Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-04
DRIVER OF THE TEAM SERIOUSLY HURT

FrightfullY Close to "a Terrible Calamity
an Express Train on the r., W. & u.
Rniiroad, Running at a Rapid Rate.
STRIKES Wagon Containing Ton of
Powder--Wagon Demolished, the Driver
and Horses Hurt, But the Powder Did
Not Explode.
An accident, the possibilities of which
are Z, horrible to contemplate occurred
Tuesday morning at 1915 o'clock at the du
Points private crossing of the F., w. a. b.
railroad, about 1000 yards above Edge
Moor station and midway between that
place and Gordon Heights. That it did
not prove to be terrible disaster is n
miracle.
large wagon drawn by four horses and
containinga ton OF smokeless powder was
struck by the passenger train which left
this city for Philadelphia at 1905 O'Clock,
the vehicle was hurled distance of about
% feet, when it fell upside down, two of
the horses broke loose and ran away, the
other two were thrown down an embank-
ment and the driver was badly injured
The team was journeying from the
du Points magazine on the Brandywine to
their nier on the Delaware river front Just
below Gordon Heights. whence the powder
was to be shipped by one of the powder
makers skitfs TO their works on the
New Jersey shore. The crossing is reached
du Points, and the lane has gate on
each side of the railroad. The driver
Of the team, George Luton aged about 60
years. had unlocked the gates and driven
across the railroad to north-bound track
before he discovered the approach of the
train. The latter was very near and run.
ming rapidly and before the teamster could
whip up the horses the vehicle was struck
and knocked in n heap some distance
ahead of the fast-moving train and to the
right of the road bed. 1t went flying over
q siding and landed ON the embankment.
The train was stopped as quickly as pos
sible, but before it could be brought to
standstill the rear platform of the last car
was on line with the wrecked team. The
trainmen and many of the passengers i'm.
mediately alighted and went to the assist
ance of the driver.
William du Pont who lives nearby, was
hastily summoned and promptly went to
the scene of the accident. The driver wns
made as comfortable as possible and, ac-
companied by Mr.. du Pont, was taken to a
hospital in Chester. The train resumed
its run after a stoppage of about half an
hour,
The powder wagon was of the usual
style and had canvas covering. When
it was upset the powder, which was packed
in tin cans each capable of holding a half
pound of explosive fell upon the canvas
and that, probably, prevented it ex-
ploding. Judging from the position the
wrecked team now occupies, the vehicle
was struck in the rear.
When the team was struck the lead
horses broke loose and ran down to the
river. A portion of fencing had TO be
torn away to rescue the shaft horses. The
dead wood of the locomotives pilot was
broken off and hurled long distance
One of the shaft horses had large hole
cut between its eyes and the other horses
were severely bruised. Their harness was
destroyed and the wagon was completely
demolished.
Albert + Matlack of the lighthouse de-
partment and j. @. May had their atten-
ton directed to the accident by seeing the
runaway horses and went to the scene and
lent assistance.
Luton resides at du Points Banks and
has been employed by the du Points about
80 years.