The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-02
THIRD edition,
lad Easssura sla:ilas Warning

haR saaspRGa sula.iiat WsgAllg |
This Is the Question that is Bothcring |
the Jury 10 Investigate Mis-.
CoiIins' Death.
Deputy Coroner paImar's Jury to In
quire Into the cause OF the death of
Miss Ella Gertrude Collins, who was
killed on Wednesday, morning last at
Newlin's crossing. on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Just this side of
Marshallton, sat yesterday afternoon,
but adjourned until Friday evening TO
hear additional testimony.
William ii. Walker was foreman and
James \. McIvor, secretary, and the
Investigation was begun after tho
jury had viewed the scene of the accl.
dent. The view at this crossing Is
unubetructed by trees In either direc-
lion. But the Inference wus drawn
that however clear was the view there
should be- safety gates there, or
Watchman both day and night. There
was a lack Of testimony bearing on
the blowing Of the whistle after the
tower had been passed, aud In time to
warn Mr.. Eastonrn, and this princi-
pally was the cause of adjournment.
DIR. John Palmer was the first wit
ness called. He saw Miss Collins
at Mr.. Nowlln's house, q fow yards
from the scene OF the accident. He
found both thighs fractured. There
were several bruises oil her face ami
body. She was then In seml.con.
scious condition. When he saw her at
the Delaware Hospital in the after
noon OF the accident she was delirlous
and frequently made such remarks as
Il told Uncle not to drive across the
track" and don't let the locomotive
strike u.s."
The testimony as taken by Mr.. Pal.
mer and Foreman Walker IRON Sam
uel Eastburn, who was injured at the
same time was road by the secretary.
He said that as he was approaching
tue crossing he heard the whistle of !:
locomotive, which sounded in the dis.
lance. Then he did not know on
which track tho train was coming and
thinking that he could clear the main
line track hurried his horse. The
morning was foggy, which prevented
him from seeing along tho trhc.,
which he could have done had the
weather been clear.
He was not deaf, and II the whistle
was blown after the train passed the
elgnal tower he would havo known II
He did not see the train until he was
on the track.
p. C. Phillips was engineer OF the
LOGON olive which ran down the cou
pie. The train wac numbered 5l5 und
AS he approached the crossing he no
ticed the wagon and blew the whistle.
The morning was not foggy. The man
whipped his horse and seeing that he
" golrgt Q oss the track. no applied
the air urukes but before the train
could he brought to q standstill the
crash came. ..... ..-
1t was then about o5 o'clock. His
locomotive was moving about AZ
miles an hour. When he frat saw the
team he was then 800 feet OIL the cross
ing. The witness did not sue the col
lision. as II was the lafL side of til,
engine which struck the vehicle. ii,
dit not know OF the collision unit
hls fireman informed him. lie stopped
the train after it had moved about 32t
yards.
W. G. Garaghty. the fireman OF the
locomotive, was next called. He die
not know OF the approach OF tho teau
until he heard tho whistle OF the en-
glneer. The train WIS then within
about 800 feet of the crossing. 1t was
Impossible to stop the train in thai
distance when moving at tho rate oil
DO miles al hour he was positive
that the whistle was blown thrs'
times.
Conductor G. Hoppsrsett OF Oar.
by Ps.. had charge OF the train the
Aioih ihE Vi buD uLNlltnbs IlTbCLll
after passing The signal tower his at.
tention was attracted by the sound
ing OF the whistle as "A danger signal
tie opened anu looked out the door
Just to see the occupants and the We.
Mole aliRht to the side Of the track
Physicians were ut first summoned
In the meantime he converspd with
Miss Collins. She being conscious.
She told Mr.. Hoppersett that she
tnl1 her lDt'lA n ha frt. nj
ahead OF tho locomotive and conclud
cd by saying: Il don't know why Ia
did It," 1t beng his especial duty Il
sec that all roa crossings arc no
passed without a signal. In knew tina
The whistle was blown OH that occa
ston. The customary whistle am
danger signal wsre blown together
His estimate Of the speed was 80 miles
IN hour.
Il. l.. Bull was aboard the train n
ba9Eagemaster the morning of the &C
cldeHt. He heard Engineer Phillip
blow for the signal tower and also tn
danger signal which attracted MIN t
the side Of the car. lie saw the CO.
llson just as he Op9ned the door. Alto
the train was stopped lie was the iii 6
TO reach Miss Collins who told him l.
do something Tor her. She said sh
had told her nncio not 10 Cross til
track ahead oil the oeomo tlve.
He was the first one To reach her an
found her lying in the trench on tn
blanket whi.h she had hell
before the crash came. The Old ger
tiemun was lying nearby. he mad
no statement. J. g. Huston ID brak,
man on the Baltimore and OHIO raj
road aud was on duty aboard I'll
train. He heard Engineer PhtllIl
ow for the signal answered II whe
given and third time heard IL
danger signal The train was the
q out halt tie distance between Ii
crossing aud tho signal tower.
Charles NJ. Now IN testified no II
sldes short distance from The seen
oil the hccl1ent anu OH the moruin
WAS Informed Of it 10y his employer
who wuiteh hoT5s to go Tor ply
slcian. II was auuat forty minute
nom tho timd The accident aceurre
until h. llrsL saw the injured coupl
wing wlsie they had been thrown
tine collision lie had them remove
to his home, where the doctors fir
atteutlru tlI'.in, Allss Collins made u
statement Concerning the accident.
Dir Negiiu said - per cent OF Il
trains passing in either direction nov,
blow tlhir whistle, AS an instanC
the nl-lt before the witness hmse
mad tecp train go east without Il
ihE signal for tile crossing. III
whist was blown, Tut It was aft,
tie slrg OF sue crossing uud Il
the signal tower llus was not Il
hf nNrrDw esci5pe from death at u
crossing, as Joseph Htyes hRd h
morse Killed there about a wear az
lie sronsluered tho crossing deaf
trap.
In concluding Mr.. Nawltn said
mud long since applied for afcty gut
al the crossing, ana req tasted the lu
n MI 1 to, 3.