The daily gazette., 1881-03-26
A Plunge in the River.
NARROW ESCAPE OF AN ENTIRE
TRAINlFROM DESTRUCTIOM.

OPEN DRAW OF BRANDYwINE
BRIDGE, LEAVING THE TRAIN ON
THE BRIDGE-A CLOSE SHAVE
FOR THE ENGINEER AND FIRE
NAN.
The Southern express train on the
p, w. & B. r. r., drawn by en-
gine No. SO, due in this city at 7:5O
a. M, met with an accident at the
Brandywine bridge, this morning,
that narrowly escaped being attend
ed with serious results. The train
comprised one mail and baggage
and tour passenger cars.
As the train neared the Brandy
wine bridge, canal boat, in tow of
the tug Falcon, was going through
the draw, on the way to Jessup 8
Moore's store house wharf, opposite
Poplar street. The turning of the
draw works the danger signal-which
eomprices ared flag dropped over
white box, on top OF the brids se-
but on account of the snow storm
then prevailing the engineer could
not see it in time to stop the train
in good time; and for the same rea.
son he was unable to observe at the
right moment the distance signal,
some four or five hundred feet north
Of the bridge, which also indicates
when the draw is open and shut.
Just ~ tAe engine was approaching
the danger signal,th trackman signalled
the engineer, Ivan q. HemphIll, to re-
verse the engine aud put ON the brakes.
The engineer instantly complied, and
through the powerful automatic brakes
promptly acsed, the wheels slipped along
Without revolving, on account of The
sliPpsry condition of the track.
HOW THE TRAIN WAS RUNNING.
The train Is known as the Boston Ex-
press, and the running time between
Philadelphia and this city is fifty Ave
minutes. This morning 1t was few
minutes behiud time, aud the engineer
was endeaVoring to make up time. Situa-
ted some distance above the bridge is
The first signal block, which indicates
when the draw is on or of.
The block the engineer evidently did
not see on account Of tho snow and
thinking everything was all right, came
daShing along at the rate of fifty miles
an hour, at least the train was running
at that rate when passing Bowers, Dore
& Co.'S car worxs.
THR DANGER SEEN.
Il was but a short distance below the
car works and within four hundred feet
OF the draw the engineer received The
signal from the track man, and was
hSnified Al seeing the draw open. Then
the time for prompt action had arrived.
Hundreds OF lives were in the hands Of
the engineer, and whether some of them
should be lost or not, depended upon his
prompt action and bravery. He proved
himself equal 10 the occasion, and aided
by his fireman, John Cornslius, 80
managed the engine that no lives were
lost, though they themselves narrowly
escaped death.
N ON THE BRINK OF DESTRUCTION.
The train slid en-, until 1t was appar-
ent to the engineer and fireman that the
engine was bound to 60 into the river.
The fireman, after the engine was fairly
on the bridge pulled open the safety valve
for the purpose Of letting of steam, and
then jumped. II was fearful place for a
Jump with nothing bat cross ties and
bridge planking to alght upon, but he
miraculously escaped with only q few
bruises and without falling through into
the water. Engineer Hemphill did not
jump until the engine was within Six
feet Of the draw and he also escaped
with only few bad bruises.
INTO THE RIVER.
With great crash and o deafening
rush of steam, the engine went over the
edge OF the bridge and alighted upon the
i Aaa # ha al rfaki M has 4ai
ly amidship and settling her to the wat
er's edge like a fash. As the engine
went down the smoke-stack struck the
edge of the draw which aided by the
toward movements of the boat turned it
almost completely around. The tender
followed the engine aud for an instant
was suspended, bearing against the mail
car, to which ID was coupled with iorce
enough to completely stop the train,
which by this time was almost at
standstlll. Then the coupling broke by
the weight of the tender and the latter
plunged into the water and out of sight
!, in an instant. The train renamed oil
the track, with the forward wheels of the
mail car not more than
: SIX INCHES FROM THE'EDsE
of the bridge. The passengers, know
ing something was wrong, but not be-
i. ing aware of the extent of their dan
ger looked out of the windows, while
!, some got out upon the bridge 10 learn
:, the reason for the sudden stop. Their
feelings on learning the terrible peril
!, 50 fortunately averted, can better be
imagined than described.
BUT LITTLE DELAY
was occasioned by the accident, the
}. track being unobstructed and the
g draw uninjured. Another engine was
It at once sent up from the depot, and
= the train sent n, after stoppage OF
! less than half an hour.
e A NARROW ESCAPE.
.e The barge, belonged to Owen Brady
~ s. Co., of Philadelphia, and had on a
N cargo of bleaching powder consigned
y, to the Jessup s. Moore Paper Com
~ pany. She was being teweo by the
tug Falcon. On the tug were Ca,t
ia Heacock and the engineer, Jas. Coch
~ ran. AS the tug was passing through
- the draw Captain Heacock, who wal
steering, saw the train coming ant
knew at a glance that an accident wal
~ " inevitable. When he srst noticed thu
/ TRAIN he thought that the locomotive