Evening journal., 1899-07-05
TROLLEY CARS COLLIDE
Two Wilmington and Chester
Cars Ran Togeth er Yesterday.
FOURTEEN PASSENGERS INJURED

FOURTEEN PASSENGERS INJURED
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT UN-
KNOWN. BUT 1T Is SUPPOSED
THAT THE SIGNALS WE'RE NOT
UNDERSTOOD MANY PERSONS
HURT BY JUMPING FROM THE
CARS.
A head-on collision occurred yester-
day morning between two cars on the
Wilmington and Chester line. near
Bellevue. in which fourteen persons
were more or less seriously injured.
The injured were brought to this
city where their wounds were dressed
at the Delaware and Homeopathic
Hospitals. Most of the injured were
hurt by jumping from the cars when
they saw the collision was inevitable
and the motorman had called loudly
to the passengers:
Jump for your lives"
Others. who remained on the cars,
were tossed down an embanxment,
while some who did not jump escaped
harm.
LIST OF INJURED.
John Gemerdinger. Philadelphia,
shocked and injured in the left shoul-
der
Mrs. Mary Gemerdinger, phlladel-
phia. fractured right arm, nose broken.
bruised and confused.
Miss Bessie Collins, Chester, con-
fusion OF hip and shock.
Mrs. Louise Collins. Chester, right
arm sprained and bruised.
Miss Katharine Wagner, Philadol-
phia, confusion OF right arm.
Mrs Sanford Mowdray, Parkers-
burg, Pa, badly confused about face
and body.
Miss Susie Mcshane. Trainers, Pa,
confusion OF hip and shock
Miss Mary Mclntire, Trainers, right
leg broken.
B. Frank Waller, Philadelphia
shocked and bruised.
Mrs. B. Frank Waller, shocked and
foot sprained.
| Frank d. Long, Philadelphia, abra-
sion of leg.
e. speakman, Chester, injured IN
stomach
Frank Z. Roberts. colored ,Claymont
Del, left leg broken and stomach con.
fused.
Sarah Jefferson. colorcd. Whining
ton, dislocation oil right foot and con
fusion of head.
The scene Of the accident, near Belle.
vue about four miles north OF this
city, Is just above a bridge and at the
end of a large curve. The curve made
it impossible for the motormen to see
each other until the cars were close to-
gether Although the line is operated
by a block system, it is supposed that
either the signals were misunderstood
or else they did not work properly
A heavy closed car, No. 305, and a
light open Summer car, No. 35, were
the ones in collision. John Kennard
was conductor and E. Speakman mo-
torman of the closed car, and Owen
Farley was conductor and George
Smith motorman of the open car. All
Of them live in Chester. Pa. They
stuck to their posts, and Speakman
was the only one hurt. being pinned
fast in one Of the cars.
The first the passengers knew OF
danger was when Motorman Smith
iyelled:
Jump for your livesi"
| Confusion rafcrrnd rrsn.,.r., r...1I, -, Z.
and there was leaping in all direc.
tions. In the excitement some jump
ed down a high embankment, and
when the cars came together other
passengers were tossed from them by
the force of the collision.
D AS soon as word was received of the
accident superintendent Harvey b
Vandegrift. Of the Wilmington City
Railway, ordered ont car No. 60 as O
special and left for the scene, followed
by No. 13. the wreck car. On the way
to the wreck No. 65 took on board DR.
? T.. G.. Shortlidge, who had been sum.
moned by telephone. The Phoeni,
ambulance was also ordered to be il
readiness. On the way to the scene o
the wreck the special met a south
nouhu Ndl carrying louI OF lne injured
! people. Two Of them were transferred
D to the ambulance and the other tW,
to wagon and sent 70 the Delawar'
Hospital as quickly as possible.
The Phoenix ambulance did goo,
r work end made number OF trips q
q the scene Of the accident. Eleven per
q sons were taken 10 the Homeopathi
Hospital in the ambulance. The mos
seriously injured in the party wa
i Sarah Jefferson, who was badly bruisel
about the head. All the other injure
ones are reported TO be doing we'll.
FARMERS BANK MEETING.
il DoNar. Dal- Lnlv Tho ganera