Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-22
rAUNens INTO THE CANAL.
.he Engine and Thirteen Cars OF n
Local Freight FAN Into mn Open


Locni Freight FAN Into nn Open
Dra Sbridge.
Special Correspondence of Gazette ana Journal
KmKwooD. Dbl, May 2O.--Engine No.
go and 10 freight cars OF north-bound
freight train No. 20, ran into the open draw
OF the bridge over the Delaware IL Ohesa.
peako canal midway between Mt. Pleasant
and this place at TAO O'Clock last evening,
The falling train struck canal boat,
laden with coal, which was passing through
the draw, and It was lnk. No one was
hurt, all the trainmen jumping, and escap.
Ing even the slightest injury; but the canal
Is filled with wreckage that 1t will take at
least three days to clear away. The bridge
YVES not damaged, and by l o'clock last
night the wreck was cleared away SUI
feiently to close the draw. All trains were
delayed until after that hour, but are rum
ning on time to-day.
tug boat with tow OF 1--WE barges
laden with coal for Washington, and two
sohooners were passing through the draw
at the time. The barge that was sunk was
one OF the foremost. 1t was almost through
the draw and was struck near the stern,
which sunk at once. There was man and
boy on board. The boy was In the cabin
and came out so frightened that he jumped
overheard and swan ashore. The man
jumped to the tow path. Neither we're
hurt. The barge following the one which
was sunk, was stopped by prompt snuO-
bling, from getting beneath the falling cars,
and suffered no damage but a broken cleat,
None OF the other boats In the tow were
harmed. The tug cut loose at the FIRST
erash and sped out OF harms way.
The cause OF the accident is somewhat OF
smystery. The train was regular local
freight running through from Lewes. It
was nearly half hour behind time at the
bridge. There were % cars and the cabin
ear or caboose on the train, loaded with
miscellaneous freight. Theodore Tuchton
OF Wilmington was engineer OF the engine,
No. 60, and John Lucas fireman. W. W.
Dawson was conductor of the TRAN.
Dawson was on the engine as the train
neared the drawbridge.
II Is stated that the train was running of
tho usual rate OF speed and Stacked up on
the up grade towards the bridge, as Ia GUS
tomary, to look out for the signals, The
sad danger lights were seen at the signal
post and the whistle was blown and every
sftorr made by the engineer to stop
the train, without avail. The speed
was slackened to about four miles
an hour when the engine reached the
trestle, but finding the train wGs sure to so,
the men on the engine jumped of when It
was about three lengths from the draw.
The next moment 1t plunged down so reel
into the canal. q hissiug and complete
wreck. One by one the Is freight cars, fol.
lowed, each assisting 10 pull th8 next ovar
the brink, until the momentum OF the train
was stopped, and the fourteenth car hung
over the edge OF the draw.
As the cars fell they struck the canal boa
and craehed on to each other. Splinters an
pieces of Iron, berries aud all kinds o
freight dew In the air as each sucese1lnp
car came down, until the canal and draw
was tllec almost to the level OF the tract
with wreckage and debris. One OF the car
was filled with sheep and calves, some o
them OF fine breed II struck on the enl
and lay in an oblique position. Many o
the poor beasts were killed or Injured, bu
so or 40 were taken out alive, and spent tn,
night bleating most distress iuly. Their
were few crates Of strawberries on tn
train for which the shippers will never &c
any returns.
There are other statements In regard Il
the signals and tbs speed Of the train alst
of the efforts made to stop It. NJ. T. Milla
the middle brakeman was about the middl
OF the train. He says It was running abol
four miles an hour when 1t went over anC
that he did not jump until the engine an,
three cars had plunged Into the canal.
AS soon as possible word ives sent Il
Clayton and a wrecking train was ar ono
dispatched to the bridge. A wrecklng trail
was also sent from Wilmington and 10
men were soon at WORK. TIE II cas- tina
remained on the track was taken back t
Mt. Pleasant.
The wrecked cars were piled right ant
left out OF the way OF the draw and shortl
after O'Clock, this morning, it was close
and trains began to run over the brld.,
again. Work continued all OF last nigh
and this morning, pulling the cars out {
the canal, but 1t will take two or three day
to clear the channel and raise the sunke
barge.
The accident will cost the railroad CON
PAW in the peighborhood OF 100000, an
traffic In the canal will be greatly delayed
There will be an investigation TO FIX ID
responsibility OF the accident,