Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-07-17
KlLL.p oN rnE lAlLaoAD.
Fatal Hesult Of Rapid Transit
Wtshln ahe CITY Limits

MILL Ell Wv = - - -
Fatal Hesult Of Rapid transit
wiuhin ahe CITY Limits
whilr crossing the P W. & B. rsilroad
at West ftrt+t a, 7o'circk Thursday even
ing Csptaiu B. T o,hoyns ot Jsmssport,
l. p2 Is''.rd, commanding tho American
baron. James A Bofa' d, nhicu Ia load
ing usio Al gos rht. "a VI sh- Harlan q
HollingswVrth Company for Rosario,
Sjuth America, was struck and almost
instantly killed by the congressional ex
press going north.
He was returning from his vessel, and
when hs rea jhed the orossing, his atten
ton was called TO train backing down
from the B. & P. railroad station. AS
soon as It passed he started aoross and
was struck by the express train, Whion
bystanders assert was running at the
rate Of nearly 40 miles per hour. He
was picked mp and carried to an en-
bsnkment on the opposite side OF the
railroad, where he died In lsss than nve
minutes His skull was cut through to
the brain and the back Of his head was
crushed in. Railroad Off ,ials were i'm
mediately notified OF the accident and
they promptly summoned Undertaken
Palmer to take charge OF the body.
The deceased was deaf In one ear and
evidently did not hear the approaching
train.
In his pocket WAS found q letter ad.
dressed "Mrs. b. 7. Osborne, James,
port, l.. t., Suffolk county, N. T." He
was about 40 years OF age.
A wife and two children survive him.
His family, as we'll as his father-in-law,
Captain Noah Davis Of williamsburg, N.
Y, have been notified OF the sad event
He was killed on almost the same spot
that Alexander Hill was few weeks ago
While awaiting the departure Of his
vessel, he was boarding at the Jefferson
House. He had already engaged his crew
| for the trip to South America.
Many persons oensure the railroad
company for running Its trains 30 rapidly
through the city.
The following Jury assembled in Palmer'i
undertaking establishment Friday DE-
John +. Speck, chairman, William W. WOOD
ward, Nehemiah Joseph, Frank A. Price, y
d. Gibson, A. F. Matlack, Edgar d. COOK anf
| W. y. McNair.
SIX witnesses, Engineer William Jones ant
| Fireman Henry Brockman, who were en- I'M
engine which killed the deceased, John Kelly
/ William Ward and Charles Disroon, VIM
witnessed the accident, and Undertaken L
/ W, Palmer, who went after the body and re
moved it to the morgue, were examined.
From the testimony taken II appears tina
the watchman at the West street crosslni
turns mp his gates at p. m. and locks them
and that between that nour and morning Tn
railroad company has no one there TO gay
warning to persons crossing the tracks IN
L.. 49,. Nl.a N1KtRn N
tain Osborne was variously estimated at fror
seven to 10 miles an hour. Engineer Jone
testified that he saw the deceased approach
ing the fatal track and that he immediatel
reversed the engine, applied the air brake
and opened the whistle.
After short elaboration thejury adjourne
until 8 o'clock Saturday, in order TO q
anime the city ordinances in reference to u
speed at which railroad companies al
allowed to run their trains through the eli
and the requirements imposed upon them
regard to safety gates and fagmen at eros
ings.
! York Friday night by Captain Noah Davis, Il
deceased's father.in-law.
The ooroner's jury reconvened on Sa
urday afternoon. A view OF the scene
the killing was taken by the jury, afts
which it adjourned until iuesday ate
loon. A suit for damages will be inst
tuted by Csptsin Davis, the deceased
father-in-law.
The work OF the coroner's jury wi
completed Tuesday. Attorney Gener
Gray instructed the jurors that they hs
40 power beyond that Of recommend alto
| and that It was the duty OF the may
! and not of the coroner to see that the O
i dinanoes Of the city in reference to Il
: speed Of trains, the maintaining OF ta
: men, &C., are enforced. II is customal
in Baltimore and other large cities,
added, for the police to arrest the eng
] neer Of the train that exceeds the leg
{. rate of speed on his arrival at the ra
3 road station. The following preamb
( and resolutions were adopted:
WHEREAS, The frequent killing and mail
9 ing Of persons on the railroad tracks callsf
: prompt action to enforce the laws passed
i, provide for the greater security Of the pu
= lie therefore, be it
Ieesolued, That we recommend the mt
= rigid enforcement Of the law as to the rate
u speed. of railroad trains through this q
y (six miles an hour)and that precautions 9th
n than those now III vogue be at once lnHtitut
for the better protection OF NE and hmp,
d in other words that section IL OF .'an ord
{ ance concerning offenses against the pub
economy and certain nuisances," no part
y which has, as far as we can learn, been
y pealed be hereafter enforced as to the ra
n roads.
1t Resotued, That in our Judgment the ma
Ia accidents that have occurred upon the ri
roads entering this city are due in rncasl
to the failure of the mayor to enforce
:, ordinances relative to the speed of trains.
y Resolued, That copy Of these resolutit
:, be sent to the mayor and that copies also
4. furnished to the newspapers of the city
lie publication.
The jury's verdict was that Capt!
re Osborne came to his death by bel
p struck by engine No. SO OF train No
10 on the r., W. & B. railroad at West str
or crossing July 10lb, between the hours
~ Z and 8 O'Clock.
" The following was also adopted:
Cd ResoEued, That the earnest endeayor
Id Coroner Smith to remedy the existing evil
% our community deserves the commentator
i'd all our citizens.