The news., 1885-07-21
HERoIsM AT TEE THROTTLE.
An Ensineer's Death in the Cab

The heroism of Engineer George E.
Murphy, in remaining at his post in
the locomotive cab in the face of GER
tain death, averted terrible railroad
catastrophe and loss of life at Franklin
Vile station, on the line of the West
Jersey R.R., on Saturday morning. 1t
is to be deplored that this heroic act had
death for its only reward. The early
morning express, which leaves Allan
tic City at 645 o'clock and is desig
mated ON the time-schedule as train
No. 40, was diverted from the main
track to a siding by an open switch
when it reached Franklinville on its
trip to Philadelphia. This train is
largely patronized by business men
who are summering at Atlantic City
and summer visitors who desire early
train connections ON roads leading from
Philadelphia. 1t is scheduled to make
the run in fifty-nine minutes, and does
not make single stop. 1t was drawn
ON Saturday by its regular engine, No
| 600, Of which George f. Murphy, Of
No. 430 South Fifth street, Camden,
was the engineer and John McCan-
tric the fireman.
Owing to it being the last day of the
week, and the intense heat keeping
the people at the seashore, the train
had less number of passengers aboard
than for several previous mornings
1t was within few minutes of its time
when it approached the station named
and was bowling along at lightning
speed, when it suddenly left the main
track and dashed off upon siding. In
a moment there was crash; the speed
was suddenly checked short, the pas
sengers were thrown from their seats
by the violence of the stop, and con-
| fusion and excitement reigned.
Three of the seven coaches were dis
abled. The parlor car, which wasneXt
to the engine, was thrown from the
rails and the passengers compelled to
escape by crawling through the win
dows. It was at once seen that the
worst part of the smash-up laid in the
direction of the engine. This was sadly
wrecked McCantrick, the fremen, at
once reported himself as without a
scratch He had taken the advice of
Engineer Murphy and jumped for his
life when the locomotive had swerved
into the siding, on which several
loaded freight cars stood directly in
the way A search was made for Muir
ply and he was found in the wreck of
the engine, insensible and covered with
blood. 1t was seen that his wounds
were mortal. The right leg was mashed
and the head frightfully injured and
crushed. The right eye had been
gouged out. 1t is supposed that a
splinter had pierced it and entered the
brain. Two physicians who were pas
sengers on the train volunteered their
services for the injured man, but they
were unable to afford him relief
Strange to state the only other persons
hurt were John T. Starr, ST., and John
F. Starr, Jr., members of the we'll
known family of that name in Camden.
They had occupied seats in the parlor
cars and escaped with a few slight
bruises by being violently thrown from
their chairs and by cuts from the
broken glass from the window panes.
The locomotive had run plump into a
flat car standing on the siding, and
which was loaded with sawed lumber
Two or three boards, which were piled
lengthwise on the car, had penetrated
the boiler of the engine, and it was
miracle that the horrors of boiler
explosion were not added to the acci-
dent. The smokestack and pilot and
boiler head were smashed and the
locomotive thrown upon its side. En-
gineer Murphy had attempted to jump
after he had reversed and put on the
air-brakes, but had leaped ON the
same side the engine had toppled over.
He was crushed beneath it. The fire.
man more fortunately jumped on the
other side, and had thus saved him
self. There is no doubt had not Muir
ply thus heroically stuck to his post,
shut off steam and applied the air
brakes, the violence of the collision
would have been attended by great
loss of life among the passengers. He
recognized the full force of the situa-
ton when he struck the siding, as Fire
man McCantrick says he shouted to
him: Jump, George, now, for this is
the time" The heroic engineer re-
piled, as he manipulated the machin-
cry: "No; l will stick to my post if l
die for it." The catastrophe happen
ing upon the siding, the main track
was not blocked About half an hour
after the accident the Atlantic express,