Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-22
SEGOnD EDITION.
BOO, H. M.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE
COLLISION.
STATEMENT OF MILTON JACKSON.


Mr.. jackson. who ia Principal Of TAYLOR &
Jackson's Academy, in this city, was in the front
part Of the rear car, as far as Chester Two of
his assistant teachers, Miss Meredith, and Mr..
Gordon, were In the same car, near the rear
Just before reaching Ellerslie, he had been
asleep, and on waking found the passengers
conversng about the danger from the New
York train. The railroad men, outside he no
ticed, seemed somewhat excited and i'll at ease.
In moment, or two, the whistle of the ap-
preaching train was heard, and some Of the
passengers rose and moved to the front end Of
the car
Just back of Mr. Jackson, were seated Mr..
Chas. E. Fritz and wife. Both, up to this time,
had been asleep, but they also got mp and went
up forward. in company with the elder Mr..
Fritz and his wife, who had been sitting near
by. The younger Mrs. Fritz was frst 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 stop
ping just in front OF Mr.. Jackson. The Fritz
family, being on their feet, further forward,
were struck, and knocked down, sustaining the
injuries already stated. Mr.. Chas. Fritz fell
into his mothers lap, she being terribly hurt.
She, however, gave no sign Of her own injury
but sat still, wiping the blood from her sons
wounds, until they were extricated.
The jamming of the seats caught nearly all
the passengers, in this part Of the car, in such
manner as to hold them fast. Mr.. Jackson had
NNN@
has severe sprain OF the ankle and a bad
bruise.
Miss Meredith and Mr. Gordon were caught
midway OF the body. and held suspended. s. H.
Lawson sat just in front Of MIR. 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.
OTHER DANGERS.
In the collision the stoves were overturned
and II was feared that the wrecked cars would
be set on fire. This created additional alarm
among the wounded, who were wedged in be-
tween the debris Of the wreck, and unable to
move from their positions. The doors of the
stoves, however. were locked, and the horrors Of
holocaust were averted.
THE WRECKED CARS.
The first exclamation aft-r gazing upon the
wrecked cars is, "How miraculous the escape of
sny one with their lives" In the forward part
OF the car next the rear one few OF the seats
are standing in position, but above them is piled
abe wrecked ones.from behind; and from one
end to the other Iof the telescoped cars the
same confusion and disorderls observable.
Seats are piled upon seats, and everything
within the cars which il is possible to destroy Is
broken up. In the rear car the destruction
must be even greater than in the other, for the
hoor OF the one ahead swept everything before
it and completely wrecked the interior.
The rear end is also STAYED in from the collis-
do not show such destruction but within the
sight is sckening to behold. They still rest up
ON the trucks and in this condition were brought
down to the shops, in this city.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
The life OF Mr.. Charles E. Fritz is insured
against accident in the sum OF $4,000 by the
Travellers Insurance Company Of Hartford,
Conn.
This was the first fatal accident, by collision,
that ever took place on the Philada. Wilmington,
Il Baltimore road. May it be the last
Many of the Wilmington passengers had been
to Philadelphia, to attend the Oratorio Of Elijah,
at the Academy.
No one in the forward cars sustained broken
limbs but several were bruised by the sudden
concussion and temporarily stunned. solemn
silence is said to have prevailed in some Of the
cars, the occupants being too greatly alarmed to
stir from their position or even cry out.
THE PROBABLE DAMAGE
The damage to the Company. by the collision,
will probably not exceed $4,000. The engine is
badly damaged. and the two cars are total
wreck. One Of the cars was first-class, while
the other was in good condition.
THE CONDITION OF MIR. AND MRS FRITZ.
Mr. @. E. Fritz is still living, at O'Clock, but
his physician regard his case as critical in the
extreme.
Mrs Fritz, his wife, has been restored to con-
sciOusness