Chester County, SC Train Wreck 1877

From the book, "The Legacy of Father James H. Saye (1808-1892), A Presbyterian Divine," published 2006 by Robert J. Stevens, Sr. Rev. Mr. James H. Saye lived near where this wreck occured and entered the below in a diary. I own the copyright on this book, so it's legal for me to post the following excerpt.

"November 23rd, 1877. On this P.M. a passenger train on the C.C. & A. R.R. broke the trestle at the South Fork of Fishing Creek. Two coaches & the baggage car were precipitated into the creek which was already swollen very high at the time. Engine broke loose & was run to Rock Hill for assistance. Citizens gathered to the place & helped out such as could be reached. Coaches floated down the creek & lodged against trees on which most of the passengers took refuge till relieved by the citizens who assembled. Five were taken out on the north side of the stream by James M. Saye, Captain Nunnery, & a Negro named Cannon, aided by others on that side. Four were taken from the cars & trees on the south side by Willis Wherry, John Neely, & a Negro belonging at Mr. Wherry's. One passenger who floated down the creek some distance & held to a tree was taken out by a Negro named Ellick Miller, aided by John Strait. The houses of J.F. Wherry & Major J. Mills were hospitals for the time being, to which the rescued persons more or less wounded were mostly taken & nursed. The conductor of the train was not gotten out till 11 O'clock at night, having got on a tree some distance below the crossing. A boat was brought from the Catawba River for his rescue. The body of Mr. McLaughlin was taken out on the 24th, found below the cars. The body of Mr. Arthur was found in the creek on the 28th two hundred yards below the trestle. Misses Elizabeth & M.J. Wherry & their mother ministered kindly to the wants of the sufferers on the south side & Mrs. Mills supplied to those on the north. J.M. Saye & Captain Nunnery risked greatly in conducting wounded men on floating timbers over very strong currents to the shore, &c. Wherry & Neely cut down a tree on the bank as a pass way over which they led the wounded. Saye tied ropes to hold by & &c."
__________________

Bob Stevens bobhist@yahoo.com