, 1872-11-26
THE ENGINE or DEATH.

adelpiia Press. :.
4 terrible collision occurred this morning at
q few minutes before o'clock, just north Of this
city, on the Philadelphia, Wilmington. d Balti-
more Railroad. The train which leaves Phil
adelphia at 1880 for Wilmington and Baltimore
had proceeded as far as the Junction Of the old
track with the 'tDarby umproremente,' just
above Chester, when the connection with the
throttle valve broke disabling the locomotive.
1t became necessary, therefore, to send to-
Lamokin for another engine, and. upon it's
being procured, the whole train, including the
disabled locomotive, proceeded southwark. It
had become important to make up time as rapid
II as possible, for the fast line from New York
for Washington was nearly due, and no stop Was
made at Chester. At La1nokiu the disabled en-
gine was switched oil, and the train again came
On. Z:
The train, however, was too heavy, apparent-
II, for tho second engine. It consisted of ten
cars, the three rear ones being those for VIII
mington. The forward one Of the three Was
what is called s'chair" car, and the other two
we're passenger cars, both half filled With peo-
pie, mostly residents Of Wilmington. Proceod-
ing without stop, below Lamokin, the locomotive
began to run out Of steam, and the speed be-
came quite slow. The remnant Of time before
the New York express should be due grow pain
fully and alarmingly short. Finally, at point
lust this side of Ellersile Station the locomotive
gave out entirely, and the train came to stand.
The New York train was now due, all but =
minute or two. and yet it does not appear that,
before the train actually stopped, any signal
man had been sent to the rear. Aman with
the approaching train. Just then the express
train, going north, passed up on the other track,
and seeing the signal man in the rear OF the dis
abled train with his red (dangor) light, paused
for q moment, and seeing the situation, went on,
the engineer giving on his locomotive signal
of warning. This the approaching New York
train observed, and it had the effect of causing
the engineer to moderate his speed before he saeo
tie signal man sent up By the disabled train.
This signal man had only got away from the
rear car the distance OF soven telegraph poles
(about $40 feet) when the train came down upon
him.
In 30 short distance the impetus Of the COM
ing train could not be controlled. and 1t ran into
the rear cur of the stationary trim, damaging it
badly This Cur contained about thirty passcn-
gers, some of whom unaware OF: the situation,
we're probably asleep. The engine which struck
it penetrated perhaps Biz or eight feet. Ihe car
itself wes driven into the car in front "teles-
coping it for distance Of about forty feet.
The cars in front Of this wore not damaged, but
the shock caused tho whole train to move for
ward on the track, and broke the New York loco
motive loose from its CARS.
The alarm and confusion of the moment wero
terrible, for the most of the passengers received
the first warning at the moment OF collision.
The following persons we're hurt as is stated: ).
Henry Fritz, Wilmington, killed.
George Pollitt. Salisbury, Md, killed. !;
Charles E. Fritz, Wilmington, fatally hurt.
Airs. Henry Fritz, Wilmington, both legs and
Mrs. Charles E. Fritz, cut and bruised, but not
seriously. "
James Shakespeare, Philadelphia, foot In
jnred.
broken:
Charles j. Kyle, Wilmington, leg broken.
Milton Jackson, feet injured.
Hiss Meredith, hurt
George A. Garrett Wilmington, slightly in
Frank Myers, Wilmington, injured in both
I. D. Kerr, Frenchtown, n. J., scalded and
collar-bone broken.
Theodore Thomas, Wilmington, slightly in
jured.
William Gordon, Wilmington, Slightly injured.
Nr. Geo. Il. Marble, somewhat bruised.
". R. Bowman, foot crushed.
Immediately after the occurrence OF the nc
cident, the locomotive OF tho injured train "as
detached and came to this city. Another en-
gine and two passenger cars were at once de-
spatched to the scene of the disaster, and gath
ering up the killed and wounded, returned with
them to the Wilmington depot. George foi-
lit Was buried beneath the seats OF the rear
car and under the floor Of tho second car. A
hole was cut in the side Of the car, near the
middle. to take him out. One foot. it is Baid,
was cut off in e1tricatins him. He was still
alive when taken out, but died after reaching
the Wilmington depot. MI. Fritz VAS taxed out
dead. - e
Mr. jackson, who is Principal Of Taylor =
Jacksou'e Academy in this city, was in the front
part Of the rear car, as far az Chester ITo or
his assistant teachers, Miss Meredith, and Mr.
Just before reaching ,El1crsie, he had been
asleep, and on waking. found the passengers
conyersing about The danger from the New York
train. The railroad mon, outside, ho noticed,
seemed somewhat excited and i'll at ease. II
moment or two the whistle Of the approaching
train was heard, and some Of the passengers rose
and moved to the front end Of the car. Just
back of lr. Jackson were seated AIr: Charles
E. Fritz and wife. Both, up to this time,
had been asleep, but they also. got up and
n1r. Fritz and his wife, who had been sitting
nearby. Tho younger Mrs. Fritz was first. At
this moment the collision. occurred The rear
car telescopiny" tho one in front, the floor Of
The latter ripped through the last Car tearing up
the aeats nearly the Whole length, but: stopping
irDt in front Of Alr. Jackson. The Fritz family,
being On their feet further forward, were struck
and Knocked down, sustaining the injuries a.
mothers lap, ahe being terribly hurt. She, how
ever, gavo no sign Of her own injury, but sat
stiI. Tiping the blood from her sons wounds,
until they were e1tncated. I. =,
1ha tanning OF the seats caught nearly al
passengers in this part OF the car in such Ia man
T her ns TO hold them fast, Mr. Jackson had both
feet fast one on each side OF the aisle, ana mas
3 severe sprain Of the ankle, and . bad Mu1se.
Mias Meredith and Mr. Gordon we're causht
midway of the body and held sasPe92deat 2e,et ~ .r
1Ir. 8. B. Lawson sat Just N front OF :n1f.
Jackson, and had his leg broken. -
The passengers on the other part OF the tram
came quickly to the relief Of thoHe Ii the wreck,
and all were soon e1tricated.: : :. !:
In the collision the stoves we're oVestnlneu,
and it was feared that the wrecked cars would be
- ~. 5ro 1ihia created additional alarm