Another Man Also Killed In Wreck At Spartanburg

Bodies of five Columbians who were killed in a freight train collision at Spartanburg last night were returned here today.

Meanwhile, Southern Railway officials from Columbia and Greenville were in Spartanburg investigating the headon collision of two heavily loaded freights that resulted in the death of six persons.

The bodies of four men were not recovered until early this morning due to the fact that they were crushed and pinned beneath the wreckage of the two large locomotives.

Columbians killed in the wreck were:

C. R. Holcomb of 2025 Hampton street, engineer on the northbound train.

L. B. McCord of 309 Elm Street, engineer on the southbound train.

L. C. Grant of 1716 Bull street, conductor on the northbound train.

Harry C. Schiffley of 1609 Pickens streets, brakeman on the northbound train.

J. C. Summers of 3018 River drive, fireman on the northbound train.

J. D. White, fireman on the southbound train was also killed. He operated out of the Columbia office but lived at Lockhart.

Funeral arrangement for the Columbians were incomplete today. Funeral coaches from the Dunbar Funeral home and McCormick’s mortuary returned the bodies here from Spartanburg today.

Railroad officials estimated the damage to be approximately $15,000, explaining that the locomotives could be reconditioned and put back into service. There was no estimate on the damage to the cargo.

Officials said they were “at a loss” to determine the cause of the wreck. They said, however, that a complete investigation would be made.

“First of all,” M. E. Tatem, Columbia division superintendent, said “we are concerned with clearing the tracks and restoring traffic.”

He said passenger service would be restored this afternoon, but that freight trains, temporarily, would be left standing to avoid interferring with the work.

W. H. Cheney, Greenville division superintendent, was also at the scene today assisting in the investigation and work of clearing the wreckage blocked tracks.

Passenger trains were transferred from east Spartanburg to the union station in Spartanburg and from there to other lines this morning.

The last body, that of Mr. White, was recovered about 7:30 this morning.

One of the freight trains was en route to Spartanburg and the other was traveling south to Columbia. The collision occurred almost beneath an overhead bridge at the foot of Glendalyn avenue within the Spartanburg city limits.

G. H. Driggers of Columbia, a brakeman on the southbound train, said that he was swinging on the outside of his train when he saw the lights of the oncoming freight.

The Conductor D. K. Jones and Flagman Bruce Robinson were warned in time to save their lives. They jumped from the train.

An emergency crew from Columbia was called to assist in separating the engines.

The Spartanburg fire department was called to extinguish a grass fire that had been ignited from the sparks of the wrecked locomotives. Floodlights of the department were used to aid workmen recover the bodies.

Thousands of people lined the banks of the deep cut of the railroad and hundreds watched from the overhead bridge on Glendalyn avenue.

Forces of the city and county were increased by military police from nearby Camp Croft and by railroad policemen.

Both freights were loaded with cargoes. The northbound train carried several cars of timber. Some of the timber was splintered into matchwood by the force of the impact, and coal from the locomotives was pulverized.

When the body of Mr. Holcomb was recovered it was necessary to remove his hand from the throttle.

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5 Columbias Die In Freight Crash

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indicating that he clung to the throttle as the engines crashed.

There was no announcement from railway officials today relative to the cause of the collision. The locomotives collided on the single track “Belt Line” of the railroad that connects Spartanburg and Columbia tracks.

Funeral services for Mr. Summers, who was 25 years of age, will be conducted at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon from the Rehoboth Methodist church at Dentsville. Interment will be in the churchyard.

Mr. Summers has been connected with the railroad company since February. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. J. O. Summers of Blaney; five brothers, A. Fulmer Summers of Blaney, Lacy Summers of Lancaster; Oscar S. Summers of Dentsville; Harry B Summers and Salem L. Summers, both of Columbia.

Also, three sisters, Mrs. J. H. Rabon of Blaney, Mrs. Mary B. Riveria of New York, and Mrs. Frances Jackel, of New York.

Mr. Schiffley was 26 years of age and was making his fourth trip as a member of the train crew. He was a member of Main Street Methodist church.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Nancy Turner Schiffley; a son, Harry Roderick Schiffley; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Schiffley; a sister, Mrs. Douglas Fleming of Columbia; a brother, George S. Schiffley of Columbia; two nieces, Beverly Fleming and Sandra Schiffley.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

Mr. Holcomb, 45, had been connected with the Southern railway for 35 years. He had lived in Columbia for the past 35 years, having been born in Union county, the son of the late John and Frances Bevis Holcomb.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Pearl Douglas Holcomb; two sons, Cornelius Rowell Holcomb, Jr., a junior at The Citadel, and John William (Billy) Holcomb, sopohomore at Clemson college.

Also, three sister, Mrs. C. J. Thomas of Kelton, Mrs. Annie McCracken of Kelton, Mrs. J. M. Whitehead of West Springs; two brothers, Y. E. Holcomb of West Springs and J. B. Holcomb of Kelton.

Funeral arrangement were incomplete.

Mr. McCord, 58, had lived in Columbia for the past 15 years and had been with the railroad company for 28 years. He was born in Leslie, the son of Charles A. and Mary Ann Tucker McCord. he was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Harriet Rebecca Mikell McCord; a daughter, Miss Virginia McCord; a brother T. B. McCord of Rock Hill.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 o’clock Friday afternoon from the A. R. P. church by Dr. C. O. Williams of Greenville, assisted by Dr. R. C. Betts and Rev. T. F. Reid. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial park.