Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-29
THOUGHT TIE CoRPsE A sHADoW.
As Little Samuel Yarnali Was vhirIing
to His Death the Body u EsNken for an
Engines Shadow.

As Little Samuel Yarnali Was ,vhirling
to His Death the Body u EsNken for an
Engines Shadow.
A jury was, on Thursday, empanclled
by Coroner Sparks to investigate the
death of 6-years-old Samuel p. Yarnall,
who was killed by the fast express at
the foot of Eighth street on Wednesday
week. shortly after dark. The lad in
company with William G. Robinson
was playing close by the south-bound
railroad track, according TO Robinson's
statement, when suddenly Yarnall glee-
fully threw him down and sped toward
the north-bound track. Express train
No. 96 was rushing along the north
bound track at frightful rate of speed
and a shifting engine came backing
down the south-bound track.
Yarnall escaped the shiftcr only to
be caught by the express train and car
ried on to death. The tender of the
engine caught the body up and whirling
it 40 feet before the engine deposited its
grim burden close by the north-bound
track, far enough away to avoid the
next train from running over IT, The
skull was fractured and the left side OF
the head where the engine dealt its fatal
blow was mashed TO q jelly. When
the jury viewed the body last evening
the dcceased's countenance wore calm
and peaceful expression. A playful
smile was noticed on the lads lips.
Charles W. Allen, engineer of the
express train, ard Morris l.. Parsons,
fireman, both sworc that they did rot
see an object on the track when the
train reached Eighth stree. crossing.
Fireman Parsons says he rang the bell
from the time he left the Philadelphia,
Wilmington & Baltimore railroad sta
ton until he crossed Brandywine bridge.
Then it was that he opened the fire box.
Samuel Pardee, who lives at No. S57
Bennett street stated that he wae on his
way to the Pnsey 81 Jones Company's
yard and at considerable distance ahead
he saw two boys playing along the track
at $50 O'Clock. Express train passed
north and shifting engine passed along
the south-bound track, hiding the boys
from view. When Pardre drew near
the spot where he saw the boys playing,
he saw the dead body of one OF them
lying along the track.
William L. Burrier was passing along
the south-bound track when two trains
came rushing along from opposite di-
rections. 1t was quite dark. When the
rays of the headlights on the engines
shone out in opposite directions the rays
blinded Burrier somewhat, and he saw
some dark object flying before the en-
gine, which he thought was shadow.
This proved to be tho body of the little
Yarnall lad, which flew forty feet be-
fore the locomotive and dropped at the
side OF tie track, where Burrier after
wards saw it.
The accident occurred right at Eighth
street crossing. the street terminates
at the railroad, and gateway at the op-
posite side guards private entrance to
the jackson q Sharp Company's yards.
There is no gate on the north side of the
track. The crossing is used by the Jack
san & Sharp Company as an entrance to
their yards.
The jury empanelled to investigate
the lads death were: William Legg,
foreman; secretary, w. II. Walker; x.
b. Gillespie, Daniel Ross, John
Cameron, Samuel f. Belts, Benjamin
Gam. The jury rendered verdict of
accidental death. The deceased was
the only surviving child of Mr.. and
Mrs. Christopher Yarnall OF No. 70S
Buttonwood street, five children having
passed away in recent years. The
family are grief-stricken over the sad
accident and over the fate which befell
their only offspring living. They have
the sympathy of tho neighborhood.