Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-20
ANOTHER RAILROAD CRASH
Wreck of an Express on the
Atlantic City Road.
A COLLISION WITH A FREIGHT
Several People Badly Hurt,
But None Killed.


ATLANTIC Cry, N. j., Aug. 14.-Thc
express train on the Reading railroad
which lief. Philadelphia tonight at 8
O'clock and was due in Atlantic City at
V.23, smashed into north bound freight
train at Egg Harbor. Twelve persons
were injured, two of them it is believed
fatally. Mrs. Otto Beetles of Atlantic
City was terribly scalded by escaping
steam, while Harry Shaw, of 161 West
3 Huntingdon street, Philadelphia, had his
left leg crushed below the knee, render
ing immediate amputation necessary, in
addition TO which be sustained what arc
believed to be fatal internal injuries.
The accident is attributed to the failure
10 work of the air brakes on the express.
A freight train north from Atlantic
City had pulled over on the south-bound
track to permit the $50 express, also
bound north, to pass. Before the freight
could get back on the north bound rails
the express from Philadelphia came
dashing along, grazed the cylinder of
the freight engine and wrenching il
oose, so that ii poured forth a cloud of
scalding steam, threw the tender to one
side, smashed the express locomotive
into bits and piled the smoker on top of it.
A WONDERFUL ESCAPE.
1t was a miraculous interposition of
Providence that every man in the smoker
was not instantly killed. Immediately
behind the combination smoker and
baggage car was coach largely filled
with women. Mrs. BEETLES was in the
forward part.
The scalding steam from the freight en-
gine poured into this car with awful
nH'n Sat ~
cooked as she sat in her seat, the skin
hanging in shreds. She instantly he
came insane from pain and terror, and
began singing gospel songs and snatches
of church hymns in a high, delirious
voice.
The passengers who escaped injury
endeavored to control her, but with
little effect She was finally subdued
and taken to the hotel in Egg Harbor,
where DR.. Boyson gave her his undi-
vlded attention. 1t is almost impossible
for her to recover, owing TO the nature
of her Injuries.
At II o'clock tonight Manager r. S.
Davis hurried special train to the
scene of the accident for the sole pur-
pose of conveying the husband of the
unfortunate woman to her bedside.
h@hRhY hiiaNNiphiuht "Ap
had his leg crushed, was removed to
Philadelphia tonight, but not before the
injured member was amputated.
He is engaged in light manufacturing
business and is man of family. The
physicians are OF the opinion that Mr..
Shaw cannot recover the shock and in
ternal injuries.
A wHEckING CREW At WORK.
The first news of the accident was
received here two hours after it had
occurred, but il was not made public.
A special train was Immediately dis
patched to Egg Harbor by Manager Il.
S. Davis with Drs. Marvel and Arm
strong and a wrecking crew on board.
The unusual fact that the o'clock ex-
press was behind time had attracted a
little crowd to the Reading depot, but
when it became known that a wreck
had occurred the crowd grew into hun
dreds, who besieged the office for infor-
nation of the disaster.
The first train with survivors of the
scene of the disaster did not arrive here
until 10 o'clock, and, owing to the
crowd and confusion, il was impossible
to obtain list of the injured, the latter
hurrying away to their hotels and
homes. The railroad officials even could
not furnish the desired information.