The daily gazette., 1881-01-07
Two Trairs Collide at Lamokin
Ono Man Killed and q Number Wounded.
A swIrCMMAx's CAREAEssNEss,

A8dL&Ghs
Engine No. 40, Of the p, w. d B.
H. r., left Philadelphia depot at 8 Is
o'clock, last night drawing Q mail and
baggage, smoking and three passen-
ger cars. This was known as the Del
aware Railroad train, which stops on
ly at Gray's Ferry and Ridley Park ON
the trip between Philadelphia and
Chester. The first stop after leaving
Chester 10 at Thurlow, Lamokin being
passed on full run.
The trip down was made without
any unusual event until the train ap-
preached Lamokin. Here, engine No.
81, Of the p, w. g. B. II. X, was
standing on the Baltimore Central
track attached to three cars, ready to
proceed to Philadelphia as soon az the
Delaware train passed down. This
train is known as tho Lamokin accom-
mediation, No. AZ, and starts for Phil,
adelphia at 8 Is o'clock.
A FATAL MISTAKE.
As the Delaware train drew near the
station, the engineer noticed that the
usual signals were displayed indicating
that the main track was clear, and eli
distractions out of the way. But TO his
horror, an instant later, be saw that
THE SWITCH WAS OPEN,
and that nothing under Heaven could
prevent bis tisiL from dashing into the
train ON the Baltimore Central track.
He instantly shut of bis engine and
applied the brakes, but before the action
had time to take the slightest effect the
collision occurred.
The effect was awful. No. 10, pro-
pelled by heavy and rapidly moving
train dashed into No. 81, standing upon
the track, with an awful crash that re-
sounded horribly upon the air, and .
shock that was felt with terrific force by
every passenger upon the train. BY the
force of the collision the train standing
upon the track was forced several hun
dred feet away from its position, closely
followed by the coliidihg train.
The two engines were fearfully wreck
ed, bosh smoke-stacks being knocked OF
and the pilots smashed, with boilers
and cylinders so seriously strained that
the noise Of escaping steam was added
TO the already horrid din.
THE WORST RESULTS
of the collision were felt in the baggage
and smoking cars OF the Delaware tram.
Fortunately there we're no passengers on
the Lamokln accommodation. On the
moving train the two cars mentioned
telescoped, the roof Of the baggage car
fOrAad hill
through the smoking car, no: moro than
a foot above the tops Of the
seats. II made clean sweep, aud as
The car was quite we'll filled at the ime
it seems . mystery that nearly all the
passengers were not instantly killed.
Some escaped by involuntarlly stoop-
ing down the instant q er they felt the
collision aud saw tho roof Of the bag
gage car forcing Its way over their heads
and others were sayen by being knocked
Gown a. soon 40 the shock occurred.
oHE MAE KILLED.
Jehn Finn, well-known resident si
Wilmington, sat on the front seat Of the
smoking car, warming mis- feet at the
stove. When the cars tslescoped he Wa
eouRht between the timbers and fatally
in jursd. He was crushed between two
beams, . great cash was inflicted across
his temple, aad gaping wound In his
eft breast, near the shoulder. He died
inside Of half an hour after being ex-
tricated from the wreck.
THE woUHDzD.
Among those on the train were Ed
ward Rumford, VIM. W. Lobdell, John
q. Adams, James r. CrippsD, Jamea
Monahan, VIM. u. PennypAcksr, Charles
Middleton, and others Of this city, and
Levy Court Commissioner Albert FL.
Silver, Of Red. Lion and Vim. Polk, Of
Odessa, all OF whom severely felt the
force oil the collision. Indeed, there
was not . passenger that did not sustain
injury by the shock, through, consider
lug the train was we'll filled, the num-
Der actually injured is surprisingly
small under the circumstances. Mr..
Crippen Was buried under q mAss OF TIM
bers, which had 10 be raised before be
could extracate himself. On being re-
leased he crept out, offs window, first
kicking out the glass. He was severely
bruised, but fortunately no bones were
broken.
Levy Court Commissioner Polk was
struck on the forehead by . piece OF
broken timber, ,iDflicting two severe cuts,
one above and one below his lett eye. 1t
was at FIRST thought he was seriously In |
iured, but he was soon able to walk |
about. He came on to Wilmingt On, and /
went to his home last evening By the |
Delaware Railroad train.
VIM. G. Pennypacker, Of this city,
had an exceedingly narrow escape.
He was sitting by the stove warming
his feet, and without any particular
reason arose and walked away. John
Finn, the unfortunate victim, at once
took the seat, and was sitting there
when the collision occurred.
Julius Smith and James Monahan
were also badly bruised, but their in.
Iuries did not prove serious. Davis
Temple, of Kenton, sustained q severe
bat not serious cash across his temple.
IN TIE BAeaAan oAR,
the collision played sad havoc, the
baggage being thrown around in all |
A heavy trunk was hurl-
cd against baggage master Harry Nor
ris, OF $40 Madison street, this city,
ap shed him to the floor. When he |
cen out ii was found that his |
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