Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-05

With reins and whip in his hands
Oliver ii. Courtney, substitute driver |
of the Phoenix frs engine went to his |
death 10 the trench at Eighteenth and |
Market streets Monday night. For the
second time in few weeks the Will |
mington Fire Department is cast in
gloon over the death of fireman.
At s. 40 O'Clock an alarm OF fire was
sent in from box No. So. at Thirteenth |
and Claymont streets The Washington
and Delaware companies went to tho
fire by way of Eleventh street bridge,
but the Friendship and Phoenix COM
pauies had not been informed that
Eleventh street bridge was in use and
they started to the fire by way of
Market street bridge.
Courtney took the drivers seat Of the
Phoenix engine in the absence of James
Patterson, the regular driver. The
Phoenix hose carriage started out ahead
with John Manlove driving. Both
engine and hose cart attained high
rate of speed in going down King
street. While crossing Market street
bridge the hose carriage was on the
lead and it is said was on the street
railway track.
There is trench at Eighteenth and
MHfk3L BtrW1tb NubTb " uoW dICu 10 III
course of construction over the race.
This work ia being done by the Street
and Sewer Department. The eastern
side of the road was cut off from travel
while the arch was completed there and
then it was thrown open to travel and
the Western side Of the street was cut
oil. This was the state of affairs that
night. The excavation is about two
thirds the width Of the street and
about 30 feet long with depth near
the southern end of about IL feet. 1t
is n very dangerous place and on that
account great precaution had been
taken to prevent accident. AT each
end was fence with several red lights
and a fence ran along the street rail
way track. w. l.. Fountain, who has
the reputation as faithful Waterman
was keeping watch. He was at his
post
When the engines and hose carriages
rushed down King street and towards
the bridge Fountain saw them and he
took position, he says, on the electric
railway track and waved his lantern
and shouted with all his might. He
was nearly run down by the apparatus.
Tho Friendship hose cart ana engine
won't by the dangerous place in safety.
The Phoenix hose cart, it is said,
struck one of the posts that are there to
keep passing vehicles from danger.
The Phoenix engine was right behind
the cart and making straight for the
dangerous excavation. Whether Court
ney ever saw the danger will never be
positively known. 1t Is thought how
over that he did SEQ the danger when
close upon the excavation and that he
~ 3D.. ,.,b ont IN r6g fha
safe road, and that in attempting to do
so wheel of the engine ran off the
brink and threw the engine into the
hole. The engine fell upon it's dome
and Courtney was pinned beneath it,
The fall was about II feet. The horses
went down with the engine but strange
TO say were not killed. William j.
Walker and John McCrackon were
riding on the back of the engine but
they Jumped and escaped serious injury
Officer Solomon, who was on the scene
sent in a report of the accident to the
police station.
On account of the work on the arch
way six inch water main had been
cut off and capped at tine southern end
Of the excavation. This cap was broken
oil and the water flowed upon the
upturned engine and covered the pros
trate driver. 1t is altogether probable
that Courtney was killed outright, how
over. After much delay tho water on
the main was shut of and the water
was pumped from the trench. The two
big horses, Dandy and Harry, were
raised from the hole in an hour or 10,
and although injured were able to re
turn to the engine house. DR.. W. M.
Dickinson who saw them thinks they
will get all right.
Then the work of getting out the
dead driver hogan. Hundreds OF per-
sons had gathered ut the scene and the
excitement among them was most in
stense. Stories flew around that Court
ney had been heard to cry out IL was
pfobably not so unless he cried just
before he went over The multitude of
workers could not do anything with
the upturned engine. Police Captain
Thomas Kane sent telephone re-
quest to Superintendent William M.
iiannard OF the r., W. g. b. railroad
iur a wreck train to be sent to the
scene, which is within few yards of
the Market street crossing OF the
hrandywine branch. This was done.
About II O'Clock the great crane on
,ho wreck car raised the engine a few
inches and the body of the driver with
whip and lines in hand was removed
form beneath it. The crowd became
ALMOST wild with excitement when the
body was being carried to the patro
wagon which was in waiting. 1t was
removed to the morgue. Courtney
head was crushed, his back broken ant
death was doubtless instantaneous.
The wrecking crew had the engin'
laised from the hole by o clockTuesda.
ndrning. 1t was taken to the engln
uu,See and will probably be shipped TO
rer;Sjrs to Clapp Il Jones, the maseri
vt Syracuse, N. Y. 1t is much dilapi
lated about the dome but the damag
may not be as extensive as the natur
Of the accident might indicate.
Oliver II. Courtney was about 3
suars of age. He had been membe
Of the Phoenix Fire Co. for years
liz was son OF the late Henry Court
hoy, of the Diamond Match Co. II
leaves a young child who lives j
Chester. Pa. J. W. Porter. Josep
llindman and William Gallagna of tn
iIro company have been appointed
committee to arrange for his funeral
The body has been removed to tn
IgsIdonce of W. s. Tauguy, No. IL
West Twelfth street. from which plac
Inc funeral will be hold. The coront
VIII hold an inquest.
The Phoenix Fire Co., returns thanh
To- the r., w. & b. railroad for IL
t'licient work of it's Wrecking crew