Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-01-13
* UIN ON THE RAIL.

He FOrgets to lurn n Stpttch and
One Train Crushes into Another
at Lamokin-One Man Killed and
More Than II Dozen Injured.
A disastrous railroad accident, the
wonder about which is that it WAS not far
more SO. occurred at Lamokin about . A
p. IN Thursday. The passenger train known
AZ the Delaware Division Passenger, No.
80, left Philadelphia on time, at Is, and
made stop at Chester. 1t was running
at good rate of speed when it reached
Lamokln, where no stop was to be made.
The Baltimore Central accommodation
train, was standing on the tracks of the
latter, which join the p, W. & b. at this
point, waiting Tor the Delaware train to
pass, when, four minutes afterwards, it
would leave for Philadelphia. The acci-
dent was occasioned by the switch tender
opening the switch for the accommodation
to pass out, forgetting that the Delaware
train had not yet passed. Conse-
quently, when the latter came along
it dashed right into the engine
of the accommodation train, smashing
both engines wrecking the baggage and
smoking car of the Delaware train and
throwing them from the track, killing one
man, John Finn, of this city, aud seri'
ously wounding number Of others. The
top of the baggage car telescoped with
the smoker, aad the people in that car
were thrown to the floor, thus fortunately
preventing much greater injury than was
done.
John Finn was sitting by the stove in
the front of the car, a place which had
just been vacated by Mr.. W. G. Penny.
packer, of this city. MIR. Finn was I'M
prisoned betweensthe tinbers. James Il
Crippen, also of this city, was buried
beneath the roof, but the planking held
most of the weight off of him, preventing
him from being crushed. In addition to
the Wilmingtonians already mentioned
who were in the car, there wsre also
Charles Middleton, Edward Rumford and
James Monaghan.
John Finn was taken from the car
badly crushed, and carried into the depot
building, where he died in few minutes,
Urippen kicked hole through the win
dow, and thus made his escape. Harry
Morris, the baggage master of this city,
was taken out badly injured.
The scene was one of the widest con-
fusion, and in few moments numbers of
people were attracted to the spot, and
doing all in their power to render aid to
ger, was among those who were badly
hurt. Ply sicians came down from
Chester, and wreck car was sent up from
this city
Shortly after the accident the switch
tender was found walking up and down
the track, wringing lis hands and crying
10 great distress.
George w. Green, the conductor of the
nalo dn hul
his hand badly cut and received other in
juries. No one was hurt in the ladies
car.
The first train that arrived from the
scene of the disaster was the 7.30 Balti.
more train, which brought down the pas
sengers, and those who were bound for
the Delaware division were sent down in
special train. The wounded were also
brought down on this train.
| Flinn's body was taken to Chester, where
an inquest will be held to-day after which
it will be brought to this city.
Charles W. Allen, the engineer, was in
terviewed this morning by an EVERY
EVENING representative at his residence,
6l5 East Eighth street He was sitting up
IN his bed room compaoently smoking his
cigar, his injuries not proving serious.
He was bruised along the left leg and side,
but no bones were broken and his hurts
are such that he will be able to be out in
a day or two, a little lame perhaps, but
on the whole not much the worse for his
narrow escape. On being asked
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED,
he said. 81 was on engine No. 40, draw
ing train 80, bound South from Philadel-
phia. 1t is called the Delaware train and
stops at only six stations between Phila-
delphia and Wilmington. The other
engine was No. 81, and was standing on
the Baltimore Central track at Lamokiu,
heading north, the engine being just clear
of the south bound track of the main line.
My train had stopped at Chester and had a
clear track before il for several stations, l
was about two minutes behind time
and was driving ahead to catch up. 1t
was about ~ minutes of 6 o clock when |
reached Lamokin janotion the signals
were all right and didn't know what was
coming until the shock came. The switch
was not turned, and instead of passing by
on the main line l ran on to the Baltimore
Central track, and
MY LOCOMOTIVE PLUNGED INTO THE OTHER.
"rhe shock threw me with double
sOmersault back into the tank, aud that
fall gave me what bruises / have received.
Both engines burst in their fus heads
which let the water rush out with the roar
OF cannon. Tho tender of train 81 wet
run half way through the passenger cal
behind it. 1 had five passenger cars
on my train. The first two, thu
baggage car and the smoker, were
SMASHED INTO BRUsHwooD
The next, ladies' car, was battered q
great deal but not entirely demolished, and
the remainder were not injured beyond
the breaking of bumpers and platforms
in the last cars people were thrown from
their seats bot no one was really hurt
There were some physicians on the
train, and several soon arrived from
Chester, who
EXAMINED THE WOUNDED
and did what could be done on the spot
An engine was sent down from Chester
and drew away the cars which wart
obstructing the main line, 30 that after {
delay of about one hour the 3 80 trait
from Philadelphia came down and took OF
the wounded people and the passengers o.
my train, bringing them to Wilmington.
"rhs switch-tender at Lamokin
RAvED AND WENT ON TERRIBLY;
tore his hair and was almost out OF hi
mind. He said it was his fault and tina
he didn't know how he could have for
gotten to change the switch. He Wa
finally taken home until he could calm
down somewhat.
"lalk about beirg down in the front
during the war! That
AMT A CIRCUMSTANCE ....
to being on locomotive in time lik
tnis. There wasn't a moments warning
The other engine stood just IA
enough from the main track to let IN,
train pass, and couldn't tell that wa
leaving the main line before ths whoi
thing was over and a life was lost"
The story of the engineer tells the tai
about as completely rs it could bs 10 d
The people injured were nearly all OF ,h
Wilmington train, The other IL made u
! at Lamokin and ruos as an accommodate
between that station aud Philadelphia, au
as 1t does not leave until after the dow
, train PASSES, there were no passenger
aboard 10 be burt The engineer, CbGrle
Parrish, and his fireman named Miller
both of Philadelphia, were on their engin
and were hurt but it is not known here
! what extent.
THE ONLY FATALITY.
, On the soutb-bound train occurred th
only death. John Finn, of this city, he
, with friend gone into the baggage Gu
. and was chatting with an acquaintance
After awhile his friend proposed TO &
\ ipto the srunker and want hinosaIf br