The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-10
FATAL RAILWAY COLLISION.
Three Men Instantly Killed and Fourtl
Mortally Hurt-The Bodies Badly A1angled.

Three Men Instantly Killed and . Fourth
Mortally Hurt-The Bodies Badly Eangled.
WILMINGToNs Del, Jan. 9.-Last nights
snow-storm caused the most serious block on the
railroad tracks here that has occurred for years,
suspending travel for hours About 7:45 this
morning the Wilmington 6 Northern train,
which leaves for Reading, Pa, at o'clock,
collided with two shifting engines that had been
sent out from the station with snow-shovels to
clear the track. Both engines were running
rapidly. and the Wilmington & Northern train
was also under good head of steam. The engines
and train came together with terrific crash.
The sweeping engines drove the pot-engine of
hte train into the baggage-car, telescoping the
car for one third of its length. The rear end of
the car was torn into fragments, the cab of the
engine broken into pieces the boiler fractured.
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 McCausland, of the Wilmington &
Northern road was on the train, but escaped
with some bad bruises. Three men were killed
outright. and another is expected to die.
senger-car took fire from the engine
furnace, and escaping steam added to the torture
of the victims imprisoned under the broken tim
bers. 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 9 o'clock when the
last body was got out. The dead 1.-THE engineer,
fireman and one OF the shifting crew were horri
bly, crushed, mangled. scalded and burned The
bodies are so mangled as to be nearly unrecog-
nizable. The only one identified is Albert Jones,
the engineer of the shifting crew.
LATER.-Another of the dead bodies has been
partially identified as that of George w. Brin-
ton, telegraph operator at the Wilmington &
Northern tower.
Abe Lawler, fireman of engine No. 1, lad Of
seventeen, is the most seriously injured, being
frightfully burned and bruised. His left leg
has been amputated. aud his recovery is doubt
full. John Gorrie, assistant yardmaster, suffered
conclusion of the brain. His recovery is re-
garded as hardly possible. Conductor Samuel
McMullen. of the Philadelphia, Wilmington &
Baltimore road. and j. Finn received painful but
not dangerous bruises The condition of George
Black, the Wilmington 81 Northern conductor,
is growing worse and fears entertained of
fatal results. James A. Melvns injuries, pre-
viously reported, include a compound fracture of
the right leg, and are regarded as serious. Jos.
Wiggans, fireman, George Estanty and several
others received injuries of slight nature.
Following is correct list of the killed and
injured by the collision
KiIled-A. Il. Jones, conductor; George W.
Brinton, telegraph operator; Harry Ahrens.
brakeman.
Injured-Abram Lawler. fireman, burned and
cut, injuries will prove fatal; George Black,
conductor scalded and internally injured can
not recover; John Garry. yardmaster, conclusion
of the brain. will die; j. j. Finn. internally in
jured condition critical Samuel McMullen con-
ductor. seriously bruised and burned; James A.
Melvin, train dispatcher, compound fracture of
right leg; Elwood Coyle, engineer head cut and
bruised; George Stanley and James Virgins,
slightly cut and bruised.
Freight Trains in Collision-Three Lives Lost.
BIRMINGHAM Ala, Jan. AN accident oc-
Cured on the Louisville & Nashville railroad at
the bridge over Flint river. Whites Station,
Morgan county, today in which two sections Of
north bound freight train were telescoped
Part Of the first section broke lose and remained
on the bridge, and was run into by the second
section. The shock caused the collapse of the
bridge, 100 feet of which was undergoing repairs.
Five of the first section, and the whole of the
second. consisting of an engine aud sixteen cars,
went down with the bridge. The wreck caught
fire, and eighteen cars were burned. John
johnson. fireman of the second section, fell I'M
der his engine and was drowned Henry Boet-
ler brakeman. was caught under car and
burned to death; w. ID. johnson, engineer, and
brother of the fireman. was fatally burned; Con-
6uctor George Young and negro brakeman,
named Thomas McCreary were seriously burned.
The freight consisted mostly of pgiron. Con.
ductor l.. o. Harris OF the first section. swan
across the almost frozen river TO flag the north
bound passenger train, which was to come along
in fay plinrtee