Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-03-06

III a collision between freight train No.
81 OF the Delaware railroad and work
train No. 50 of the Queen Anne's aud
Kent railroad near Blackbird on Satur-
day aflernoOu Two men we're killed
The dead are: James Murtha, aged
/ s2, engineer OF train No. 50. He leaves
a wife aud four children William K
Shaw, the middle brakeman Of the same
train, leaves a wife aud child.
The injured are NJ. B. Hickman, Z. 1
Messick aud George Wyman. They are
not seriously hurt
None OF the men on the work-train
were injured The meu on both trains
were obeying orders. Who is RESPONSE
Bile for the collision is known only 20 the
railroad officials, aud they will not give
his name out. The engines came to
gether head on aud both with about Ten
cars we're demolished. A heavy fog hung
over the Delaware railroad all day and
train men say that it was thicker than II
has been for twenty years. The track at
this point is straight and there IS an un-
obstructed view for four or five miles.
About 40 O'Clock Conductor joseph
Williamson with the following crew Eu
eeue Jamisou, engineer; William Scott
aud Harvey Naylor, brakemen; Richard
Carlisle hagmau; and Reese Wollord
left the Queen AHne's and Kent railroad
at Townsend. They had orders TO pro-
coed to CLAYTON, where the train IS side
tracked at night. In front Of the engine
was a car loaded with grain and cabin
car. behind was the tender The en-
gtneer and fireman we're in their usual
places keepiug a sharp lookout. The
fog kept them from seeing anything.
When about fifty feet beyond Barlow's
bridge; Viii Ii IS about three-quarters OF
mile from Blackbird, Jamison saw the
headlight of the freight Train. The en-
gine was almost upon him, and shouting
10 his fireman, prepared to jump Then
ne remembers his men III the caboOsse.
He blew ,.ue sharp blast from the whistle,
reversed the lever, put on the brakes aud
Jumped The members of the crew did
not take time to investigate, but as soon
as they heard the whistle jumped for
their lives Besides a few bruises they
escaped unipjHTed.
The collision was more fatal 10 the
members of the other crew. Conductor
Alexander Fleming was III charge OF
No. 81 His crew was James Murtha, en-
gineer George Wyman. fireman F.
Hill, flagman NJ. B. Hickman and E.
T. Msssick, brakemen, aud w. R. Shaw
middle BRAKEMAN The train was reg
ular way. freight and was composed of
nineteen cars, seven of which were
empty It LETT Clayton at LAO, about
seven minutes late. 1t mad no orders aud
had the right of way At 81 the train
left Blackb bird. It was running at pretty
high rate of speed. The engineer and
fireman of the freight did not see the
south bound tram until it was too late to
do anything.
E igineer Murtha was pinned under
meath the wreckage and was scalded to
death He died few minutes after being
released.
George Wyman, the fireman, fell Oh his
back under some wreckage. He man
aged to crawl, but was scalded about the
back aud legs. His limbs were badly
bruised. Brakeman Shaw was hurled
into the wreck head first. His skull was
crushed He died at Clayton about one
O'Clock Sunday morning Messick had
his head cut and Hickman was bruised.
Hill and Fleming were not hurt.
There was not large board or piece
of iron left of train No. 81. A wrecking
train was sent out from Clayton and
cleaned up the wreck. The injured we're
removed to Clayton, where the doctors
dressed their wounds. All trains were
several hours late An investigation is
being made by the railroad officials.