Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-02
WRECK ON THE PENNSYLVANIA.
Two Persons Killed and Score
Injured-A DeIawarean Among the
Latter.

Latter.
TRENTON, May 30.-This afternoon, at
4.35 O'Clock, the Philadelphia fast train
on the Pennsylvania railroad, which
leaves New York at 800 p. M, was thrown
from the track by a misplaced switch at
the Bear Swamp, five miles east of this
city. The three rear passenger coaches
were wrecked. Two persons were killed
and IA others injured.
Augustus Ritter of West Philadelphia
was instantly killed. He was u book
keeper employed by Ditmar, the paper
manufacturer. For some years he held
responsible position in the counting room
of the Philadelphia Inquirer. His wife aud
child, who were with him, escaped.
DIR. Thomas Murphy, well-known
physician OF Frankfort, Pa, was injured,
probably fatally, about the hips and the
lower portion of the spine. He was
taken with two others to Philadelphia.
Mrs. Lucretta Pennington, aged 81
years, of 307 South Fortieth street, West
Philadelphia, was injured about the
head and back, and with her grand
daughter, Catherine Pennington, who
was wounded in the shoulder and neck,
was brought to the Clinton street
depot. Mrs. Pennington died at &
O'Clock. -
j. p. Bleislein and wife, of 1'ittsburg,
suffered scalp wounds. The man also
had his shoulder dislocated, and it is
considered unlikely that he will recover.
The switch tender, Or rather telegraph
operator, named Sutphen, was an ex-
perienced man, and being an extra"
was for the first time on duty at that
point to-day. The engineer says that he
received white signal and that the
switch was misplaced. Sutphen, it is re-
ported, ran away as soon as he saw the
accident. County Physician Durham has
ordered an inquest to BIZ held in the case
of Mrs. Pennington and Mr.. Ritter.
wrecking train cleared the track within
half an hour.
The company's official report of the
accident says: 1.-THE prime cause of the
accident was misplaced switch; but in
consequence of the warning given by a
distant danger signal, the engineer had
reduced the speed of his train, so that the
engine, baggage, and parlor car passed
over the switch in safety. But in conse-
quence, as is supposed, of the breaking
of switch rod, the three remaining pas
senger cars left the track, one OF them
turning over on lis side, while the other
two We're badly broken. -
Besides those previously named the
seriously injured are Mary Mciuire,
New York; W. II. Fententhal, Washing
| ton, ID. Co.: Ella Chapman, 2t3 West
| Twenty fifth street, New York A. q.
Scott, Germantown, Pa; Lewis 7. Scott,
| son of above.
The lass seriously injured are Bridget
| BlOomer, 205 Clinton avenue, Philadel-
phia Martin i. Conwell, Milton, Del;
| 'ropsy Venn, member of Rice's Surprise
Party; William Abbott, ZIG Walnut
street, Philadelphia T.. IL. Deacon, Is
| Murray street, New York j. Saunders
Reid, indianapolis Lewis Stein, Boston.
| The bodies of Mrs. Pennington and MIR.
| Ritter are at Trenton. Mr.. aud Mrs.
| Bleislein and Miss Pennington are being
| cared for at the Trenton House. All the
| other injured We're sent to their homes,
to the University Hospital, or to the Con
tinental Hotel, Philadelphia. The tele-
| graph operators name is j. X. Sutphen.
| The officials have been unable to lind him
| since the accident. The danger signal
| which alarmed the engineer is | .2on feet
from the switch, hut the train was going
| at such high rate of speed that ii could
not be stopped before running on the
switch.
| p. IL. Deacon, salesman of New York
shirt mandatory residing at Cambridge,
| Mass, who was passenger on the
| wrecked train, was brought to Philadel-
phia and taken to the Continental Hotel.
Lying in bed he told tho following story
of the accident ''We left New York al
800 p. In. in what is known as the light
ming express, which makes the run be-
tween the two cities of 80 miles in less
| than two hours. Our train consisted of a
baggage car, smoker, a Pullman palace
car and three passenger coaches. | was
seated in the third car from the rear,
Immediately following the Pullman. As
W.T. neared Trenton | heard woman $
scream, and saw one end of the Pullman
go up into the air. Almost at once
realized that our car had Jumped the
| track, and all was confusion,
amid which somebody got up
and pulled the bell rope. A
gentleman who was sitting opposite to me
with his wife and baby became excited
over the danger, and threw his baby
towards me. | caught it, AS if by instinct,
being too much excited myself to know
what was doing. In throwing the child
he retained its little cap in his hand
where it was found after he had beeu
crushed to death before his wifes eyes
had braced myself by sitting rather low
in my seat for nap, having my feet
placed against the seat in front of me
Being in that position was probably the
reason ! did not receive more serious
injuries. My head, however, as the cal
turned over, went through the window
and the back portion was imbedded in til,
sand, while my left leg was considerably
bruised by the seat"
Miss TOpsy Venn, an actress in the Ric,
Surprise Party, now performing at TIN
Chestnut Street Opera House, was also
passenger, on her way to philadelphi,
; where she had an engagement to perform
TINS week. She was accompanied by Mis-
Ella Chapman, also an actress, VIII,
started from New York to witness tn
performance Of the Ilarrisons at tn
! Walnut Street Theatre. Directly afte
the accident they were very active il
assisting the wounded sufferers, and di,
not discover that they were at all injure,
until they We're on the relief train. Afte
a q reaching the city they were taken to tn
Continental Hotel. where it was foun
that Miss Chapman had severely spraine
. her ankle and sustained confusion of a
u arm, and Miss Nenn was so much injure
u that she could not attempt to perform.