| From the Raleigh Register |
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| June 3, 1863 |
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| Terrible Railroad Accident |
| On Saturday night, about half past 12
o'clock, a terrible accident, attended with the instant death of
eleven negroes, and mortally injuring several others, occurred to an
extra train of box cars, having on board from 500 to 600 negroes. The
train was from Augusta {on the South Carolina
RR}, and the negroes belonging to General Wade
Hampton and brother, were en route from Mississippi to Columbia, S. C.
The accident took place near Bamberg on the Augusta road, about
fifteen miles from Branchville. It appears that several of the cars on
the extra train became disconnected and were left standing on the
track, the negroes inside being asleep and totally unconscious of
their situation. |
| The down passenger train, which was
running on schedule time, came up, and the brakes applied, but too
late to prevent a collision. The engine plunged into the train of
cars, running over and into them, making itself and two of the cars a
complete wreck. |
| The scene that followed was indescribable.
Assistance was sent for to Branchville, and every thing possible done
for the relief of the sufferers. Only one, a colored fireman, was
injured on the passenger train. He attempted to jump off, and had his
leg slightly sprained. In addition to those killed on the extra train,
it is thought three others will die from their injuries. |
| The passengers are warm in their praise
and exculpation of the Engineer and Conductor on their train, as they
made every effort to reverse the engine, &c., but found it
impossible. {This last paragraph is found in the
Charleston paper, but was not copied by the Raleigh paper.} |
| Charleston Courier, June 1 |
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