The New York herald., 1872-11-23
The Washington and New York
Express Dashes Into a Stand
ing Train at Ellerslie.
TwO Passengers Killed and Fifteen;
Others Crushed and Disabled.
"A WRECKED TRAIN.
Statements Of an Engineer, a Passenger and
the Flagman Sent to Warn the Express.

WILMINGTON, DEL, Nov. %, 1872.
terrible accident occurred on the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad about two
miles from this city, at an early hour this morn
1ng. Two persons have already died OF their
wounds and OF the wounded who are stil living
II is feared at least one other may die.
The halGpast eleven P. M. train from Philadel-
phia had locomotive attached which gave out at
Chester, and another locomotive was procured
at Lamokin. The second locomotive failed to
make good time and the train was ma
terially delayed. When it arrived at Ell
lerslie three miles from this city, the
conductor, Anthony Rue, fearing he would not
reach Wilmington, sent back nagman to signal
the following train. There is q doubt whether the
signal man went far back as he could, but it is
claimed by the railroad oficals that he did, but
did not start as soon as he should have started.
The engineer OF the northern bound express saw
the flagman near Ellerslie, and as the New York
express passed the Northern express he leaned
ont OF the window and slgnaled the train with his
lantern, but it was too late.
THE SIGNAL SEEN, BUT TOO LATE.
Although the engineer OF the New York express
saw the signal and put down breaks, he could not
do 1t in time to prevent the collision. There is
curve in the road at this place and the grade is
descending one. The New York express dashed
around the curve with undiminished speed and
struck the rear of the halfpast eleven
train. As the engine struck the car it
lifted it from the track and forced
through the next car, telescoping
both. and crushing the passengers in their
seats One terrible scream arose from the occu-
pants Of the two cars and was then succeeded by
the groans of the wounded and deafening cries for
help, while the ruins Of the train and the mangled
bodies OF the dead and dying lay in one indescrib
able heap. There were few unlnjured in the two
cars and they together with the passengers in the
other train, proceeded to do everything in their
power to aid the sufferers.
Az soon as order was brought out OF the chaos
the following named persons were found among
the dead and wounded. 1t will be seen that most
Ot the victims are residents of Wilmington
THE KILLED.
Henry c. Fritz, superintendent OF Bush & Co.'s
morocco factory, instantly killed; residence, s2e
Washington street.
George Pallett tcolored), of Salisbury, was in
iured SO badly that he died by the time he was
landed in the city.
THE WOUNDED.
Mrs. Henry c. Fritz; both legs and one arm
broken.
Charles L. Fritz, clerk at Bush 4 Co.'s; badly
injured about the chest, no doubt fatally.
Mrs. Charles c. Fritz, very slightly injured.
Frank Myers, 1,s05 Jefferson street; painfully
injured in both legs.
Samuel R. lawson storekeeper OF the Phila-
aephia Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad resid-
Ing al 1856 East Eighth street; right leg broken.
William r. Bowman, grocer, Of Fourth and Lom-
bard streets; painfully injured.
Charles L. Kyle, coach trimmer, residing at S33
Orange street, one leg slightly injured
TheO. Thomas, 90S King street, slightly bruised.
Milton jackson, principal Of Tyler Jacksons
Academy, both legs slightly injured.
Mlss Meridith, teacher in Taylor & Jackson's
Academy, painfully bruised.
william Gordon, teacher in Taylor & Jackson's
Academy slightly injured.
B. Hammer 1872 M.dIs0H street, painfully bruised.
George A. Garrett, proprietor oil the Western
Hotel, Fourth and Orange streets, who is painfully
injured in both legs.
James Shakespeare, OF Philadelphia, son OF Mr.
Shakespeare, of Dover slightly injured.
Lorenzo ID. Kerr, OF Frenchtown, n. j., slightly
sCalded and collar bone broken.
THE NEWS OF THE ACCIDENT
spread rapidly, and citizens OF wilmington nocked
70 tue scene OF the disaster with bandages and
dressings for the wounds OF those who had es-
capped death.
BY daylight the dead and wounded had been
removed TO this city, and the wrecking cars
Of the railroad company were at work clearing
away the debris
Mr.. Fritz, Killed, was an elderly gentleman, for
merry from Philadelphia. He has resided In Will
mington number OF years. and was superintend-
ent OF the morocco factory OF william Bush Co.
He lived but few minutes, though no appearance
OF wound could be discovered on his person.
His wife, as stated, Is very badly hurt. Mr..
Fritz the younger, is terribly hurt, and, as
his physicians consider cannot recover. Various
reports OF his death were current this morning,
but at eleven O'Clock he was still alive; one leg s
broken in several places, and deep wound was
made in his breast which is regarded as necessarily
fatal. His wife is not badly injured but her anguish
was 30 great as to overthrow her mental balance,
add she remained throughout the night in q con-
uition OF terrible distress.
coRoYgR's INQUEST
Coroner winslow this morning summoned a Jury
as follows:-George s. Hagany, James Crook, L. +.
Adair, Reece Pyle, M. w. Macklem, John " Chrsty,
Z. K Crawford, G. W. Pyle T. J. Bennett L. w.
Palmer, ]. Donahoe, Joseph Dickerson, Bernard
Bonner, J. c. Peacock, John II. Moore, Washington
Cox George wilhemn The jury first met in the
engineers room at the depot, where the bodies OF
Mr.. Fritz and Mr. Pollett were lying, after which
the remains were removed, those Of Mr.. Fritz to
his late residence and those OF Pollett who was q
colored minister at salisbury, were enclosed in a
cofrn and sent southwark by the 1910 A. M
Delaware train. The jury then proceeded to the
galway car shops and viewed the broken cars
which, though badly injured, had remained on the
track, and were sufficiently whole to be brought
down to the city. The seats are much broken and
pools Of blood are to be seen in the last car.
The jury then, at fifteen minutes past eleven,
went In special car to the scene Of the disaster,
which is just about one hundred yards below
Enersie station. Having seen this, they returned
10 Wilmington and adjourned until seven O'Clock
Abis evening.
n A
Mr.. Milton jackson, who is principal of an acad-
envy In this city, and who was slightly injured by
the collision, 10 statement made to-day, Gays two
OF bis assistant teachers-Miss Meredith and Mr.
Gordon-were IN the same car near the rear. Just
before reaching Ellerse he had been asleep, and
on waking found the passengers conversIng about