Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-21
DASHED TO DEATH.
Two Young Lives Crushed Out by
a Railroad Train.

John Benn and Miss Maggie Newman of
Dover, While on Their Way to n We'd
ding, Run Into By Train and Al
most Instantly Kiliod--Lying Side by
Side In Death.
| special Correspondence OF Gazette ana journal
DOVER May l5.-Yesterday morning a
iatal accident occurred on the Delaware
railroad at Harrington, by which brake
man lost his life. It is regarded as
fatality among railroad mon in this State
that when one fatal accident occurs two
others are sure to follow and the supersti-
ton was faithfully carried out last evening.
Last night train No. 81. due TO leave VIII
| mlngton at O'Clock, left there about on
time, William II, Redmile was engineer,
running engine No. 80, and Thomas
Hawkins was conductor. Everything ran
smoothly until the first crossing above the
| Dover fair grounds was reached, when
Engineer Redmile observed team COM
| posed of grey horse and falling-top
buggy, attempting to cross the track
directly in front of his engine. To stop in
stanty was impossible, but Engineer Red
mile checked his train rs quickly as
machinery could work, and Conductor
hawkins and his assistants at once started
back to see what hnd caused the stoppagc
Ihey were not long in suspense About
% feet south OF Increasing, Immediately
above the Dover fair grounds, the body Of
. man was discovered lying in the. gully
was extended the body of n Young woman,
her head pointing rigidly in an opposite
direction and her feet touching those Of
her companion. The mans head lay in
the direction Of Dover, and his body was
extended as stiff as a post with the hands
thrown over the head. His face was in
ciineu slightly to the right and from
crushing wound in the right side
of his skull the blood flowed
Profusely. The woman lay with
her feet touching tho MANS and her body
stretched out i'll an opposite direction.
Her face was imbedded in the ground be-
side the track, and gaping wound OH the
leit side OF the head, Just back of the
temple, plainly indicated what had caused
her death. When Conductor Hawkins
and Brakeman Fred Ross, who quickly
ran back with lanterns ms soon US the train
stopped reached the scene of the accident
the young woman was dead. The young
man gave few gasps after their arrival
but within three minutes he had also
ceased to breath. The horse ran into
Dover and was stopped uniniured.
Conductor Hawkins, after the accident,
ran his train to Dover, and after reporting
The accident ran back and took the dead |
bodies aboard his train. lie then conveyed |
them TO Dover, where they were taken in |
charge by Undertaken Fox. The body of |
young Benn was soon recognized, but il |
was several hours before the body of his |
companion was identified. 1t was then |
asGertained that she was Miss Maggie New
man OF Dover. She had started out last |
evening in company with John Benn to 90 |
TO the residence of George Phillips, about /
1--WE miles west of Dover, for the purpose
Of accompanying Miss Sadie Phillips to
the wedding of Miss Rctta Culveyhouse
and Edward Marvel, in Dover, last night
Miss Phillips decided to go with her
brother, and Miss Newman and Mr.. Benn
started off by themselves, only to meet
their death.
The horse that was drawing their vehicle,
a light gray, was evidently detached from
the carriage by the force of the collision,
and, dashing madly along the road, ran
INTO Dover and finally reached its stable
Young Benn is the SON of John Benn,
well-known citizen of this town, and
worked at the Richardson e Robbins can
ming factory. Miss Newman worked at
the, same establishment. She was an
orphan; who was raised by the family of
Chancellor Salisbury. Coroner Fox of
Kent county will hold an inquest over the
bodies of the victims to-day.
DOVER, May 16.-Yesterday afternoon
at o'clock Coroner Fox held an inquest
over the bodies of John Benn, Jr., and
MISS Maggie Newman, who were killed at
I
lay night. The conductor brakeman,
engineer and fireman of the train gave
heir testimony. No new facts were
brought cut. The jury rendered YER
iict that the deceased came to their death
~ being accidentally struck by the loco
motive of train No. 81, and generating
he company from all blame. Miss New
mans funeral will take place tomorrow
lfternoon at 2 o'clock in Christ Church.
The funeral of Mr.. Benn will be at $3.50
l'clock at the residence of his parents on
Governors avenue, lnterment at Lakeside
VI. Il, cemetery.
DOVER, May 1S.-The remains of the
woo young people who were killed at the
abroad crossing Thursday night were
aid to rest yesterday. Miss Maggie New
mans funeral took place from her home
N New street at 2.30 p, m, the Rev. l.. W.
iibson officiating. lnterment was made [
n the Episcopal cemetery. The honorary !
'all-bearers were Miss Hattie Cole, Miss {
Innie Boyer, Miss Campbell, Miss Sadie {
Wells, Miss Martha Kersey and Miss Essie {
ole. The pall-bearers were Edward Mil
,e9nrne, Charles Pepper, John Hayes,
William Townsend, John Clark and ]
iorris Miller. Immediately after inter G
lent the large concourse of people went to /
he home Of John Benn, 1r., the other S
ictim, on Governors avenue, where the I
lev. J. A.. j, Wilson preached the funeral r
eryices The same ladies that acted rs hon '
rary pail bearers at Miss Newman 8 funeral
aryed at Mr.. Benn's obsequies. The pail
carers were Edward Melbourne, Edward S
aker, Harry Forkum, James Harrington. a
Vilber Hammond. The employees Of the
lessrs. Richardson, about l25, attended in
body.