Evening journal., 1889-04-26
VIM. B. SHARP & co.
THE NEwPoRT AcclnENT.
Testimony of the Eye witnesses Before
the Coroner's Jury.

Testimony of the Eye Witnesses Before
the Coroner's Jury.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon the
jury empaneled by Coroner Gamble to
hold an inquest upon the bodies of John
and Matilda Wade and James 4. Lender
man, the victims of the Newport trad
gedy, drove out to the scene of the
accident. The crossing was viewed and
the shattered wreck OF the wagon was
examined. 1t is impossible to see a train
standing at the station when a carriage
is driving down the lane from the phos-
phate works toward the crossing.
The jury heard the testimony OF the
following witnesses at the house Of
Augustus Lumbard, a colored man, living
near the crossing.
Edward Cook, a colored man. testified
that he was planting potatoes III the field
beside the lane. AS Wade returned from
the phosphate works, seeing the signal
on top Of the station down, he knew a
train was coming and shouted Look out
for the train. He called loudly three
times, but no attention was paid to him.
The wagon went on until the horse was
on the north bound track, then he stop
ped, presumably because the two men on
the other side were shouting. AT that
moment the train, which was between
The station and crossing. whistled, and
the horse started moving far enough to
let the engine strike the forward part OF
the wagon. The wagon top extended
from the front to back and the oc upants
could not see down the track without
leaning forward
John r. Whann testified TO selling the
plaster to Wade and to conversing with
him. He was somewhat uader the in
tluence of liquor but not as much as the
witness had seen him He considered
the crossing dangerous one. His firm
had been thinking of placing a hagman
there at their own expense during their
busy season, when thirty or forty wagons
crossed and recrossed a day. Many per-
sons took extra precautions in crossing
Edward Ainsworth testified to the acci-
dent as has been stated. When he heard
Edward Cook shout he turned and saw
the team about 20 cross the track He
beckoned and shouted and the horse
stopped When struck Wade appeared
to be jerking the lines in an endeavor to
make the horse 60 ahead.
w. g. Washington, who was in the
Office of Marshall Iron Works, also
shouted warning through the open
NA-tNANHt AD tAVhEhN biNp ~ bnc nbAnt
had kept moving he might have escaped
Frank i. Jones, superintendent Of the
iron works, said that the horse stood
three or four seconds and that Wade
tried to pull him to the right when
struck. The train could not have been
stopped. The engine whistled twice
The last whistle had hardly ceased when
the wagon was struck. II the wagon
had kept moving 1t would possibly have
escaped.
John NJ. Mendenhall Of the Marshall
Iron Company, a resident Of Wilmington,
testified that Wade stopped the horse
and appeared to be ia the act of backing
when struck. His brother had been killed
near the crossing and he had seen
others almost caught. Scarcely week
passed but some one had a narrow es-
cape.
Ephriam Meyer, secretary Of the New
port town commissioners for three years.
testified that no action had ever been
taken by that body in regard to asking
the railroad company to place gates at
the crossing. Gates were necessary.
They had been talked about but nothing
had ever been done. The crossing was
public street.
After hearing this witness the jury
adjourned to meet at z. 80 this evening in
the coroner's Office.