Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-28
ELEVEN KILLED AND
OVER 40 INJURED
Details Of the Terrible Collision on the
Amboy Division. ?. R, R.
HORRlFYING SCENE AT THE WRECK
Both Locomotives Completely
Demolished.
THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO BLUNDER

Trenton. N. j., Feb. 22.-one of the
worst collisions in the history of the Amboy
division of the Pennsylvania railroad oc-
CURED about $50 O'Clock last evening at
RUsling's Siding, near Bordentown, about
eight miles south of Trenton. The Nellie
Bly, express from New York for Atlantic
City collided with passenger train No. $50,
running from Camden to Trenton. The
number OF dead as far as known is 10. and
the number of injured upward of 25. A
special train at about 0 O'Clock from the
scene of the wreck brought four dead bodies
and lS wounded persons to Trenton. The
wounded were distributed among the three
Trenton hospitals. Other wounded passen-
gers were taken to Cooper Hospital at Cam
den.
Among the killed was Walter Earl, epgi.
neer of the express, and James Birmingham,
baggagemaster of the local train. Most OF
the others killed were Italians. Frank
Boland, passenger on train No. $50, an
employs of the Pennsylvania railroad, had
both legs cut on: The doctors say he will
die. Michael MCGOWAN, fireman on the
Nellie Bly, was badly injured. but Is ex-
pected to recover. Frank Thomspon, engi-
neer of No. $50, had a lea broken and is
badly bruised. He is in precarious con-
dition. Edward Garwood. fireman of No.
$50, was badly bruised by jumping, but will
recover. Edward Sapp, conductor of No.
en- the floor of the rear car of his train. His
wounds are not believed to be serious.
Most of the remaining dead and injured
are Italians. The Italians were riding in
the smoking car of the express train. They
were being taken to Atlantic City To al
construction work for the railroad company.
The scene of the wreck is described by
those who were present as horrifying. The
two trains collided at full speed and both
locomotives were completely demolished
The forward car of each tain, in both in
stances a combination baggage and smoker,
was entirely demolished, and to add TO the
horror the mreekaRe, took FIRE. The second
car of the Nellie Bly," turned over on lis
side and the passengers had to climb out
through the windows. In this they were
assisted by passengers from the cars that
did not leave the track. The track az this
point is SO close TO the Delaware and Rari-
tan Cnnal that the passengers. in getting
out OF the overturned coach, got into the
capal, and many of the bodies of the dead
and injured had to be taken from the
water.
Thomas Lawrence of Trenton said he
saw one man buried beneath the ruins
and crying for assistance. He tried to nry
him out, but found he could do nothing to
help him. he believes the man persisted in
the flames. The scene Of the wreck was far
from outside assistance and when the wreck
ing train arrived from Trenton It was after
dark, and the work of clearing up the debris
and removing the bodies was necessarily
slow. 5 15
The "Nellie Bly, was running in three
sections and it was the third section with
which No. $50 eollided. The local train had
taken the siding to permit the express to
pass. and 1t is believed that through some
misunderstanding or mistake the local came
out on the main track after the second Sec
tion had passed, installing it for the third
section.
The body of William Mckinney, supposed
TO be OF Trenton, was found in the Raritan
Canal this morning. The eight other bodies
SO far recovered have not been positively
identified. They are supposed to be those
Of Italian laborers from New York and
Jersey City, who were riding in the forward
car OF the express train.