The daily gazette., 1879-11-03

the car. One iuryman said that 1t
seemed to him that misunderstanding |
between the two for, men, VIM. Gala
CHER and VIM. Shipley, as to the car
standing on the main track, caused 1t
all. This gained favor, and led to the |
adoption OF the following verdict, which |
may be considered slightly peculiar by
some.
"ResolUed- It is the verdict of
this jury that John Gallagher, Edward
Sasss and Harry Meredith came to their
death by a collision Of the shifting en-
gine No. 9 with freight train, while
standing on the main track Of the T. W.
& 3. r. R., near Delaware Junction,
and that the accident was caused by
misunderstanding between the two FORE
men, VIM. q. ShIpley and VIM. Gala
CHER, who had charge Of the shifting of
the trains which came Ia collision"
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
After the unfortunate men were placed
IN the round house room they were
visited by their friends and relatives.
who remained with them until the last.
Sasse was attended by his wife, his
father, his, mother and three brothers;
Meredith by his father and mother, and
Gallagher by his brother, who arrived
just In time to see b IN die. Gallagher
was also attended by Very Rev. Father
Reiley, Of st. Mary's Catholic Church,
who administered the rites of the Church
for the benefit of the dying man. Du-
ring the morning the bodies of the
deceased men were removed to their
respective residences.
THE VICTIMS.
John Gallagher, the engineer, had
been in the employ of the company for
eight or nine years. He went on as
fireman, and was promoted to the po-
sition OF engineer about year ago. His
friends speak of him as a prudent and
careful man, and would bs slow In attri-
butiDg the accident to any carelessness
on his part. He lived at New Castle
with his father. Gallagher was also q
member of the Shields Library Assoeia-
ton, Of this city, and when his remains
Undertaken Giles, on Sunday morning a
delegation of the Association acc0mpau-
led them in two large coaches. He was
about thirty years of age and unmarried.
Sasse was in the thirtieth year OF his
age, and had been railroading for about
three years. He resided at No. 100 Pop
lar street, and leaves wife and three
small children.
Harry Meredith was q now hand,
having been taken on during the recent
peach season. He resided with his pa
rents at No. Cos Christiana street (bt-
tween Front and Second, running from
Jefferson to M adison). and was only
20 years of age.
All the men were members of the Mu-
tual Relief Association, recently organ
lied by the employees of the p. W. &
b. X. II. Co., and the family of each will
therefore receive five hundred dollars
from the Association.
THE WRECKED sHIFTER.
The wrecked shifting engine was
brought to the machine shop on Satur-
day night for repairs. The cab was
completely broker, land the rear bumper,
composed of heavy timbers, strongly
bOlted, was broken to pieces, showing
I how forcibie the collision must have
been. The boiler was badly strained,
and the engine considerably damaged.
(, On account of the engine having been
reversed and the steam shut off, it
! worked itself entirely clear of the wreck
I by the time the wrecking train arrived
| to clear the track.
The freight car that sustained the co l.
lision also suffered seriously, the front
being stove in and the sides forced out.
The collision broke the body bolt, which
raised the end of the car and jammed 1t
into the cab of the shifter, forcing the
inmates against the boiler. The car was
removed to the shops for repairs.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
The news of the accident spread rapid
ly, and large crowd COLLECTED at the de-
pot by the time the wrecking train ar
rived at the depot with the wounded
men on board. Many persons, 1mpelled
by morbid curiosity, attempted to get
in to see them, but the railroad officials
kept out all except the doctors and the
relatives of the sufferers. The crowd was
also In attendance throughout Sunday
morning, and did not leave until the in
quest was over and the bodies removed.
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The theory accepted by many. people
as cause of the accident is that the
hands on No. 6 supposed the freight
train to be entirely on the siding, in
stead of partly resting on the main
track, not having received positive in
formation in relation to this point, and
thus ran with less caution than would
otherwise have been exercised.
Railroad men, however, shake their
heads gravely over this theory, and inti
| mate shat the accident was due to other
causes. Some of them express the belief
that the shifters we're racing, and that
No. 6 attained such high rate of speed
that 1t was impossible to stop in time to
avert. the collision. The cars on the
track could be plainly seen, while the
signals given bo b from the other shifter
and the cars were such as could not be
misunderstood, Railroad men disagree
in regard to the statement that 1t is Gus
mary to leave train standing partly on
a siding and partly on the main track,
but all admit that it il a practice incon-
sistent with the safety OF running trains
John Gallagher the dead engineer and
VIM. Gallagher, foreman of No. 8 gang,
though of the same name were not re-
lated to each other.
THE FUNERALS.
The funeral of Gallagher takes place
at New Castle on Wednesday, the inter-
ment taking place in the Catholic Gene
terry, at that place. High Mass will be
celebrated at ten O'Clock Wednesday
morning.
The funeral of Sasse will take place on
Tuesday, the services occurring at the
house at p. M, and the interment TAX
ing place at Riveryiew Cemetery.
The funeral of Meredith will also take
place on Tuesday, the services being
held at the house at three p. M, and the
interment taking place In the w. & B.,
cemetery.