Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-11-28
TEE LATE RAILROAD ACCIDENT.

Saturday give full particulars OF the
disaster Of the Philadelphia, Wilmington
and Baltimore railroad, on Friday morn
ing before daylight, by which two per-
sons were killed and fourteen wounded.
The coroners jury summoned to inyesti-
gate the cause of the disaster have rem
dered verdict in the case Of Henry c..
Fritz, one of the killed, that he, came to
his death through the incompetency
and neglect Of Anthony Rue, conductor
of the train which was run into.
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
Mr.. Milton Jackson, who is principal
Of an academy in Wilmington, and who
was slightly injured by the collision,
says two Of his assistant teachers Miss
Meredith and Mr. Gordon-were in
same car, near the rear. just before
reaching Ellerslie he had been alseep,
and on waking found the Passengers
conversing about the danger from the
New York train. The RAILROAD men
outside, he noticed, seemed somewhat
excited and i'll at ease, Insa'Momeift or
two the whistle Of the approaching train
was heard, and some Of the passengers
rose and moved to the front efd, 81 the
car Just back of Mr. jackson were
seated Mi. Charles E. Fritz and wife
Both up to this time had been asleep,
but they also got up and hFent up
forward in company with the elder Mr..
Fritz and his wife, who had been sit
ting near by. The younger Mrs. Fritz
was first. At this moment the collision
occurred, the rear car telescoping the
one in front The floor Of the latter
ripped through the last car, tearing up
the seats nearly the whole length, but
stopping just in front Of Mr. Jackson.
The Fritz family being on their feet
further forward, were struck and knock
ed down, sustaining the injuries already
stated Mr.. Charles Fritz fell into his
mothers lap, she being terribly huit--'
She, however, gave no sign of her own
injuries but sat still, wiping the blood
from her sons wound, until they were
extricated. The jatnming Of the seats
caught nearly all the passengers in this
part of the car in such a manner as to
hold them fast. Mr.. Jackson had both
feet fast, one ON each side of the aisle,
and has severe sprain Of the ankle and
bad bruise. Miss Meredith and Mr.
Gordon were caught midway Of the
body and held suspended S. r" Law
son sat just in front Of Mr.. Jackson, and
had his leg broken. The passengers on
the other part of the train came quickly
to the relief of those in the wreck, and
all were soon extricated In the. col
lision the stoves were overturned, and
it was feared that the wrecked cars
would be set on fire This created .ad-
ditional alram among the wounded who
were wedged in between the debris Of
the wreck and unable to move from
their positions. The doors of the stoves
however, were locked, and the horrors
Of a holocaust were avelted @@ts
THE TESTIMONY. - -. .
The inquest was directed first to ascer-
tain the cause of the death of Henry c.
Fritz and the testimony elected was as
follows: -,.,
Anthony Rue sworn. Am conductor
of the train which was. run intoi left:
Philade phia on time, at / 1870 Thursday
night, but the engine broke her throttle
valve two hundred yards north Of
twelve-mile post beyond Chester;
walked to Chester and procured another
engine, with which returned and
brought down my train, arriving four
or five minutes before one o'clock left
Chester at Ito, and made thirty to
forty miles per hour on some portions
of the road; arrived at Ellerslie at 1876
left signal man at Ellerslie, who went
on up the road, and started for Whining
ton, expecting to arrive in due time;
ran about 1.4OO feet when steam gave.
out; was not aware that we had no
steam, and was not apprised of the ap
proach of the advancing train until it
was within three thousand feet; the
New York and Washington express
was sufficiently signalled in ordinary
cases; it was due at Claymont when |
left man at Ellerslie; steam failed in
coming into Ell erslie, but did not know
that steam was short; train was standing
still on track when collision took place,
and had been about four minutes; when
| get on another trains time it is my
duty to lay off was not on the time of
the other train; if nothing had happened
would have reached Wilmington in due,
time; my messenger was 200 yards back
of Ellerslie, and 1000 feet back of our
train; the rules of the company require
that messenger be sent back 500 to
800 yards; it is the dutysof tie engineer.
to report any lack of steam power was
not notified by the engineer until: the
train stopped;- didn't have steam enough
to switch off or move train had no
time to notify passengers Mter1 found
out that l had no stearns and and was antici-.
pating no danger; the, followingstrain
was due at Claymont at odllision
took place betweens1 80 allas A 40, was
not in the train atthe ting hit goin 9
back, waving white light myself any
light waved violently is a sishad of
danger; the brakeman had both red
light was stationed on the rear platform
ofthe last car, weather lhazy, but no
fog. aNas .as.7-,-' -