Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-04-26
sweep the city by larger majoritles than
the Democrats have been carrying It by
cheating Republicans out OF their votes.
GETTING AT THE FACTS.

Coroner Gamble and the jury whiclshe
empaneled to investigate the manner and
cause of the death OF john Wade, Matilda
Wade and James I. Lenderman, pro-
ceeded to Newport yesterday afternoon
Tor The purpose OF examining the place
where the accident occurred and hear
ing the testimony OF those who witnessed
1t. A colored man named Samuel Bund-
ley, who resides close to the crossing,
kindly gave the party the privilege OF
holding the investigation in his "front
loom" and there the story Of the tragedy
was told.
The first witness examined was Edward
Cook, colored man employed by j. A.
Cranston. After being sworn he testi-
fed that lie was going along the lane to
Mr.. Cranston's lot, where lie intended to
plant potatoes. The team passed him
going toward the mill, and he noticed
that when the man drove across the rail-
road all the curtains of the wagon were
down and the inmates did not seem to be
on the lookout ior an approaching train.
They were At the mill about ten minute
and after they started back down the
lane the witness noticed the signal fall at
the station, and knew that the express
was coming. He then hallooed to them to
look out, but they either did not hear
him or did not pay any attention, and
contlnped on 10 the c.ossipg.
He hallooed at least three times, for
although he did not see the Train he knew
1t was coming. just as the horse reached
the north bound track the engineer blew
his whistle two or three times, when the
horse stopI ed, and the next instant the
wagon WAS struck by the engine. There
were two men on tho opposite side Of the
railroad who also hallcoed and threw up
their hands, and the witness thought that
Mr.. Wade had stopped TO see what they
wanted. 1t was his opinion that II the
horse had not stopped, the wagon would
have cleared the track.
John X. Whann was sworn, and testi-
fed that Mr.. Wade had bought some
plaster at their mill, and alter 1t was
placed in the wagon stood and talked for
lew minutes before starting OIL. He had
been drinking, but he did not consider
that he was drunk, and was po.itive that
he had seen him In much worse condi-
ton on previous occasions. In answer 10
question the witness said he knew that
about four years ago there was petition
circulated, asking the railroad company
to erect safety gate at this crossing, but
49, N'o @cN hhcW Nhhb ~ uhu tNtT Uttu
presented. There are about fifty trains
passing each way daily, and the witness
had thought OF putting Hagman at the
crossing himself, during the busy season,
Tor the protection OF his customers, Of
whom thirty or forty drive across the
track every day. he considered 1t an
extremely dangerous place, ard there is
scarcely day that some one does not
make u narrow escaDe.
Edward Ainsworth testified that he Is
employed In the Marshall Iron Works.
On Wednesday afternoon he started to 20
home, shortly after 2 O'Clock, and lust as
he had crossed the railroad, and was go
ing along Walnut STREET, be heard some
one halloOing. Upon looking around he
saw the wagon coming toward the track,
apa As the curtains were down and the
people sitting b. ok, he knew they could
not tee the approaching train. The wit
ness threw up Ills hands and called to the
man to stop, but did not know whether
he cav him or not, as lie continued to
come on until the horse reached the track,
when he stopped and was struck by the
tram. de did not notice that any of those
IN tue wagon looked out TO see whether
train was coming. The engineer blew his
whistle two or three times, but the wit
impossible for him to have stopped hls
tram after he saw the wagon.
w. q. Washingt ton testified that he
saw the wagon going toward the track,
aud hallooed to the man, but he did not
pay any attention. III o witness saw the
train coming, but the man continued on
until he reached the track, where he
stopped and seemed to be trying to back
his horse. The whistle was blown several
times, aud II the horse had continued on
the wagon would have gone over all right.
The curtains were down, and those in the
wagon could not see up or down the tracy
without leaning forward. The witness
in picking up the bodies after the
accident.
Franz T. Jones testified that he saw
the wagon going toward tho railroad
from the fertilizer works and saw the
colored man when he halloosd to them,
1t seemed that they did not hear him, as
they drove on TO the track. There were
two men on the opposite eide who called |
to the man and beckoIed with their |
hands, when he stopped on the track In |
front OF the north bound express. The |
engineer blew his whistle twice but IL |
would have been impossible ior him to |
stop the train alter he saw the wagon.
John M. Mendenhal testified that he |
was In the Office at the iron works talk |
ing 10 the freight agent when he heard |
several men hallooing. Upon looking |
ons he saw the team coming toward The |
railroad and also heard the train coming.
The whistle was blown several tim,s 8
and the man stopped the horse right on |
The track. lie considered this very |
dangerous crossing, but did not know |
that anything had been done toward hav- |
Ing gates erected. He had a brother |
killed just above this place few years |
ago.
Ephralm Myers testified that he Is and |
has for several years been town COM
missioner OF Newport, but did not know
hat the company had ever been asked to
erect gates at this place. The jury then
adjourned until 7.30 this evening, when
hey will meet st the Coroner's Office.
Alter hearing the testimony the Jury
1iewed the place and found that a north
'ound train could not be seen approach
nR until it was within 100 feet of the
'rossinR. While they were on the ground
south-bound accommodation passed
hat was timed by one OF the Jurors, when
was found that although the train was
lowing down 1t was only three seconds
Until 1t came to full stop at the station.
from this 1t can be inferred that II could
lot have been more than a second and
.alt alter the express came In sight on
Wednesday before it struck Wade's
wagon.
The bodies of the unfortunate couple
Gere sent to their home at IL O'Clock
his morning.
Country Produce.
G. W. Jones and I. II. Reeves, dealers