Middletown transcript., 1893-08-26

RsIm as those of Tues
- along the line
seems TO feel the
effect.
News came TO MiddIetown on Tuesday
afternoon about O'Clock, that serious
accident had occurred at st. Anne's cross
ing about one mile down the road. and in
very short time crowds of spectators were
IN the spot 10 view the ruins. There were
I'll cars demolished. lni the cargo of fruit,
pc .ches, apes and cantaloups in piles
waist deer, were strewn along the track.
The accident occurred by collision Of
two north bound freight trains. While
o r. were being weighed at Middletown,
heavily loaded peach train was blocked at
The upper culvert. awaiting clear track to
his station, where it was run into from the
rear end by another freight, that had not
been signaled 10 stop, and coming around
the curve, went crashing into the waiting
train, completely wrecking several cars,
throwing them over the embankment and
causing general disaster.
The engineer Joseph BARLEY. of No. 70.
of the colIidine train was slightly injured
but his engine was very little damaged, and
never left the track
The work of clearing up The debris con-
sumed five CT six hours, the demolished
cars were piled along the road side and
burned. and as the accident occurred near
the side track 70 the gravel pit, the standing
!, cars were removed from the main track
IN abo 1t 1890 .ock the way was clear.
While all was activity at the scsne Of tie
disaster, the, Middletown station furnished
woe begone picture. Three south bound
passenger trains were in waiting and the
enforced delay of the travellers from 3.37
until after 10 o'clock, was not calculated to
make good cheer. Mothers with fretting
little ones walked the platform hour after
hour, ff1teur pleasure seekers be#ailed their
thwarted plans. and business men fretted
and fumed as only men can. While a few
were philoaophic enough to make the bes.
Of the situation, aud with q plenty of
peaches to fill the vacuums caused by the
deferred supper hour. they seemed to find
the hours not quite so tedious as they
might have BEEN
It was after 10 o'clock when the wreckers
had the track cleared. and the trains again
began to move. But the wrecking crew
had hardly finished their work at st
Anne's when they were called to service on
account of
THE WORSE WRECK AT PoRrER's,
in which one man was killed and several
seriously hurt The disaster was caused by
the collision Of the south bound Norfolk
express, with a freight train that was trying
to SHIFT to a side track, but failed to get out
Of the way in time for the express to pass,
for the engine and two cars were still on
the main track when the express. having
the right of way to MiddIetown. came
laundering along at the rate II
40 mics an hour, and went plunging
into the unfortunate freight. The noise Of
the midnight collision was heard in the
surrounding neighborhood, and many were
aroused and came to the rescue.
The express consisted of two sleepers,
two day coaches, one car for baggage and
another for express matter. James A.
Grubb was engineer, and William B. wheat
ley was his fireman.
The engine and baggage car of this train,
and the tender and two cars ofth freight
train were completely wrecked, and as the
frightej trainmen and passengers became
aware of the extent of the disaster, there
was general confusion, which was only
INCREASED by the midnight darkness.
Fireman Wheatley was thrown with great
forge for several feet and struck on his
head. inflioting terrible cash across the
scalp, and causing concussion Of the brain. !.
He was unconscious when removed from
the wreck, to Delaware Hospital where he
died few hours later. His home is on
Elm street, Wilmington. where his body
was taken on Wednesday,
Engineer Grubb was severely bruised but
not seriously injured, but il he had re-
m lined in bis cab he would have been
instantly killed.
Freight Brakeman Carey was fouDi under
the wreckage with bis NJ root almost
severed. He was heau brakeman and the
hIs one of the freight crew injured. He
was taken to the Delaware Hospital where
his foot was amputated. and be is reported
as doing well.
Drs. Draper and 0gle, of Wilmington,
and Drs. Vaughn and Constable, of Middle-
town, were taken to the scene Of the wreck
on specials and everything possible was
done for the relief of the injured,
Fortunately, Robert Mills, of Delaware
City, was the only passenger hurt, but many
were badly frightened, though someof the
sound sleepers did not know Of the acci
dent until it was all over.
All night long the wrecking crew worked
10 clear the track, and paople from all the
country round went to view the ruins.
which were plainly visible for some dist
snoe. The freight cars we're piled in the
ssir. q and the express car almost in spliHters
wiliIe Tue sItgiI1e Of the express was eesa
pietely demolished.
The two accidents comnie when the
,,each shipments were the heaviest of the
sSsson. caused great loss Of fruit beside.
she 1900 baskets wrecked at 81. Anne's.
7eayily loaded peach trains we're tracked
zsaione The line. and being solong delayed
<bld only reach markss to slat 4: The
IL /. ma ss!.!!.a ussa liIdy siii aseesi
saw the slert disrtdsQ
thought u the ho