The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-08-26
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.

| The southern bound freight train leaving
Philadelphia for Baltimore at G45 p. NJ,
! Tuesday, consisted of thirty cars, among
the number being two narrow gauge cars
! from Wilmington, Del, in transit and con
signed to the Royal Land Company of
Fredericksburg, Va. The only persons on
the train were two passengers, who had
charge of the two new cars, and the regular
train force. When about one mile south
of Stemmer's Run, at about three o'clock,
Wednesday morning, the axle of the car,
which was third from the locomotive, broke
with a loud noise, throwing six cars cross
way on the track. A coal oil lamp burning
in one of the narrow-guage cars exploded,
scattering the burning fluid over the car,
the flames rapidly communicating to the
cars to the right and left. Jas. y. Schoen,
who had charge of the new cars, and was
seated in the one where the lamp exploded,
was awakened by the shock caused by the
accident, and while still half asleep found
himself
SURROUNDED BY SMOKE AND FLAME.
An unknown man, supposed to be a
| tramp, broke one of the windows and res
| cued Schoen from his perilous position, the
latter sustaining bruises about the body
and a confusion on the left eye. Meanwhile
the fire spread with astonishing rapidity to
the other cars. The train hands went to
work as fast as possible to uncouple the
cars, but as this was labor necessarily in
volving some time in it's accomplishment
on account of the large number of cars on
the train, twelve cars were consumed by
the flames, whle.the balance, numbering
nineteen, were being uncoupled and taken
to a safe place. The burned cars contained
merchandise for the West and South, which
is all a complete loss. Wreckcrs were set
to work to clear the track to prevent any
delay to the trains expected. The exami-
nation made left no doubt that the accident
was caused by the breaking Of the axle,
the other cars piling on it and breaking
down. In addition to Schoen, fireman of
the train was slightly injured.
While the wrecks were being removed,
the northern freight train from Baltimore,
which left President street station at , A.
NJ, on arriving at the scene of the accident,
was obliged to stop until the impediments
were removed. The train consisted of
twelve freight cars and the employees as
sisted in clearing the track. A about tif
teen minutes after : O'Clock, this freight
train was enabled to pass on. The train
hands of the express and passenger train,
which left President street at 6.55, did not
know the exact location of the accident,
and from information gwen them believing
that it was at Il point further north, APP
preached the scene of the accident at a
rapid rate. Owing to curve in the road,
the engineer did not observe his proximity
to the freight train, then just about to
leave, in time to slacken the speed of his
train and prevent collision. The conse-
quence was that the locomotive Of the pas.
senger train ran into the rear car of the
freight train, disabling the engine. Three
of the rear cars of the freight train were
thrown from the track and badly damaged.
THE CASUALTIES.
None of the passenger cars, which were
filled with people, were damaged. The
engineer of the passenger train jumped out
upon seeing the danger, and was followed
by Mr.. William Abercrombie, agent of the
Baltimore News Company, who was seated
IN the express and baggage car, next to the
locomotive. Mr.. Abercrombie, upon jump
ing, fell on the south track, sustaining
severe injuries about the Lead and body,
his face being cut and bruised. Glen.
Bacon, the fireman, also jumped out upon
seeing the freight train so near, and was
likewise cut on the head Thomas Sheets,
a messenger of Adams Express Company,
on his way to Philadelphia, and who was
seated in the car next to the locomotive,
received bruises ahout the head and bodv
Mr.. Joshua Plaskitt. member of the Bal-
timore School Board, was somewhat stun
ned by the shock caused by the collision,
and upon remaining consciousness found
that he was bIaedin1 nrof,salv His ,;fa
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