A DESTRUCTIVE WRECK.

A RICHMOND AND DANVILLE PASSENGER RUNS INTO A FREIGHT.

AUGUSTA, Ga., December 20 - A serious and destructive wreck occurred on the Richmond and Danville railroad at Granitville [sic], S. C., twelve miles east of Augusta, at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon.

The New York fast passenger train, which left Augusta at 1 o'clock p. m., ran into a local freight train from Columbia in the siding. The accident was caused by a switch not being set to the main track. The freight backed into the siding and failed to set the switch to the main track. The boiler of the passenger engine was driven into the boiler of the frieght, and both were almost completely demolished. Engineer W. W. Ficklin and Fireman York were thrown through the cab window, Ficklin being seriously injured and horribly scalded by escaping steam. Engineer Hughes and fireman Allen, of the freight, leaped from the cab before the collision. Three passengers were injured, Miss Sallie Lepper, of Langley, S. C., Miss Clara Battey, of Graniteville, S. C., and mail agent J. W. Gordon, of Charlotte, N. C. The rest of the passengers escaped.

The Columbus Daily Enquirer - Sun, Columbus, GA 21 Dec 1893
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!