Smyrna times., 1872-11-27
Dreadful Collision on the PhiIa., Will
mingfOn and Baltimore Railroad.

Tt0O Passengers Killed and Fifteen Oilers Crushed
and Disabled.
A terrible accident occurred on the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, about two
miles above Wilmington, little after midnight Of
Thursday or Friday morning last The usual night
train Tor Wilmington and tie Delaware Ioad FOWL
train. il is called) started from Philadelphia
at halfpast eleven O'Clock on Thursday night, but
the engine attached to the train becoming dlsabI
it was necessary to halt at Chester and procure
another locomotive. The second engine was not
big enough to haul the trnin and came 10 a stand
still at Ellerslie, two miles from Wilmington. The
conductor, after long time, became reminded of
the fact that express train from New Ysrk
then due and sent hsgman back sgnalit TO stop.
The precautIon came too late. On camethe express
at full speed. The engineer Of the latter saw the
swinging lantern Of the Hagman. but. being unable
to stop the train within the distance between the
two trains, his engine dashed into the cars of
the Standing local tram, breaking them up and
'telescoping" them in a frightful manner, crushing
up the unfortunate passengers in their seats, killing
two and brusing and manning fifteen others
Fortunately the engineer of north hound train, on
the @ther track, sIgnaied te disaster as 1t passed
the approaching New York train, and If his signal
had not been the Southern train would
have dashed ints the standing train with all
the velocity of thirty miles an hour The result in
such a wsuld have been almost unparalleled in
Henry G. Fritz, OF Wilmington, was killed
instantly, aud also cslorch preacher OF Salisbury,
Nd George Pol EFT, formerly Of middIr,own. The
wounded Mrs. Henry g. Fritz, both legs and
one broken Chlrles e. Frtz, badly injured
about the chest, doubt fatally. Mrs. Charles E.
FIitz, his wife, very slightly injured. Frank Myers.
painfully injured III tn legs. Samuel K. Lawson,
right leg broken. VIM Bowman, painfully injured.
Charles Kyle, leg slightly injured. Theo.
Thomas, slightly burIsed. Mton Jackson. princi.
pal Of Taylor & Jackson's Academy and two of his
teachers, Miss Meredith, and Mr. William Gordon,
were also injured but not seriously. b. Hammer,
painfully bruised. George A Garrett, painfully
injured in both legs. James Snakespear. of Phila.
son Of Mr.. Shakespeare Of Dover, slightly injured.
The case Of the Fritz family ir ssd one. Mr..
Henry Fritz was AN old man, greatly respected in
Wilmington. Mrs. Fritz, his wl'e is also quite old.
Charles h. Fritz is their only son, and but
recently married. The whole family were together
IN the front Of the car-father and mother, and
wife. Charles Fritz tell into his mothers lap she
being terribly hurt She, however, gave no sign of
her own injury; but sat still, wiplng the blood
from her sons wound until they were extricated.
The lamming of the seats caught nearly all the
passengers in tins part Ol the car in such manner
as 10 hold them fast.
Mr.. Jackson had both feet fast, one on each eide
OF the aisle, and has spran of the ankle and
a bad bruise. MISS Meredith and Mr.. Gordon were
caught midway Of the body and held suspended
). X. Lawson sat just in front of Mr. Jackson, and
had hs Veg broken. The passengers Oh the other
part of the train quickly 10 the relief of those
ia the wreck, and all were soon extFicated. In the
collision The stoves were overturned, and II was
feared that the wrecked cars would be set on fire.
Tins created additional alarm amsng the wounded
who were wedged between the debris of the wreck
and unable to mnve from their positions. The
doors Of the sioVes. however, were locked and the
horrors of holocaust were aVerted.
The lie OF Mr.. Chas E. Fritz is insured against
accident in the sum Of IS 00I by the Travellers
Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn.
Mrs. Fritz, the elder is perfectly resigned to her
fate il the worst comes, and expresses wish for
death, as she now has nothing to live for.
The CORNERS jury that sat upon the case Of Mr
Fritz rendered verdict censurlng Anthony Rue
the conductor of the standing train.