The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-04
A SUDDEN, FATAL ENDING
TO a PARTY OF MAsoss RETURNING
FROM THEIR Lopus.
Tho Coach In Which They Rode II
Struck by a Freight Train. Two
Arc Killed and Five others
Injured Severely.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. May IA two
horse coach containing several persons
was struck by a train on the Pennsylvania
Railroad crossing this morning and the
coach demolished. Twt Of the occupants
1. J. Womuth and Jdtncs DUNCAN, were
killed and three othersfinjurcd. The ac-
cidcnt occurred shortly htcr o'clock THIS
morning. Tho coach contained eleven
men, many 81 whom wei local politicians,
and II is said that they tcrc on their way
homo from a iolliGcatldh. womraih was
ilily-hye years Of age n u was formerly a
member Of the City q uncil from one Of
the upper wards. Dunsan was sixiy.nye
years Of age. Samuel fmilh, aged forty
yean, and Charles slbgcr aged thirty.
four. sustained serious iurcs, as did also
James johnson, aged iVcnly.iyc, the coli
orcd driver OF tho coacla Howard Gibbs
aged twcnty-one. and y. Frank wilgus,
aged ihiny-six, were ala injured Smith
was taken 10 tie Episc5 pal Hospital aud
the others were removal 10 their homes.
They were all residential frankiord.
The party in the coaci were members Of
the Masonic fraternity ind were returning
10 this city from Wet 10 Dr.. Boyer, Of
liridcsburg, the woahipiul mister OF the
lodge 10 which they belonged. They
spent the evening nj the residence Of DE-.
Boyer discussing lodge matters, and some
time after midnight started on their home
ward trip. Howard Gibbs, one OF the In.
jurcd. did not belong 10 the party, but
had been oycrlaken 90 the road and al.
lowed 10 ride with the driver. The briei
delay caused by taking on this extra
passenger undoubtedly had much 10 do
with the calamity which followed. Tho
night was hazy, rendering objects indis.
| tincl. and Il IL supposed the freight train
/ approached the crossing unpcrcciyed by
those In the coach. Al any rate, Just ~
the horses aud the front part Of the con-
ycyance were on the westward track tho
locomotive dashed upon them.
The engineer saw what had happened,
and three square Lengths further down tho
track the train slowed no. The engineer
went around 20 tho cow.micher and there,
stretched upon II, bruised, bleeding aud
insensiblc. was Johnson, the colofed
driver. lie regainei Consciousness after a
few minutes vigorous shaking.
| nv you uhull Huftl wv vas Wh'hs
lie could not speak jusi then, aud slm'
ply nodded his head. After little while,
however, ho found uncmnoo, and, In an
swcr 10 another question, sal1 lac was
alone whom the train struck the wagon
nelic. lie was quito dazcd, aud did not
know what he was saying
u doubt that he Sas alone, said the
engineer Tets 70 back and acc"
Along with police officer aud several
train hands he ran up The track. A square
below the crossing the horses we're found
dead aud gashed 10 pieces, lying Close to-
| gciher. Tho force OF The blow must have
been terrible. for the shoes were torn from
the front hoofs Of ono Of them, and the
other had leg cut oil close 10 the trunk
a. clean as II had been done with knife;
Further up the track the wagon, dashed
TO Underwood, was Discovered In q heap,
and a few feet away BON i were The bod
les OF Womraih and DUNCAN. Both men
were dead. The engineer said at the Time
that they must have been dashed INTO ths