Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-03
FUNERAL STOPPED BY FLOOD.
psserted by Frightened Driver - An
omnibus Load at Monrners, With n
,,,..,,,. ,,,r,se Iett to Their Fate.


omnibus Load at Monrners, With
Cbild,s Corpse, Lett To Their Fate.
ATLANTIC Cry. N. j., Dec, 9,-The
sudden rise Of the tide over the meadows
caught n funeral party on their way to
Inc mainland this morning, and they
were rescued with the greatest dlti-
entity, The party started in an omnibus
N nike the body OF a child 10 tine
cemetery at Pleasantville for burial.
Tho storm was so wild that few men,
bors of the family ventured TO follow
the little corpse to the grave. Its brother,
Isaac Stein, volunteered 10 look after
the burial. Lewis Sender, @. Soren,
samuel Blum and Samuel Foreman
consented to accompany him. One
small omnibus of the familiar sort that
fit about the city with passengers dur
ing the colder seasons was hired, and
the pitiful little party thus started in
the teeth of the fierce storm to traverse
the unprotected Pleasantyllle turnpike,
which stretches across seven miles OF
the low, flat meadows. AS Hackman
Isaac Miller guided his horses over this
snow and slect.covered road tho .gale
threatened to send his light vehicle top
ping into the bitches. The tide was
rolling rapidly in. Already it partly
covered he road, and Miller showed
signs of trepidation.
LEFT THE MoURNERs AND FLED.
When the bus reached u point little
beyond the railroad switch tower Miller
became panic stricken. The water had
risen to an alarming height, and he was
afraid to go Oh. Jumping from his seat
he unhitched his horses, leaped on the
| back Of one OF them and turning their
heads about, galioped wildly toward the
city for his life. 1t all happened so
quickly that the five mourners in the
| vehicle could scarcely comprehend their
terrible predicament. When they did
they attempted TO Chamber out, but
found the water flowing threateningly
over the turnpike. They set up shout
of wild despair after the fleeing driver,
| but he turned no needing car to them,
keeping on his dash for safety. But
even in his anxiety 10 save himself lie
nearly persisted, When he reached the
| ThOruughfare bridge he found 1t sub.
merged. He remained stupehed on the
banks for moment, and then dis
mounted i'll order to lead his horses
ucross the bridge. The animals became
unmanagcahle, broke away from the
now freuzied Miller, and plunglng into
the water, Bwam across and were caught.
Miller was left, wet and half frozen, in
the fierce wind, upon the bank. Solo
mon johnson and Daniel Rose put out
in boat, and after a deal of difficulty
rescued him.
LGFE.BoATS TO THE RESCUE.
4 Meahtime, the bus ana its helpless in
mates with the corpse OF the child, re-
| i,n 81 -
the meadows. The wind was blowing
at the rate of so miles an hour, and
great seas dashed menacngly about tho
helpless vehicle and its terrified pris-
oneIs. 1t could be plainly seen from
the mainland, and as soon as possible a
plan of rescue was put into execution.
A Reading railroad engine and coach
were run out, but when the train reached
point opposite the imperiled bus the
courages rescuers We're unable 10 reach
it, BY this time IL crowd of people had
gathered as near the thoroughfare as
possible to watch the work of rescue,
and when the trainmen were compelled
TO give up their efforts it was feared that
the bus and its occupants would be
washed away and lost. Some one sug-
gested the service of the life.savlng
crew. Word was conveyed to them and
: they hurried TO the scene with two boats.
With the cheers of the people ringing
in their ears the men pulled out into the
choppy sea and at length reached the
4 now shaky omnibus. They got all the
: men out, took the little casket aboard
i, and pulled back to the mainland. They
. had scarcely set their feet upon the
!, ground when the sea swept the bus
. over into deep water. The assembled
crowd sent up cheer as the rescued
were brought safely in. The mourner
took the afternoon train for the GENE
tery.