The sun., 1897-12-25
A CHASTITY CHRISTMAS.
The Anniversary Of the Risen
Christ Bathed in Blood.
A FAMILY Is EFFACED,
On a Christmas shopping Trip They
Are Struck by an Express
Train at Stanton.
Crossing.

The second section of train No. 78
struck farmers wagon at Stanton grade
crossing about 5 o'clock yesterday morn
ing.
Another grade crossing accident.
Two bodies lie in the morgue, manglcd
beyond recognition, and in the Delaware
Hospital, moaning in agony, lies six
year-old girl.
The bodies in the morguc are those of
George Wesley Mcbride and Jennie
Donaho Mcbride, his wife. The child
in the hospital is an orphan. for these
people were her parents. Her name is
Carrie Bradley Mcbride.
The home OF the McBridcs is situated
about two miles below Stanton, near
Oglctown. They occupied q small farm
of few acres and were thrifty and in
dustrious. For several days they
had been making preparations for the
trip to Wilmington. They were to do
their Christmas shopping, bringing with
them the products OF the farm, the
money from which was to supply the
fund for the purchases Mcbride agreed
to bring the goods Of J. W. Morris. who
lives on the adjoining farm, as it is gen.
orally considered an easy way among the
farmers to divide up in order to save
market fees. This fact is borne out by a
certificate found on McBridc's body after
the accident made out by the clerk ofthe
market to Morris.
The family arose bright and early That
morning, little thinking that they were
preparing for death. The horse was at
tachcd to Il loaded team, and the trip to
Wilmington was begun shortly after 4
o'clock. The distance between Ogletown
and Stanton was soon covered, as the
brisk morning breeze spurred the horse
on. The turn in the road gave them q
sight of Wilmington, and the horse was
urged onward, as it was extremely cold.
, In the rear of the wagon sat the little
girl, chatting gayly Of the good things
promised her for Christmas. On the
wagon seat were Mcbride and his wife,
doubtless thinking and maturing p ans
for purchasing Christmas goods, as their
errand to Wilmington was one OF pleas
urc as well as business.
But alas for human calculations.
Just as McBride's team reached the
crossing, the toot of a whistle and clang
VI IL util NcIt liCaIO. ~ dS NiItlt VI wv
second section express. Mcbride heard,
and whipped his horse on, but the ex-
press was running like black demon,
and before the team had time to cross
the track the express struck it. Human
\ bodies shot through the air and fell to
the hard ground, while 20 feet away lay
! the body of the horse, which was i'll
stantIy killed The wagon was COM
plctety wrecked and the engine was
! covered with the debris. The scene was
appalling
The train was stopped and backed up
! to the scene and the passengers left their
places in the coaches to lend a hand to
; the victims OF the accident. Lying
about fifteen feet from the main tack "aH
the body Of the woman, horribly crushed
: and with her brains scattered about
Two deep cuts were on the forehead and
. her face was mutilatcd nearly beyond
recognition. \ little to one side was
, the mangkd body of Mcbride with his
life cbbing away. Still father on was
the little girl, Carrie with her face badly
cut and covered abrasionS. Produce was
scattered over the track.
! When the engine struck the wagon
, tllt ioIEt 'iiltN tlItiI ilSiiiHt ti't Siu'S
Of the train, and as the iron monster
!. plunged through the team it threw
Carrie to one side, but her injuries may
lead to her '!cath.
Ii she livcs-and God grant she may
not--she will be dcformcd, and through
) life will bear the Pennsylvania Railroads
trademark of criminal economy
Criminal ccOnOmy-bccallSe the gates
at Stanton crossing are operated auto
: matically from the block station and are
supposed to go down at least two min
uteS before II train crosses the road
. Those gates were not down. Ii they
had bccn-and they should have been
, the tragedy would not have occurred.
The bodies we've picked up and put
aboard the train and brought to this
city. While Mcbride was being carried
into the emergency hospital he recovered
consciousness for Il moment and asked,
"Where's ,Jrnnic,' "Shcs dcau,' Twas
the answer. Almost with his last breath
the diving man exclaimed. "Amrn. We
will spend Christmas together
In unc-hali hour ut fer the body Of Me-
Bride had been carried tothc hospital lc
died.
Deputy Coroner Chandler was notified
and removed the bodies OF husband and
wife 10 his private morEuc. The child
was taken to the Delaware Hospital,
where Drs. Joyce and Og!c dressed her
injuries.
MIR. Mcbride was 81 years oi age. lie
waH Il son Of William Mcbride and was
born at Christiana. About 20 years ago
ne went West and engaged in gold mini
ing in Colorado. He returned t. Dcil-
ware abolt five years ago and purchased
an 50 acre farm bcsWccn Harmony ard
Og'ctpwn, which he owned ut the timc
OF the accident. The farm is also about
Il mic and a half from Stnntpn..s -..,.i
Ms. Mcbride Was iurmurh' Il Mrs.
Bradley. She's was 30 years OF a9c and
was married tn him about three years
ago. Thcchild who was injured was her
daughter by her first husband d. >" d
I She was m adopted Sister Of Joseph
Donahoc, OF this city, and Il niece Of cX-
County CnnptmllerrStaats. -ual,
. Mrs. Susan Mcbride of No. Ra7 Orange
street, this city, is Mr.. Mclsridc's aunt.
There are other relatives in this city also.
The relatives here looked after the little
girl after size WAS brought to Wilmington