Evening journal., 1896-01-22
COLLINS'S HORRIBLE DEATH.
WILMINGTON VICTIM OF THE PHIL
ADELPHlA TROLLEY.
CLAYTON G Collins Had His Life Pounded
out By the Poles Between the Tracks
on the Wayne street DivisIon-Leaves u
wife and Two Children.

PHILADELPHIA. Jau. % CLAY ton
Collins, 3S.yeArs old, Of No 706 Martin
street, a mOtorman on the Wayne street
division OF the Union Traction Company.
WAS killed yesterday on the platform Of
his car.
For fquares his head Was knocked
against the upright poles set between
the tracks, his body hanging limp over
the folding gates, and his shoulders
swinging outward after each blow.
When the car was daally stopped he
was dead, and his features were scarcely
recognizable The trst pole that struck
him. 10 is believed, had fractured bis
skull
Neither the conductor nor any OF the
passengers, all of whom were women,
saw Collins lean over the side OF the
platform gate aud the police last ovon
ing had foond no witnesses who had sesn
the beginning Of the horrible occurrence
Tue car was running north on Way ne
street, below Cayuga street. about 20
o'clock in the afternoon when an engineer
on the Rsadlng railroad, which runs
parallel TO the railway tracks at that
place, saw the motormau's body dangling
over the side gate.
The head was bathed IN blooi aud as
the car went ahead, a crimson stream
marked It's passage The engineer blew
his whistle 20 attract the conduc tors
attention, and pointed 10 the body
The Ger was full but the passengers
were all women. They caught slghC OF
the motorman almost at the same Instant,
aud, borrl6ed. jumped 20 their feet Co
leave the car. Toe controller was turned
TO the full speed msrk, for the grade WAS
a steep one.
The conductor. William Rockey,
was unable TO stop the car either by
pulling the trolley from the wire or BY
making his way to the front platform
The panic stricken women occupied all
his time, aud II was with difficulty. he
SAYS, that he restrained some Of them
from jumping of while the car dashed
ahead
He himself was badly unnerved. and II
WAS not until the car had passed under
the bridge at Wayne Junction and had
gone as far as Apsley street that he
pulled the trolley rope and brought the
car to a standstll.
Meanwhile the sickened passengers. a.
the car passed each OF the uprlghts,
heard the sound Of the crashing blow
with which the motorman's head struck
the iron cylinder
A southbound car stopped at the same
time and Collins oody was quickly taken
from where 10 hung
The thifd car that came toward the
city and stopped at the little block that
formed, while the car men waited for the
coming Of the patrol wagon 20 take the
body TO tho morgue. was run by Elmer
Collins, a cousin Of tbs dead man
Clayton Collins had been employed
as q motorman for about six months. and
had secured his place with the assistance
OF the cousin who recognized the body
Ho was looked upon as e Trustworthy,
we'll trained employe, and As one WHO
would By the instinct % his training
refrain from leaning over the side Of a
car that passed close 70 n row Of poles
The men who worked with him on the
same division believe that he leaned over
the side gate to see whether his
follower" was far or near. or that be
was seized with dizziness or sickness,
and fell.
Few passengers are taken on beyond
Wayne Junction on the up tIip, and
motormen often throw back their gates
and turn their sign boards as far down
the line as Oayuga street.
Il is thought possible that Collins
stopped to lift the bolt Of his gate and
lost his footing at the edge of the step.
Elmer Collins, his cousin, said that the
man had always been In good health and
good sp,Iits There was, no doubt. ha
added, that the occurrence was an accl-
dent
Collins was a machinist by trade, and
came TO Philsdelphis six months ago from
I Wilmington. He Was married and leaves
a wife aud two children in the little
house on Martin street, near Twentieth
aud Csthariue streets He was q
member Of Corinthlan Lodge. Shield Of
/ Honor.