Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1893-08-23
A FATAL CRASH !
Three Engines and Ten
Cars Wrecked.
ONE KILLEDj THREE HURT,
Wild Midnight Dash of Norfolk
Express Into Freight.

Hdh 10 Neb Iheir IRAN Oub oA tho
Way of a FIyer-An Awful Crash at
MidnIght-FIreman william B. Wheat
Thrown From His Cab and Injured.
Freight Brakeman Carey's Foot Cut
OH-A Delaware City Man Dashed
Against Stove and Bruised-Both
Engines wrecked-No. 6s Was Turned
ger Hurt-Trahic OF All Kind Delayed.
Peaches Delayed for Hours on Their
Way to HIarket-ReIIef Trains Sent
From wiImIngton and Wrecker From
Clayton.
The Delaware Division, p, w. B.
railroad service, is almost demoralized
to day in consequence of two wrecks oc-
curing within a few hours of each
other. The first occurred at st. Anne's
crossing, half mile below Middletown
at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. By it
engine No. 72 and seven cars were
wrecked. Engineer Joseph Bartley suf-
fered contusions of the right arm, and
trains which should have reached this
city early last evening, did not arrive
until after midnight, and freight and
fruit trains were made from six to ten
hours late below that point.
Fatal Accident at Porter's.
At 230 o'clock this morning
fatal collision occurred at
Porter's, station fifteen miles
below this city and the junction
for Delaware, Delaware City and New
ark trains. By it one man was killed /;
three injured, two engines dismantled
and four cars wrecked. The damage
will probably foot up to $4,000.
List OF the Dead
Fireman William B. Wheatley, of No.
925 Elm street, head crushed, died at
Delaware Hospital at 940 o'clock this
morning.
List Of the Ipjured.
Engineer James A. Grubb, of Norfolk
express, lives at No. SO4 Chestnut street,
thrown through cab window, sustaining
injuries to his back. Removed to his
home.
Freight Brakeman Carey, right foot
crushed; removed to Delaware Hospital
and half of foot amputated.
Robert Mills, passenger, of Delaware
City, badly bruised. Taken to his home.
How the Accident Occurred.
Delaware Division train No. 81, com
monty known as the southbound Nor.
folk express, pulled out Of Wilmington
station at 1903 o'clock this morning
being on time from New York. 1t con
sisted of two sleepers, two day coaches,
one car for baggage and another for ex
press matter James A. Grubb was al
the throttle and William B. Wheatley
was his fireman. Conductor Thomas
Lewis, one of the most careful railway
men on the division had chrage of the
train.
The Terrible Midnight Crash.
The express sped through the dark
ness, the occupants of the sleepers
wrapped in slumber; those in the day
coaches mapping as best they could
The express had the right of way, the
first stop being Middletown.
Porter's was Preached on sched
ule time, and it was Their
long train of empty fruit and frui
cars was ahead Of the express. TIT
freight conductor got orders to back hi
train in on the Porter's siding and le
the express 60 by. The train dispatche
must have miscal lculated the time allowei
or the freight conductor slow il
executing the order, for, Just as tn
freight was backing in the whistle o
the Norfolk Express was heard sroun
the curve, north of the station. TIL
next second the headlight was seen b
the thoroughly aroused freight crew
The express was running about thirty
five miles an hour. It bore down on th
freight and the railroad men saw tina
collision was inevitable.
So Near and Yet So Far.
Only the engine and two Of th
freight cars were on the main trac
when the crash came; but that wa
enough. There was a heavy crash, tn
noise of escaping steam, a rushing..C
frightened trainmen and passenger
and after that, confusion. In the darl
ness the full extent of the damage coul
not be appreciated.
How the Men Were Injured.
Freight Brakeman Carey was four
under the wreckage in dazed conditic
aud with his right foot almost severe
He was head brakeman and the only OF
of the crew injured.
Engineer Grubb was thrown throug
the window of the express engine ca
and to this circumstance be owes h
life He fell some distance away and, wht
picked up, complained of excruciatir
pains in the back. He was apparent
the least injured of any.
Fireman Whestley, Of the express, W
thrown several feet with terrific fore
He struck on his head, laying the sea
open clear across and causing concussi'
of the brain. He was unconcious Al
evidently dying slowly when remov'
from the wreekage.
Robert Mills, the Delaware CITY ma
was in one Of the day coaches of the e
press, and occupied the seat nearest {
stove. The force of the shock threw b
against this summer superauity and
received sundry bruises on the legs a
body.
As soon as possible the injured we
carried to more comfortable place.
Orders for Medical Relief
The main Office at Clayton was wiz
concerning the casualty and of