The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-11-05
ONECEN,I
Fatal, WRECK
AT CLAYM0NT.

When u reporter Of the REPUBLI.
CAN visited the scene of the wreck,
south of Claymont fierce looking
sight met his eye. Two pools Of
blood by the railroad tracks told the
story of where a noble life had been
snutled out. Thirty Yards further
south and the blazing freight cars
looked like ore mass Of iron wheels
and bars. The wrecking train with
its powerful craze worked to clear
the track Lying on its side at the
bottom Of the bank was engine l3O.
On the other side Of the engine on
the wrecking train sat a telegraph
operator sending the movements Of
the men to the superintendent OF.
lice. The telegraph Iinemen worked
hard in making the wire connected
with the impromtu telegraph office.
BY the Time the wreck crew got to
work the scene was surrounded by
scores Of men. women and children,
many Of whom had gone from Will
mingLon by trolley. They remained
during the entire afternoon watching
the crew at work, and they saw an
interesting sight. The wreck car
and the great crane which swings
from it was under charge OF Wreck.
master Van Gaskin, and the men who
were at work on other portions OF the
wreck were in charge Of Wreck Boss
James Kane.
Assistant Trainmasters A. j. lily.
land and II. Wallace Reynolds were
also assisting 50 that the track might
be cleared and trains again put into
service.
10 keep the main office informed
of the condition Of affairs the wires
were cut at the scene OF the wreck
and teleg rapll wrecking outfit plac.
ed in service. 1t was some time be.
fore the wire was ready because OF an
the wreck. When the engine rolled
down the embankment it struck the
railroad telegraph wires which were
strung on poles below the level Of the
road-bed and the entire outfit Of wires
was torn from the poles. Lincmen
were at once sent to the place and
fixed the wires.
1t took the wreck crew but short
time TO decide upon the plan to 10
followed. The big crane on the wreck
car was swung about and chains plac.
ed under the trucks which lay piled
on top of the overturned engine.
These chains were attached TO the
crane aud soou they were lifted and
dumped down the bank on each side
Of the track. Then the chains were
attached to the machinery in the car
of Junk and it was pulled apart like
so many paper boxes and the pieces
were dumped down the bank. Tho
sound Of the iron breaking apart as
the great crane hoisted it could be
heard for a mile.
This work was under the direc-
tion OF WOrkmaster NanG Gaskln. and
his men working like soldiers lu
the meantime the men OF Work Boss
Kane had attacked the other end u
the wreck. Great wlrecables were
hltched 10 pieces OF the wrecked
cars and the opposite end to loco.
motive. In very lew minutes the
locomotive was going up the track
with great chunks Of derbis trail
ing after IT. Then the engine
would stop and, after the debris
had been dumped down the bank
the engine would return and mora
pieces Of the wreck would soon be
dangling at the end Of the cable.
In addition to this. men with big
crowbars and ropes were pulling
the wreckage off the tracks aud tho
banks on each side we're filled. T.,
The aim oi The crew was 10 clear
,hc track OF wrcckage SO that the
II ,ins might pass, the matter Of
p king up the pieces aud hauling
them away was subject foriuturs
consideration.
Few words were spoken while
the wreck crew worked and all
that could be heard was the rips
ping OF tmbcrs and the cracking os
iron as machinery was torn apart.
except the voices of NanGasxin and
Kane encouraging the men as they
worked. "Now you are doing elc.
giant. "Pull harder, boys
"Just give it little more. could
be heard above the din. and the
men appeared 10 work harder after
they were encouraged. This con-
,Inucd until o'clock, when the
uorthbound track was cleared, and
about an hour later the south.
bound track was opened for travel.
Despite the great shock caused
by the freight crashing into tho
work train the track was but little
damaged and it did not take long
to repair the tracks after the wreck
was removed.
Astonishing News.
How M!tobslrs No. 2 West Third street
tina n r wHtNb