Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-10
RAILROAD COLLISION.
TERRIBLE AND FATAL WRECK
A swefpips Engine Dashes iHto n Pas
enser.rrnin-ss,srai Persons scsided and
[Rv telerranh Do iha pisratch.l

sweeping Engine Dashfs tnfo Pas-
senser. rrain-ss,srai Persons sesided and
Mapgied.
(By telegraph 10 the Dispateh.l
WILMINGTON, DEL, January o.
Last night s snow-storm caused the most
serious block on the railroad-trscks
here that has occurred for years, sus-
pending travel for hours.
About 7;45 this morning the Will
mington and Northern train, which
leaves for Reading, Pa, at 8 O'Clock,
was backing into the station. 1t con-
sisted Of an engine, baggage and mail
car, and passeDger-car. On account OF
heavy drifts, the train was piloted by
a shifting engine, which was attached
to the rear passeuger-car. Between
Shipley and Market streets the trains
progress was blocked by several freight
cars that had been thrown from the
tracks by drifts. The train then ran
back to the rear Of the gas-house and
there crossed to the south-bound track,
when it again started for the station.
Meanwhile two other shifting-engines
had been sent out from the station
with snow-sweepers to clear the south
bound track. Both engines were run
ming rapidly, and the Wilmington and
Northern train was also under
good head of steam. Opposite the
Harlan & Hollinsworth Company's
tracks the engines and train came to-
gether with a terrific crash. The
sweeping engines drove the pilot engine
of the train into the baggsge-car, tele-
scoping the car for one third of its
length. The rear end of the car was
torn into fragments, the cab of the en-
CINE broken to pieces, the boiler frac-
tured, and the machinery twisted into
all shapes. On account of the binding
snow the engineers of the approaching
trains were not aware Of the danger
until the collision occurred. Superin-
tendent A. j. McCauselapd, Of the Will
mington and Northern railroad, was on
the train, but escaped with some bad
bruises. Three men were killed out
right, and another is expected to die.
Immediately after the collision the pas
senger. car took fire from the engine
furnace, and escaping steam added to
the torture of the victims imprisoned
under the broken timberS. The fire
department hurried to the scene and
began playing on the burning timbers,
while Others exerted themselves to get
out the dead and wounded. 1t was
nearly Q o'clock when the last body
was gotten out. The engineer. fireman,
and one Of the shifting crew were hor-
ribly crushed, mangled, scalded, and
burned,
The dead are so mangled as to be
nearly unacceptable. Albert Jones,
engineer ofthe shifting crew, and James
Brinton, telegraph operator, have been
recognized. The third body has not
been identified, the mutilation being so
complete that it can only be known as
one Of the shifting crew. Abe Lawler,
fireman Of Engine No. |, lad of seven
teen, is the most seriously injured, be-
ing frightfully burned and bruised.
His left leg has been amputated, and his
recovery is doubtful. John GARY, as
sistant yard-master, sustained a wound
which produced conclusion of the BRAIN
Recovery is regarded as impossible.
Conductor Samuel McMullen, of the
Philadelphia, Wilmington. aud Balti'
more railroad, and j. j. Finn received
painful but not dangerous bruises
George Blacks the Wilmington and
Northern conductor) condition Is
growing worse. Fears of fatal result
are entertained. James A. Melvin,
injuries include a compound fracture o
the right leg regarded serious
Joseph Virgins (6reman), George E
Hanley, and several others whose names
were not obtained, received slight in
| iuries.