Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-23
600 p. M.
THE r. r. ACCIDENT.
INVESTIGATION BY TIE CoRoRERs JURY.
Anthony Rue Culpable of i" In
competency and Neglect"
a WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.
Condition of the Wounded.

fANNtNaeL
the causes which produced the death of Henry
O. Fritz
Anthony Rue, sworn.-Am conductor Of the
train which was run into left Philadephia on
time, but the engine broke her throttle valve
200 yards north of IL mile post, beyond Chester ;
walked to Chester and procured another engine,
with which returned and brought down my
train arriving or minutes before O'Clock :
LETT Chester at !, TO- and made 80 to 40 miles per
hour on some portions OF the road arrived at
Ellersie at 1886 left signal man at Ellerslie,
who went on up the road, and started for Will
mington. expecting to arrive In due time; ran
about 400 feet when steam gave out; was not
aware that We had no steam, and was not APP
priced Of thei approach of the advancing train
until 1t was within 5000 feet; the N. Y. q Wash
ington Express was sufficiently signalled in or
binary cases; it was due al UlAymont when
left man at Eilerslie steam failed in coming
into Elerse, but did not know that steam was
short train was standing still on track when
collision took pace, aud had been about
A minutes when get on another trains tune it
is my duty to lay of was not on the time of the
other train; II nothing bad happened, would
have reached Wilmington in duo time my mes
senger was 200 yards back Of Eilorslie, and 1000
feet back OF our train the rules of the Compa-
ny require that messenger be sent back 600 to
800 yards it is the duty OF the engineer to re-
port any lack OF steam power; was not notified
by the Engineer until the train stopped; didn't
have steam enough to switch OF or move the
train had no time TO notify passengers after
found out that had no steam, and was antici-
patng no danger the following train due
at Ulaymont at 1.35 collision took place he
tween l.39 and 40; WAS not in the train at the
time, but going back, waving white light my
self any light waved violently is a signal OF
danger; the brakeman had both red and white
light, and red light was stationed on the rear
platform OF the last carr weather hazy, but no
fog.
During the investigation OF Mr.. Rue Supt.
ent but this was objected to by Mr. Hagany aud
others. The question was finally settled by a
vote Of the Jury, and these gentlemen were al
lowed to remain.
Certificates we're read by DIR. Kane Of the ma
ture of wounds Of both Mr. Fritz and George
Poltt. Both Of Pollitts legs were broken in
several places, and the eft leg was torn OF below
the knee. The right hip was dslooated Death
resulted from the shock There were several
bruises about the leg and body of Mr.. Fritz, and
the hip and shoulder on right side were disloca-
ted. No evidence of any congestion of brain or
hemorrhage. Death was occssioned by the
shock.
Joseph Daniels, sworn.-Was hind brakesman
on the injured train train Stacked up at Ellers-
lie. and ran back l50 or 200 yards heard the
advancing train and its signal for down brakes
before 1t rounded the curve and before ] saw
the headlight; waved red light when the train
was in sight, and the whistle was blowed again
when the engine struck II was reversed (; stood
three quarters Of mile to stop the freight
which was coming down rode back and went to
work.
CrOss-examined The trains we're three-quar-
ters Of a mile apart when heard the first aig-
nal was not aware Of danger when Jumped
from the train; there were air brakes on some
Of the cars but do not think our engine had the
compound; there were only 8 or minutes time
botween the time the train stopped and the col
lisoni have been 10 yoars at railroading.
James w. Mitchell, sworn. Was engineer Of
the locomotive which was taken at Lamokin to
supply the place of the disabled engine ran
along well with the train until we neared Bell
yue, holding my own, minutes ahead Of the
following train my fireman was a new man,
but good on the road over which he is accus-
toned to iuu, as 1 could shut up at the stations
and get steam ae was working at the engine
pretty hard, he fired little too fast and buried
it up and the steam went down to between 80
and 40 lbs. at Bel vue at Ellerslie came around
the curve at the rate OF 4 or miles per hour;
shut of steam at the top Of the curve and let
the train run down to Ellerslie by the force Of
it's own momentum; let of passengers, and
when the brakes were removed the train started
on, being on down grade, and ran 800 or 400
yards, when it halted laid there or minutes.
when bell was pulled to go ahead sent my con-
duclor (Ohas Dayis) who was riding on the To-
conceive with me to go back and stop the night
line, as | could go no further; don't know that
any one went back
Gross examined Am a practical engineer,
and have been years ON the road had 35 lbs
OF steam when reached top Of grade, but lost
lbs. in coming down it by the blower had 80
lbs. when lett Ellerslie l3O lbs. il the usual
quantity carried by locomotive couldn't leave
my engine to report, and when on main track ii
Ii his duty to report TO me; the fire was buried
out and tile loss OF steam was through the in
competency of the fireman good hands some
times make such mistakes; the engine was in
good order made about 10 lbs OF steam after
collision, and with that came to Wilmington with
engine 1t was impossible to move the train
with 30 lbs. of steam there was not too much
water in the boilers it wonld take near a mile
to stop train in the condition of tue track, at
the time of the accident supposing the train to
be running at the rate of 80 or IS miles per
hour.
Charles w. Davis. sworn Am Conductor Of
extra train on Darby Improvement; left Chester
with 1876 lbs, Of steam, anticipating no difficulty
in keeping ahead Of train, and did without loss
OF time until We got to Bellvue, when the steam
began to fail and the speed OF the train slacken-
ed to or miles per hour had steam enough
to get through Red Cut, and knowing we had to
stop at Ellerslie, supposed we would gain steam
enough to TO go on; had only 80 lbs. at station,
and the train came nearly to stop; when train
stopped at bottom Of grade for want of steam,
jumped on and called TO the conductor that he
must stop the following traini; in 4 or 8 minutes
saw the night line coming around the curve
don't know how far back the signal man was.
Cross-exRmined; Met the conductor coming
lOWhfuH engine huu ulbtanc6 Vi tuIoo ohIo
from it can't account for loes Of steam it went
down from 30 to 80 lbs. in about five minutes.
At this stage OF the proceedings, Coroner
Winslow stated to the jury that Supt. KenneY
would like to question the witnesses, but this
privilege was denied him, some OF the members
opposing it, although a majority had voted in
the affirmative.
Walter Lackey sworn. Was conductor on the
through N Y. q Washington Express first inti-
nation OF danger was in feeling the engine re-
versed; were then about three-quarters OF a mile
above Ellerslie got up to look out and in a
minute felt the shock Of the collision sent man
back to stop the following freight
Crossexamned The engine was reversed be-
fore the curve was reached; engineer on-the
northward bound train made signal as he passed
there were no patent air brakes on the train it
was not possible to stop the train in shorter
distance.
John Orem sworn. Was engineer on the col.
liding train saw engineer on train northward
bound signal with light when in Red Out shut
of and signalled for down brakes and reversed
my engine supposed the north train had killed
something and thrown it over on south track in
passing north train saw red light from standing
train the engine was reversed before saw this
red light was then about three quarters of a
I