Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-07-28
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
MAN BILLED AND CARS CRUSHED

RAlLKUAD ACClUENT.
MAN KILLED AND OARS CRUSHED.
| A CondnctoS Loses HIS l.ifo at Dil,srvIlie
"A Train Wrecked at Leaman Place
a Series OF Disasters,
Following quickly after the terrible ac
cident at Mount Joy Friday morning. be-.
fore reported, three other disastrous
railroad accidents occurred in the vicinity
of Lancaster.
Friday afternoon about fifteen minutes
past five O'Clock, Benjamin Wallower. a
freight conductor on the Pennsylvania
railroad, lost his life under the following
circumstances A number of cars were
being shifted at Dillerville and dropped
down against the train, in which Mr..
Wallower was in charge. When the
train had been made up, the en-
gine $50 commenced backing. Wallower
was standing on the tank, and as the
train reached the crossing he was seen to
fall of. He fell with the back of his neck
across tho rail. He was Immediately
picked up and carried to the porch of a
house near by and physician was sent
for, but the unfortunate man died before
his arrival, he having lived but fifteen
minutes after the accident, and being uu l..
conscious during that time.
Coroner Shiffer was notified and visited
the scene. He impanneled tho following
jury to hold an inquest Thomas F, Nc.
Elligott, Chas. E. Kenny, John ]. Nc.
Gully, Christ F. Mann, Diiler Sanders and
J. G. Donelson. An examination of the
body showed that tho neck had been
broken by falling across the railroad
track. The body was not otherwise in.
jured. Tho jury returned verdict that
" the said Benjamin WalIower came to
his death from injuries received from
falling from train, his neck being dis
located by the fall" After the in quest
the body was brought to this city and for.
warded to Harrisburg ON the Harrisburg
express train.
Mr. WalloWer was resident of Har
risburg, was about 40 years of age. and
leaves wife, who is in delicate health and
four children to mourn his sudden death.
He was regarded as one of the most relia
bic conductors on the road, but for some
time past has been suffering from
malarial fever, which disabled him
from active duty part of the time. He
did not want to 90 to work yesterday, but
the company being pressed for help, no
consented to take a train, but, it il
said that he had presentiment be-
fore leaving home that he would
be injured or killed. At Dillerville he
complained of feeling i'll, and said that if
the Lord spared him to get home he would
not take out another train. 1t is thought
that he was not jOlted from the tank by
the motion of the train, but became dizzy
from his sickness and fell, with the fatal
result above stated.
Tho WeIsn Tragedy
Fast line west Friday afternoon, took
to Mount Joy the engineer, firemen and
conductor of the train that ran into
Welsh's team at that place yesterday. 8.
H. Reynolds, esq, and several railway
officials were with them. They went to
Squire Ricker's Office, when the hearing
of the witnesses was continued.
Engineer Hugh Kelly, affirmed.-Ho
gave long whistle at the whistling post,
west of the turnpike, within 100 yards Of
the Fairview street crossing; when he
first saw the team he blew the danger
whistle the team was 80 feet from the
south side of the track; Welsh whipped
the horse as if to beat the train the en-
CINE struck the hub Of the front wheel
the train was going at rate of 30 miles an
hour.
A short cross examination developed the
following: He applied the air breaks as
soon as he came in sight of the team
they worked all right the train was
heavy, made up of seven coaches the
track was wet and down grade with an
train and favorable circum-
stances he could have stopped it in one
fourth the distance he did.
CouIuotor D,;,to.
rain left Harrisburg Z minutes late,
md at Nit. Joy the train was IA minutes
behind time. The train was going at the
:ate of 30 miles an hour.
Alter long consultation the jury
.endered this verdict THAT Henry
!; elsh, Mary Welsh and Alice Swords
,ane to their death on the morning of the
18th day of July, 1888, while driving
along Fairview street, in the borough Of
Mount Joy, by being struck by engine No.
so Of the Pennsylvania railroad train,
Known IS 2d section of fast line
,oing eastwardly, and from the effects
# tho cOncussiOn by being struck
Is aforesaid by the railroad engine. The
aid Henry Welsh, Mary Welsh and Alice
swords were then and there killed. And
moreover the jurors aforesaid upon the
ffirmatiOn aforesaid, do hereby censure
he officers and directors of the Pennsylya.
Tia railroad company for allowing to be
un railroad trains at too high rate OF
peed through tho said borough OF Mount
Oy, and recommend that watchmau be
at each crossing"
The first verdict proposed by one of the
arors, was presented in terms of severe
ondemnatiOn of the officers, directors and
mployes Of the railroad. But two of the
Try favored it another directly, opposite.
he jury could not agree upon. The one
endered was considered for long time
nd one OF the jurors reluctantly signed is
anne to the verdict.
The verdict as rendered meets with
most general approval by the citizsns of
1t. Joy. Fhe tra.k through tina borough
full OF sharp curves. one of the most
angerous parts of the road along The
hole line. Sometime ayO the citizans of
nat borough prsssntoi petition to rail
'ay headquarters, asking for watchmen.
he request was not granted As the
tizens were then disappointed the verdict
yesterday expresses the sentiment OF the
ommunity.
The funeral of the three victims was
cid this afternoon. The citiz ,ns have
ontributed to defray the expenses of their
urial.
Since the accident it is noticeable that
aims pass through the borough at one
alf tho rate Of speed prior to its occur
,nce. The engineer blows moro fire.
uently than they did before, which goes
II to prove that Messrs. Samuel Patter-
N and F. A. Kicker took a wise view OF
le occurrence of the accident when they
:oposed to censure the employees as we'll
l0 officers and directors of the Pannsvl