Daily Republican., 1889-05-04
A DEATH TRAP.
SEVEN VICTIMS OF A GRADE
RAILWAY CROSSING.
An Omnibus Party of WeII-kuown Men
Run Down by u Fast Freight Train
at Bridesburg-Two Killed,
Others Manned

PHILADELPHIA, May 4.--The grade
crossing over the Pennsylvania Railroad
at Bridge street, Brldesburg, which is one
of the most dangerous in the city, was
yesterday morning reddened with the
blood OF seven victims. Two were practi-
cally killed outright and the others were
so badly wounded that, while they may
recover, they will be MANNED ior life. |
The accident was caused by a fast freight |
train, a short time after midnight, run
ming into large omnibus containing |
party of gentlemen who are members of |
the Masonic fraternity, and amoug the |
most prominent citizens OF Frankford.
They all belonged to a social visiting
club, comprised of thirteen members OF
the lodge, who occasionally met around
at houses of the members aud spent
pleasant evening. Howard c. Yonker,
who dropped dead In Frankiord on Thurs
day, was junior warden of Jerusalem
Lodge, and WAS also member of this
social organization. 1t was det med
| fitting that arrangements. should he made
by these his friends, who were ,,all promi-
nent officers Of the lodge for his funeral.
They got together and decided to meet
at the house OF the worshipiul master,
DIR. Alonzo IL. Boyer, 47l2 Richmond
street, Bridesburg, in the evening. Ac-
cordingly Charles Gray's large hack was
engaged and JamGs johnson, an employe
of the stable, who has the reputation of
being q very careful driver, took them
over late in the evening.
As the hack was little late In return
ing to DR.. Boyer's Mr.. Allen started and
walked home. The others remained and
about midnight bade DR.. Boyer good
night and were whirled homewsrd in the
hack. There are five tracks, The safety
l thnr Nok,
man. johnson whipped his horses
briskly forward, and Mr.. Byram and Mr..
Fries, who didn't feel exactly safe, know
ing the dangerous nature OF the crossing.
got on the rear seat to keep a look out.
The wagon had nearly crossed and the
horses were on the last track which is used
for east-bound freight traffic when looking
up the track toward Filter station MIR.
Flies suddenly shouted:
"Get out for Gods sake! Here comes
train"
Mr.. Fries and Mr.. Byram sprang clear.
Seated nearest the door, on the seats
which ran lengthwise of the vehicle,
were DR.. Hale and Mr.. Myers. They
both got to the door at once and praeti-
cally plunged headlong into the tracks,
DR.. Hale lying there for minute
stunned. The others were on their feet
struggling TO get out, and johnson and
Gibbs were shouting to the horses when
crashl The locomotive struck the wagon,
and horses, passengers, driver and trsg-
ments of omnibus few into the air. The
, men who were hurt do not know what
happened. The men who had escaped
a on the track can only give a confused
idea oil the terrible sight they witnessed
|, 1t seemed but an Instant and then the
I track was tlled with mangled men. The
a horses lay groaning 100 feet away. The
wagon lay partly on the track and partly
, on the empty watchman's box which was
! badly damaged, and the driver was mo-
: where to be seen.
Some OF the fortunate four who had es-
capped went to work carrying the wounded
/ to the platform and others aroused neigh
bors, who rendered much assistance
Mr.. Womrath was quite dead. He had
been struck In the back part of the head,
which was mashed in, and there was an
ugly cut on the rose. Mr.. DUNCAN was
found just in front Of the watchman's s
house. 1t took but minutes eXamina-
tion by DIR. Hale to convince him that
Mr.. DUNCAN was beyond human aid.
His skull had been fractured and he was
badly cut about the body.I
Officer Deane, of the Fifteenth Dis
trict, was beside the track and the engi-
neer called to him and told him he had
run down a wagon. The officer hurried
to the engine and there found, sitting just
back of the COW catcher and wedged in
beside the steam chest, James johnson,
the colored driver. He was alive and
cons cious. He had been tossed fully
fifty feet In the air and had alighted on
the engine.
The wound men ad been placed on
the Kansington accommodation train and
conveyed TO the Church Street Station.
Mr.. DUNCAN was dead by this time. His
body was taken home. The body Of Mr..
Womrath was taken to Markley's under
taking establishment, and his wife and
four children, who live in Pottsville,
were notified by telegraph. Mr.. Smith,
whose home Ia at the Seven Stars Hotel,
was taken 10 the Episcopal Hospital, and
all the others were taken to their homes.