Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-07-16
ANOTHER RAILROAD Academia TRAIN
RUN INTO BRANDYWINE CREEK-TwO
LIVES LOST.

KUN INTO BRANDfWINE CREEk-TWO
LIVES LOST.
Another distressing accident occurred on
the Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad,
yesterday morning, which was attended by
the immediate deahyof two of the employees
of the Company, and the partial destruction
Of valuable firs,-class locomotive. The
particulars of the accident so far as they
could be gathered oil the 9Th inst, on the
spot, from general report and from evidence
adduced before The Coroner's jury, are sub
s,anlialy as follows:
Yesterday morning, a, about twenty-five
minutes 10 o'clock, the through freigh,
train from Baltimore, on approaching the
drawbridge across the Brandywlne creek, oG
the outskirts Of Wilmington, received from
the bridge tender the usual signal that the
draw was closed and went ahead but un-
fortunately, the keeper of the bridge had
given the wrong signal-the dra,g was open
and as a consequence, the locomotive, ten
der and cars, with their unsuspecting officers,
were hurried through the open draw into the
stream beneath Three platform cars loaded
with cross ties, followed the locomotive and
tender. The tide was up and and although
every effort was Immediately made by the
conductor and brakesman of the train, who
escaped by jumping from the cars, 10 rescue
the engineer and fireman, nothing could be
discovered Of them until morning, when
their bodies were found beneath the wreck
of the cars. They had evidently drowned
by being held under water by the wreck
above them, though had they been extricaled
Immediately they would, in all probability
have died, as both were much crushed.
As soon as the bridge-keeper saw the ex-
tent of the calamity, he became almos, de-
men,ed from his feelings of grief and re-
morse. He acknowledged himself in fault,
avowed his determination 10 commit suicide,
10 rid himself Of his burden Of anguish, and
he was only prevented by main force from
rushing into the stream.
He states that, after having closed the
draw, at midnight of Thursday, for the down
train from Philadelphia, he opened it again
TO permit vessels TO pass. Feeling weary, he
entered his house, few yards from the
bridge, and sa, down 10 rest, bu, without the
slightest intention Of going 10 sleep, Thi:
however he did, and says he has recollec,
lion of dreaming in his sleep tina, the next
train had passed Suddenly, he was aroused
by the signal whistle of the approaching
train. He was greatly alarmed, and ran oui
in bewidered state ; thinks he may have
'raiVed his lamp, but is not certain. Before
however, he could recover his presence o.
mind, the train was through the draw
The wife OF the bridge keeper says she
heard the whistle when The train reached
the church (which is abont ! of mile from
the draw saw her husband run out anC
waive his light heard the cars "slack up'
previous to his waving his light, and then i
went on. She ran out, knowing the draw
was open, but was too late 10 warn the en-
glneeT, aud in moment after, the train wa
IN the creek-Ledger Of the 9th inst.
LicHrNING'-We publish The following a
appropriate TO the present season.
"Mr. f. Merriam Of Nsw.York, a dis,in
guished scientific writer and practical phil
osopher, says that persons struck by liehinin
should not be given up as dead for a, lea.
'hfee hours. During the first two hours the
should be drenched with cold water. and
ms ia'ls to produce restoration, then ad
,al'' and continue the drenching for ano,h,