Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-23
Terrible Railroad Ac-
cident.
Two Cars Filled with Viii.
mingtonians Crushed.
Names of the Killed and
Wounded.

and Baltimore Railroad, about two miles
above Wilmington, which has caused pro.
found excitement and grief throughout the
city, as nearly all the victims were of oui
own people.
The train which leaves Philadelphia at
11.80, p. M, Is a Philadelphia and Bait.
more train, but Its three back cars are
Wilmington cars and are always filled
almost exclusively with people bound for
this city aud stations up the road between
here and Philadelphia.
The train, usually, is quite full Of these
local passengers, bringing all those home
who have spent the evening with friends
or at places of amusement In Philadelphia.
Il is due here at 70 AZ In the morning.
The New York and Washington express
train leaves West Philadelphia at 1910
aud is due here at 1853, one hour and II
minutes after the Philadelphia train. The
accident last night was caused by the lat
ter train running into the rear of the
Philadelphia train and crushing the two
rear cars.
The cause OF the sceldent was the giving
out Of the locomotive Of the Philadelphia
train, and the consequent delaying Of the
train,
The locomotive Of the 1i,90 train gave
out at Chester, and q new one was pro-
cured at Lamokln after considerable delay.
This new locomotive (from lack Of time
TO get up a sufficient quantity OF steam
or some other cause) did not
make good time, and when the train
reached Ellerslie, within about three miles
Of this city, the conductor, Anthony Rue,
found that there was little prospect of his
reaching Wilmington with his train, and
accordingly stopped OF Elerslle aud sent
back brakeman with lantern 10 Sig
nal the following train There is some
conflict Of statement as to whether or not
this brakeman went as far as he could,
but from oil we can learn we believe he
did, the only difficulty being that he did
not start soon enough to signal the Now
York train In time, as there Is a very de-
cided curve there and the track is slightly
down grade.
train, which passed the disabled train Just
this side Of Ellerslle, saw the man pushing
forward with his lantern, and himself
leaned out Of his locomotive and signaled
the coming express train as he neared II,
and its engineer at once put down brakes
and reversed his engine, before he saw the
signal man at all, bat not In time to pre-
vent the velocity OF the train carrying II
with terrible force around the curve. until
the locomotive struck the rear car of the
Philadelphia train.
AS II struck 1t lifted the rear end of the
car of the ground, throwing lie front
platform underneath that Of the next car,
and the two cars at once "telescoped,"
crushing the passengers into one mass as
they eat in thelr seats. An indescribable
scene of terror and confusion ensued and
the cars were in an instant two complete
wrecks and the air was allied with The
shreks and groans Of the wounded.
Everybody at once turned their attention
to the rescue of these from among the
debris, and the unlnjured passengers aud
the railroad employees worked faithfully
until all were got out Assistance was at
once sent from Wilmington and the killed
and wounded were at once brought here
and the latter sent TO their homes.
THE KILLED.
Henry c. Fritz, Superintendent of VIM.
Bush q Co.'s morocco factory, Instantly
killed residence No. S26 Washington
street.
George Pullett, (colored) of Salisbury,
was injured so badly that he dlei by the
time he was got iuto the city.
THE WOUNDED.
Mrs. Henry C. Fritz, both legs and one
arm broken.
Charles E-Frltz, clerk at VIM. Bush &
0U.'sPbadiy- Injured about. the chestyno
doubt fatally.
Mrs. Charles E. Fritz, very slightly In
jured.
Frank Myers, rsOs Jefferson stteet; pain
fully Injured 10 both legs
Samuel R. Lawson, store-keeper of the
p, W. & B. r. R., resides 1856 E. Eighth
street right leg broken.
Wn. r. Bowman, greer, Fourth and
Lombard, painfully Injured.
Charles j. Kyle, coach trimmer, resides
1888 Orange street; one leg slightly in
jured.
Theodore Thomas, of 9Os King street,
slightly bruised.
Milton jackson, principal Of Taylor &
Jackson's Academy, both legs slightly
injured.
Miss Meredith, teacher in Taylor &
Jaekson's Academy, painfully bruised.
William Gordon, teacher 10 Taylor &
Jackson's Academy, slightly injured
B. Hammer, 1888 Madison street, pain
fully bruised.
Geo. A. Garrett, proprietor Of the West
ern Hotel, Fourth and Orange streets, who
is painfully injured in both legs
James Shakespeare, Of Philadelphia, son
Of Mr.. Shakespeare, Of Dover, eighty
injured.
Lorenzo D. Kerr, of Frtnchtowu, Nj,
slightly scalded and collar bone broken.
This, we believe, includes the whole
number injured, except some possibly
bruised or scratched, but not needing any
assistance 10 their homes.
None Of the other cars sustained any
further injury than a heavy jar, owing 10
the fact that they were all furnished with
Miller's patent buffers, as were the two
cars telescoped, and but for the un-
fortunate lifting Of the platform Of the
rear car, 20 that Its front platform went
under that Of the car ahead, the accident
could not have been so serious as II was.
Had, however, the ordinary platform been
used on the train, there Is no doubt that
the injury would have extended to the
other cars.
EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY.
The news OF the accident caused the ut
most alarm and excitement throughout the
city, and groups could be seen everywhere
talking the matter over, and all sorts OF
stories were ahoat, most Of them inaccu-
rate md exaggerated. The disposition
Ia very general to severely censure the
conductor for not taking measures sooner
to signal the train following him,
but as the whole matter is now under
going legal examination there is no use
In jumping TO too hasty condemnation.
Somebody Is, of course, 10 blame for lack
OF proper Judgment, and II seems remark
able that with the danger so imminent as
II was after leaving Ellerslie that the
passengers were not notified to save them
selves by leaving the cars.
| The company has not attempted 20 con-
ceal any Of the facts bearing on the sub.
| jeot from the press, and have assisted the
Coroner's jury In the investigation In
every way 10 their power. II Is the first
fatal collision that has occurred on The
road for at least twenty years, and proba.
bly, for longer time, so there is Of courst
no blanc attached to the company itself
however it may be with employees.
AwHoLE FAMILY THE VICTIMS.
The saddest feature of the whole sac
affair ls the terrible calamity which has
fallen upon the FRITZ family. Mr., Fritz
an elderly gentleman, HIS wife, their only
son Charles, and the latter's young wife
| daughter of James Scott, Esq.,) were
returning home together after spending
the evening with some of their friendI
in Philadelphia, when the accident oc
CURED. Mr.. Fritz, Senior, was instantly
killed, his wife had both legs and one arm
| broken, his son CharleR WAS terribly