Evening journal., 1896-03-02
THE DEAD TRAlNMEN.
Victims of the Blackbird Rail-
road Disaster Here.
TWO lNQUBsTs ON WEDNESDAY

This City On weduesday-The Inquest
On shRw's Body TO he Held I'm Kent
County, He Having Died at Clayton.
Particulars OF the Freight Train Crash
throughout the state on Saturday one Of
the most disastrous wrecks that has
occurred on the Delaware railroad In
recent years happened between Blsckbird
end Townsend. The accident caused q
wrbtched Sunday was spent In several
homes in this city.
Work train No 50, Of the Queen Anne
& Kent railroad, backed into last freight
train No. 90, approaching at a lively
rate, and two trainmen we're killed and
three Injured The killed are
james Murths. aged 80, engineer Of
train No. 62 living at No. 634 East Sew
enth street, leaves a wife and four chill
dren.
William r. Shaw, the middle brakeman
Of the same train, of No. 523 East Third
street. leaves a wife and one child.
The injured are:
NJ. B Hickman, No. 1918 Elm street.
e T. Messick, Georgetown.
George Wyman, No. 523 East Third
street.
About 9 o'clock on Saturday afternoon
engine No. 90, drawing about eighteen
freight cars, passed Blackbird station,
going north. Just above the station she
collided with the work train which was
backing down the road, drawing several
CARS.
Engineer Eugene Jamison WAS In charge
o. No 50, and, after finishing his work
at Townsend, received orders to 60 to
Clayton and WAS given 4 clear track.
Engine No. 52. with Engineer Murtha
in charge, It is said, received no orders
from Clayton. aud Eugene Herring, the
operator at Blsckbird, had no orders for
her. so she went on up the road.
The moment Engineer Jsmison saw
the other train approaching and realized
that they must meet head on, he blew
sharp warning to all his crew, reversed
his engine and jumped, the crew follow
ing Immediately.
The crew OF the freight drawn by No.
90 was not so fortunate. The train
plunged violently into the engine and
/ engine No. 80 was raised from the road
and toppled into ditch on the right
hand side Murtha was pinned beneath
the wreck and scslded to death. His
head brakeman, Shaw, was driven Into
the wreck headforemost and his skull
WAS crushed He was rescued alive and
taken to Clayton, where he died In q
short time.
George Wyman, the fremen, was
caught under the engine. aud was badly
scslded upon the legs, arms and chest.
Everett Messick, the brakeman, was
thrown from the train and was severely
| Injured. Joseph Williamson, conductor
Eugene Jamison, engineer; Reese
Wolford, fireman; Richard Carlisle,
Harvey Naylor and James Scott, brake
men, on the train drawn by engine No.
( 80 escaped with slight bruises, as they
jumped before the crash.
Train No. SO was smashed to pieces
and altogether about seven cars were
completely demolished and half doz Zen
more very badly damaged. A wrecking
outfit from Clayton worked all Saturday
night on the ruins but could not clear
the tracks in time for the evening pas p
senger aud mail service. The men
worked energeticAlly removing the great
mass OF iron and wood, aud by 10 o'clock
on Saturday night had succeeded In
laying q temporary track and making
the way clear for passenger traffic.
Their Bodies In This City.
The remains Of Brakeman Shaw were
brought to this city at H. 30 this morning
on train No. 90 Of the Delaware road
Undertaken Martin took charge of the
body and will prepare 1t for interment.
Engineer Murths's body was brought
to the city on the 90 8 m. train and
removed to his bereRved home b.
Undertaker Kfllrov.
Brakeman Shaw's funeral will take
place on Thursday and the remains will
be taken to Lewes on a morning train.
Engineer MurthR will be buried on
Wednesday morning from No. 534 East
Seventh street. and high mass will bs
said at 81 Mary's Church. Intermeni
will be made at New Cathedral Cemetery
One inquest at Clayton.
As Brakeman Shaw did not die from
the effects Of his in jurIes in New Castle
county but at Clayton, the inquest on bii
body will be held In Kent county
Deputy Coroner Chandler will assist
Coroner Stidhsm in the inquest on
Engineer MurthA's body on Wednesday