Blacksburg, SC train wreck, Mar 1897

ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTHERN

A Local Passenger Train Wrecked Near Blacksburg.

Special to The State.

Blacksburg, March 25. - Yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, as the southbound local passenger train, No. 11, on the Southern road, with Engineer Tom Chatham and Fireman I. V. Hulsey and Conductor Frank Marshall in charge, was nearing this place and within two miles of it, the tender jumped the track and was turned over on its side. The postal, baggage, and second class cars also left the track and were partially turned over. The first class car was about half derailed and the sleeper remained in position intact. The engine cab was completely shattered, but the damage to the tender and cars was comparatively slight.

The engineer and fireman stayed on the engine and both escaped with slight injuries, the former with a cut on the left hand and a severe bruise over the left eye; the latter had one bone in the left ankle fractured and bruised about the face. Postal Clerk Mansfield sustained a very severe shock and probably some internal injury. None of the passengers were injured but of course were badly shaken up and frightened. The track was cleared and trains running through by 9 o'clock last night.

The train was running at its usual rate of speed, and the cause of the wreck is not known. The escape of the engineer and fireman is regarded as almost miraculous.

General Roadmaster J. A. Dodson, Trainmaster A. Ramsen, Superintendent H. L. Coe and Superintendent W. B. Ryder are all at the scene of the wreck.

The State, Columbia, SC, 26 Mar 1897
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MANSFIELD'S COUSIN HURT.

Atlanta, Ga., March 25. - The Southern Railway passenger train, due in Atlanta at 10:30 o'clock, last night, was detained three hours on account of a wreck near Blacksburg, S. C., yesterday afternoon, in which the engine and five cars were derailed and several of the crew badly injured. Major R. E. Mansfield of Atlanta received serious injures and is to-day confined to his home in this city. Major Mansfield was postal clerk on the train, and in the accident was thrown against the iron pouch rack, his left side being badly bruised. His head was also hurt by a fall. He is a cousin of Richard Mansfield, the actor.

The Minneapolis Journal, Minneapolis, MN, 25 Mar 1897
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!