Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-09
BACKING TO DEATH.
a 3. & o. LOCOMOTIVE FALLS
INTO THE ScHUYLKILL.
Shocking Disaster at GraY's Ferry
Last Night-An open Draw Re-
csives Two brave Ien and Their
Engine-Who is 40 BIamef

hnkAMt-n W HO IN 10 ettHDne
PHILADELPHIA, August "A ponderous
Baltimore and Ohio railroad passenger
engine plunged through the new bridge
which spans the Schuylkill below Gray's
Ferry road about $50 o'clock last night
Four pevsons were on the engine at the
time the disaster occurred, and it is a
marvel that any escaped with
their lives. Two were killed-one
outright. The others escaped with injuries
not fatal but serious. The killed are engi-
neer James Bell OF Baltimore. aged about
As; machiuist Patrick McCord. aged about
80 years His body was not recovered, be-
ing caught 10 the wreck at the bottom OF
the river.
The injured are fireman John McMichsels
of Baltimore, bruised about head and body;
Henry Sawyer, aged 70 years, confused
about head, face and body. He was taken
to the Pennsylvania Hospital. Sawyer
was one OF the apprentices in the machine
shop. Engineer Bell died at 1890 O'Clock
this morning.
Engine 601 reached the depot at oath and
Walnut streets from Baltimore about s.
O'Clock. When the passengers had alighted.
the coaches were side-tracked, aud the en-
gineer started for the round-house at 5Sth
street. The engine ran backward Along
the tracks the engine sped. whistling at
crossings Sawyer sat on the tender talk
log to MoCord. Engineer Bell sat at his
post, hand on the throttle. The fireman
leaned against the cab. ALI this was seen
when the engine rushed past the station to
the doom Of two OF it's occupants.
Onto the bridge went the locomotiv
Suddenly its cleaning headlight disap-
peared. The draw was open and the engine
had plunged into the inky waters beneath.
Fireman McMichael saw the danger and
leaped head fret into the river, striking a
portion OF the engine In his descent. Ma
cainist McCord gave a cry Of agony which
was drowned by the tremendous h.ssing Of
steam and revolving OF wheels as they
thrashed the water into foam. But it did
not last long. The ponderous locomotive
sank to the bottom and three men were
struggling for their lives. McCord was
caught in the cab and carried to the bottom
Of the river, never to rise sgaln.
Engineer Bell was thrown first violently
against the tender and then into the river.
Coal, shovels and picks struck him, and
badly injured him. He rose TO the surface
bleeding and half unconscious. A cry for
help was speedily answered. A boat shot
out from the black border OF the river,
containing E. II. Coleman, a Lombard and
South stcar conductor, and H Shallenher.
4. H.. nntf.
horrorstruck when the engine fell into the
stream.
Engineer Bell was feebly calling for help.
One OF the men, half undressed, jumped
into the river and swan towards the bat
tliDg engineer. When he reached him
Bell threw his arms arou nd the mans neck
with a wise like grip. In vain the man
tried to shake of the hold OF the engineer,
and be slowly felt himself sinking. Then
the other man leaped into the river, and
with the greatest difficulty the clutch Of
the clutch OF the wounded man was
broken. Bell was helped into the boat and
Saver was next attended to. He was also
got into the boat. McMichaels was able to
reach shore unRided.
Bell was taken to the University and
Sawyer to the Pennsylvania Hospital. At
2 a. N. Sawyer was said to be out Of dan.
ger, but he was 10 a comatose condition.
Fireman McMichaels soon after the acci-
dent left for Baltimore. His action was
the cause Of some comment, those in the
vicinity saying that it was his dnty to re-
main by the side Of his dying engineer.
OF course there is considerable diversity
Of opinion regarding the location of the
blame. Michael Kane, the man who has
charge OF the drawbridge. claims that the
signals indicating that the bridge was open
were properly displayed, and that the acct.
dent was no fault of his. This. however, is
contradicted by Fireman McMichaels, who
positively stated that no signals were dis
played. II they had been, the disaster
would certainly have been averted. One
of the men about the station said that the
engineer mistook the signals The block
system Of signalling is used, they being
operated at the Reading junction. just
before the engine came along a large three
masted schooner passed through the west
side or the draw on its way up the river
The shadowy vessel bad barely cleared the
bridge when the locomotive came dashing
along and fell into the river.
Two men are on constant duty at the
bridge and both are said to be very careful.
The fault is attributed to the signals. which
it is said were not displayed in time TO
avert the disaster. For some time past the
slgnals,a we'll informed man said last night
had been working poorly. And to their
failure to work promptly is sscribed the
accident would have caused the death of
two brave men. An investigation will be
made to-day.