Daily Republican., 1889-09-26
.,he Claymont Crash.

The short curve south Of Claymont, on
the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Bslti-
more Railroad, noted as the scene of so
many fatal disasters, narrowly eac ped
being tho ecsne of one that came near
beng fatal 10 forty men. Fortunately
tho collision, bad enough as 1t was,
ended In nothing worse than in injuring
James Cavansugh, No. 232 Tatnall
street, this city, and Joseph Hughes OF
Philadelphia, seriously, and more or less
wounding about dozen Others. The
accident occurred about $50 o'clock yes
terdsy morning. A workman train con-
sisting oi engine No. 0S, caboose and
seventee cars loaded with stone and
gravel. The tran as 1t came down had
picked up forty men. the last to get on
baipg Michael Tubbs and ten men with
him at Claymont. Tne construction
irsin was Just about rounding the curve
south OF Claymonf, when engine Nc. 20.
Engineer james Legg and Fireman
Frank P. Hawkins, came dsshing around
the curve and ran into the caboose OF the
construction trair. Legg saw the con-
st:uciion train ahead OF him, and re-
versed. his engine, but too lase to avert
the threatened disaLtcr. Legg jumped
OF the engine to one side and Hawkins to
the other, aud number Of the hands on
the threatened train, seeing the, danger
in time, also jumped, but those inside
the car had no I me TO jump and were
caught in the smash-up.
The ercspe OF these men from death Is
almost miraculous. The car was
knocked almost into splinters, but OF all
who were in IL only Joseph Huges, OF
Philade phia, WAS dangerously Injured,
| and 1t is feared will not recover, but time
alone will show to what extent others are
injured.
| Word was telegrAphed TO this city and
Drs. J. A. Draper and Howard Ole,
with Detectives Jones and Vandegr,it
went to the scene aud administered to the
wants OF the wounded. -Four Of theui
were attended by DIR. Cardeza, who livei
near Claymtnt. CAvanaueh, Legg and
Hawkins were brought TO this city and
the Philadslphlans taken to their lomei
By De.e;tive Vandegri:t.
After the crush came the caboose ca
caught fire from the stove which wa
upset, and the burning wreck wa
pulled to one sido and was allowed to b,
entirely consumed. Engine No. 25 wa
very badly injured by the collision, he
smokestack aud pilot being badil
crushed, and the tracks ior eevera
l iCuktb WCtC phoiJ WIN VI. ntihbt
OF trains both north and southboun,
were detained from one to two hours.
There is q strong disposition TO lay tb
blame for tie accident on LcgR. Tracl
iaborers say that he was "wilj eating
his locomotive, that Is, driving at rick
less speed. II saw him comiug aroun,
the curve as If the devil were after him,
said one. ''IIe had ma ade the run frot
Liuwood to Claymont, nearly four mileI
in less than three minutes"
Others say that when be passed Clay
mont he was running slowly.
The following il a list OF those injured
! some seriously and others less:
James Lsgg, No. 7i8 Pine street, 70,
Injured slightly by jumping.
Frank r. Hawkins. No. S35 Tatna
5 street. hand slightly cut and sprained.
+ James Csvenaugh, No. 232 Tatna
. street, tadly bruised and internally Il
jured.
Q William Gibbs. Linwood, Internal i
= juries.
The others were Philadelphians, al
their names are:
g Joseph Hughes, seriously injured
: terDally aud bad cut on rient temple.
I'll John O'Neill, cut on forehead.
u George PHILIPPE, burned about &
% limbs.
II Patrick Sweeney, cut and bruised.
y Daniel McNlchol, bruised and cut.
Is Harry McKendless, cut about head al
e body.
p John King, bruised.
u John Kane, bruised.
y Mr.. CavaDaugh was seen at his RET
dence, Tatnall street between Secoi
and Third, this forenoo8is y represe
iatiye of the REPUBLICAN. He W
lying on ssttee. unable to walk acre
l. the room. He complained of being ve
% sore IN the side and II bis legs.
~ showed his big heavy overcoat that
y bad on and the skirt was entirely to
y OF.
h He thinks the coat kept lis legs frc
p getting broken. He was wedged
le unner some lnmber aud the stone roll
l. over on top oil that He hardly knol
IS how be got out, but which he did get o
y he helped another man out He did n
I know then that he was so badly hurt.
ie dots not soc how anybody escaped ali
ic from 8 Ieh wreck.
lei A call at the residence Of Frank
10 Hawkins was answered by his moth
who ated that be wac not abe TO
about but was not strivusly hurt,
Engineer Legg, IL is understood, is l
IN seriously injured but suffers from
n auk Ia kfrain sal Al