The daily gazette., 1879-04-15
FOURTH EDITION
Killed ON tho Railroad.
A Fatal accident at Shelipot bridge
Ths Victims Head Crushed.

A Fatal accident at Sheiipot Bridge
The Victims Head Crushed.
The 6.15 train from Philadelphia, for
the Delaware Railroad, known as train
No. 80, drawn by engine No. 10, met
with an unfortunate mishap, last even
ing, about 6:20 o'clock, on the Shellpot
| Creek bridge, just above Wilmington.
As the train was approaching the
bridge, the engineer noticed man walk
ing between the tracks and just stepping
upon the bridge. He blew his whistle,
and used his utmost endeavors 10 stop
the train, but without avail, while the
mao, ev destly becoming aware of the
near approach of train, fastened his
pace into quick walk. lie was within
a few steps of the end Of the bridge,
where he could have stepped from the
track IN safety, "hen the engine struck
him, dragging him along few feet tear
ing the top of his heed entirely of, and
scattering his brains along the track.
When the train stopped the dead body
of the unfortunate victim was found ly-
ing alongside the track, in terribly
mangled condition, while tin kettle he
had carried in his hand was torn and
battered completely out of shape. Tha
body was placed on the ira n and brought
to the "dead house," on Walnut street
below Front, and at s o'clock last even
ing, Coroner Butt held an inquest in the
directors room at the depot. The fol-
lowing testimony was ELECTED.
James Ii. Jones, the conductor of the
train, testified to feeling the conclusion
= caused by the engine striking the man,
and afterwards seeing the body lying be-
!. tween the tracks, south of Shellpot
b idge.
The testimoney of Benz Dennis, the
: bagCage-master was to the same effect.
VIM. Waterman, the engineer, testifi-
: ed that he first saw the man between
g the tracks on Il north end ofthe bridge;
blew the whistle reversed the engine
and applied the brakes, but could not
stop tue train in time to save the man.
a he never looked back, bat started on a
= qui k walk, and was nearly over the
A bridge when the engine struck him
q the train at the time was running about
g 20 miles an hour, regular schedule time
Wm. Lott, the fireman, testified thai
: he heard the whistle blow while he wa'
: shoyeling coal, and looking up saw tn,
i man on the track; watched him until h,
n was struck by the engine.
u John Douglas, col, testified that ht
e thought he saw the man working a
f Edgemoor; he had a tin bucket with hin
: when he started down the track; witness
a did not know who the man was
Antoine Reese, of Philadelphia, ties
- titled that while he was standing a
Edgemoor station, the deceased came N
's and asked him the road to Wilmington
1t witness told him he did not know; tn
'. man then said he lived in Wilmington
ar witness told the man he had better nc
=. walk on the track, but the man did nc
- follow this advice; he appeared TO b
u ober at the time.
As no one could identify the body til
= Jury rendered the following verdict:
l. "That the unknown white man cam
to his death by being struck by train NJ
81, from Philadelphia, and that the en-
rp ployees and the company are exonera
,,' ed f.om any blame"
n WHO THE VICTIM IS.
The body of the unfortunate ma
was taken to undertaken Wilson's offic
Eighth and Shipley streets, where 1t W
viewed by "A number of persons, none
y, whom, however, positively identified
10 Some supposed it to be the body OF a IN;
he named John Hughes, who former
it worked on the Cool Spring Reserve
nd but this morning young man came
na | tHe OIllCt anu TtCUgHlLtu IL az luo Du'
~ of his father.in-law, Handy Smith, wi
VI VI lived on the Naylor farm, in Brandywil
go Hundred. He said Mr.. Smith left hon
til y yesterday morning, for day S fishing
the Shellpot Creek, taking his dim
he in a tin Kettle. The old man, he sal
[r. was subject to occasional attacks of
~ mental affection, which deprived him f
~, the time of his reasoning powers, and
ba is supposed that during one of these a
naIra I.x 10 tf.ntr, rff.
es under the impression that he lived thsr
,e, and thus lost his hfe