Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-13
THE GRAY'S FERRY SMASHUP
Caused by Express Train and
Coal Car Coiliding.
Al SCORE OF PEOPLE INJURED
No Wilmingtonians Were Seri-
ouSly Hurt.



Harvey j. Wiley, ID. X. jackson, william
G. Popp and George G. Pierson of This |
City Were Among Those Injured.
Wilmington was startled last Satur-
| day afternoon by reports that wreck |
had occurred at Gray's Ferry on the
r., w. & B. railroad and some Will
mingtonians had been injured. The
Washington and New York express
train leaving this city at 1877 O'Clock,
ip which many Wilmington people
were travelling to Philadelphia, col
lided with coal car which had
| jumped the track at Gray's Ferry and
q score or more of Leople we're injured,
Including some from this city. No
Wilmingtonians were seriously hurt,
however, and, 1t is believed, all have
been able to return home. One man.
several ribs broken, his left leg SO
badly crushed that it had to be am
putated, an arm fractured and was SO
badly injured that he may die. He
was taken to the University Hospital.
The Wilmington people injured, SO far
as has been learned, we're:
Miss Helen e. Bowers of No. 1903
Broome street; face slightly cut;
treated at the University Hospital.
Harvey }. Wiley, No. 1881 Washing
ton street, secretary of the Street and
Sewer Department; back severely
wrenched.
D. K. jackson, No. 1874 Orange
street, bill poster; body bruised and
lacerated; treated at University Hos
pital.
Miss Mabel Smith, No. 1o4 East
Eighth street; head and body cut;
treated at University Hospital.
William O. Popp,. No.. 625 West
Fifth street; bruised and lacerated; ;
treated at University Hospital.
George y. Pierson, brakeman, slightly
hurt.
The following from other places were
also injured:
Anna Dougherty, Chester, Pa,
lacerated wounds of scalp and face.
Clarence Pullen, New York, lacerated
wound of scalp.
Mis-. Kate Raefeld, Chester,laoerated
Ella Little, Chester, confusion of
abdomen; serious.
Mary Mitchell, Colwyn, Pa, lacerated
wound Of scalp
Lieut.. r. Nj. A. Mahonsy, Chester,
lacerated wounds OF scalp and body
contusions.
Margaret BurGe, Upland, Pa.
lsoerated wound Of face and scalp.
Amy Mcdaniel. Upland, shock and
scalp laoeratIons.
Louisa Culin, Chester, lacerated
wounds Of the scalp.
Mrs. D. NJ. blackwell, st. Louis,
Mo-, iniued about the legs.
Richard Barnes, brakeman OF express
train.
II. Honan, Delaware, county, Fa.,
shocked and bruised,
Henry Matthews. Philadelphia, laoer.
ated head and body; treated at Uni.
vers,ty Hospital
Emma Dougherty, Chester, both legs
broken; taken to University Hospital.
F. L. Holloway, New York; cut ane
bruised,
Mrs. }. Mcconnell, Darby; Gu
about the head.
The ill-starred flyer was due at Broat
btreet station at 2.20 p. M, and th'
kuishap occurred within very shor
listaoe OF the Gray's Ferry bridge
hear Forty seventh street. The trait
was rushing along at rate of % mile
Au hour, with Conductor Charlie
Wyman in charge and Engineer Hurt
bit the throttle.
At the Gray's Ferry freight station
Drilling engine was engaged in break
ng up large northern freight trail
by shifting draft of cars on a south
bound freight. The swift passenge
rain was sweeping by when the frs
bar, coal laden, OF the freight draf
|, eft the track because Of a defectlv
lange and struck the side of one O
! The passenger coaches, which was wei
= illod with travellers.
s The coach of the Washington expires
was almost splintered by the force @
he impact and from the interior 9
he car arose series of ear r-piercin
bhrieks. The train was halted almos
IS bn the instant and the work of rescuin
q he imprisoned passengers was quickl
II begun. Ambulances were telephone
g Tor and in few moments the scene {
d he wreck was one OF excitemen
10 Scarcely 10 minutes elapsed betwee
j. The accident and the appearance upo
he scene of the first ambulance.
10 was quickly followed by others, tt
l. Jniversity, Presbyterian, German
Jefferson and other hospitals responc
ng to the general call. One bundre
bolioemen, under the leadership
l. Lieut. Callahan, of the Thirty -secor
at district, assisted the physicians an
,e ailroad men in the work Of rescu
40 Ehe injured were soon removed fro
g he wrecked car and placed in IL
l0 Waiting ambulances. while the mo-
n fortunate OF the passengers boarded
ey peoial train sent out from Bros
treet station, and were soon speedir
toward their destination.
The train as left in the yard pr
AZ ented most dilapidated spectaol
,is though none of the cars was beyoi
ne |epair. Great scars, paneless window
no blatforms shorn of their steps al
'e. saping holes where the freight car hi
nS nterposed its massive bulk made
We prry spectacle. Coach 3066, whit
rst received the impact of the freig
hr. had lost all the woodwork ON o
ala Esc, ,;Il hana ~ h. sant r. tha re,s
rge hnns Coaab 1as mo-. ,eft In n h
@ @lne ondition. Pullman cars Natalie al
'an' u,u gnes escaped with the less Of tht
esy teps, and the paint was soraped frc
mas heir sides. The freight car oausi
III the trouble MAS also badly damage