apt- Fielding, not being aware that the train approaching had orders against bis train to Wallacevlllo ami not knowing that it would stop at the east switch, yelled to his llagman to run to the east switch Mid throw it to I he sidet rack. The freight train crew, being en tirely Ignorrnt of anything irregular, and seeing the passenger train wait ing with tho switch set for tho siding for tin in. did not know but that the passenger crow had received a copy of the time order. As soon as the freight train cleared the main line, the switch was replaced to the normal po sition, and the passenger train pulled out for Columbia, without the passen-i gers or any one on board, except the crew of the passenger train, being aware that anything out of the ordi nary had occurred, and that an nllwlse and merciful Providence had so direct ed things that a great disaster was averted. During the waiting moments, which seemed hours to the anxious and ex pectant ones in that office in Colum bia when the tension was almost UU liearable, the operator at Bookman began to call Columbia excitedly over the wire and said. "I see No. :', coin hg" "Thank Clod!" was spoken by all in chorus. In a very few moments thereafter tin operator at Alston began to call, and with an unsteady hand managed to send the words. "Thank God! I see No. 22 coming around the bend." An other chorus of "Thank Cod" was ut tered by the anxious ones in that office in Columbia. The operator whose forgetfnlness so nearly caused a dreadful catastro phe left Immediately for parts un known without waiting to he dis charged. Th<' writer of this story, which is true in all essentials, has never learned what became of him. There ?an he no doubt that, where over he may be be will never forget those awful moments of suspense when No. " and No. 22 almost met "head-on." HOW TO (THE RHEUMATISM. It Is a*1 Internal Disease and Requires an Internal Remedy. The cause of Rheumatism and kin dred diseases is an excess of uric acid In the blood. To cure this terrible disease this acid must be expelled and the system so regulated that no more i acid will he formed in excessive quantities. Rheumatism is an internal disease and requires an internal reme dy. Rubbing with oils and Liniments will not cure, affords only temporary relief at best, causes you to delay this proper treatment, allows the malady to get a firmer hold on you. Liniments may ease the pain, hut they will no more cure Rheumatism than paint will ? hange the fibre of rotten wood. Science has at last discovered a per. feet and complete cure, which is call ed "Rheumacido." Tested in hundreds of cases, it has effected the most mar velous cures: we believe it will cure; you. Rheumacido "gets at the joints from tho inside," sweeps the poisons out of the system, tones up the stom- 1 nch, regulates the liver and kidneys and makes you well all over. Rheu macido "strikes the root of the dis ease and removes its cause." This splendid remedy is sold I y druggists and dealers generally at aOc. and $1 a bottle. In tablet form at 20 and .">0c a package. Get a bottle today. Rook let free if you write to Robbitt Chem ical Co.. Baltimore, Md. Trial bottle tablets 2r?c by mail. For sale by LAU RENS DRUG CO. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. Scholarship Examination. The University Of South Carolina offers scholarships in the Department of Education to one young man from each county. Each scholarship is worth $100 in money and $1S term fee With free tuition. Examination will be held at county seat July ist. Examination of stu dents generally for admission to the university will be held at the same t Ime, Write for Information to s. c. MITCHELL. President. Columbia. S. C. Citation for Letters of Administration. The State of South Carolina, County of Laurens. Ity O. (1. Thompson, Probate .lodge: Whereas, J, P, Griffin made suit to me to grant him letters of administra tion of the estate and effects of W. C. Hill. These are, therefore, to cite and admonish all and singular the kindred and creditors of the said W. C. Hill, deceased, that they be and appear be fore me, In the court of probate, to be held nt Laurens, C. IL, S. C, on the 2nd day of June, 1010 next, after pub lication hereof, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, to show cause, if any they have, why the said administration should not be granted. Given under my band this 19th day of May, Anno Domini 1010. O. G. THOMPSON. ?13-2t Probate Judge. We are showing an unusually good : line of Table Glassware, and are nnx ? ions for you to see It. Won't you give i us the opportunity to show you? The prteoH are more than reasonable. S. M. & E. H. Wllkes & Co. Gunn Sectional Bookcases ARE ARTISTIC They eliminate the "sectional book" by doing away with the metal bands, projecting ledges and "step ladders" effect due to different depth of sections. They are made standard depths, in three heights, and in standard, short and long sections to fill all requirements. They are dust proof, doors run on non binding steel roller bearings, made of selected stock, beautifully polished. They are furnished in all the popular finishes, Golden Oak, Weathered or Fumed, solid Mahogany and Birch Mahogany, furnished with either leaded or Plain Glass fronts. Gunn Sections fit any corner. No waste space Gunn Bookcases are Rigid, Simple and convenient Gunn Office Furniture, Best on the Market Let us fill your wants with Gunn Goods 8 I ! i eg i Automobiles for Sale - Automobiles for Hire Phone 178--Night Phone 16?Day J. H. PARKS, Agent Laurens, - South Carolina WINTHROP COLLEGE. Scholarship and Entrance Examina* tion. Tlic examination for the award of vacant scholarships in Winthrop col lege and for the admission of new students will he held at the county court house on Friday, July 1, at 0 a. m. Applicants must be not less than fifteen years of age. When schol arships are vacant after July 1 they will be awarded to those making the highest average at this examination, provided they meet tho conditions governing the award. Applicants for scholarships should write to President Johnson before tho exnminntion for scholarship examination blanks. Scholarships nro worth $100 and free tuition. The next session will open Sept ember 21, 1010. For further Information and catalogue, address Pres. D. B. Johnson, Rock Hill, S. C. 40-Gt Simpson, Cooper ?& Babb, Attorneys at Law. Will practice in all State Courts, prompt attention given to all business. USED UNIVERSALLY CORTRIGHTsh?wo?s WHEN Cortricht Metal Shingles were first introduced (24 years ago) you had some excuse t<>r being sceptical: But now? If you arc sceptical it can only he because you do not know the facts in the case. Tiny .11 c used today from the Atlantic, to the Pacific for all kinds of buildings, under all conditions. They arc fireproof, stormproof: never leak and last as long as the building itself without needing repairs. For further detailed information apply to Apply to Loonl Dealer or (OUTRIGHT METAL ROOFING CO., Philadelphia, pn.