Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-06

passengers jumped or tried to jump off
and that accounts for the long list of
those injured, for the wounded ones
we're found lying All among the streets
after the oars bad rushed by.
The manner Of Gillman's death APP
pears n be uncertain. He was prob
ably riding on car l6 and jumped of
or was thrown of by one of the crashes
and then struck BY car No. 8. His
body was found lying in the street
near Van Buren,. He lived but a lew
minutes, bis body being almost out in
two and his legs ground up.
The end Of the grade at Madison
street was quickly reached by the cars
and the momentum carried them up
the next incline towards Jefferson
street Here occurred another and an
unexpected collisiou, for westbound
car No. 2, which was an open car,
struck eastbound car No. 16, near
Windsor street, and IL recoiled against
eastbound car No. ., spreading further
alarm among the already excited pas
eengers OF the two heavy double-truck
closed cars, Here it was that Con-
ductor Jones Of No. 16 was injured.
Joseph Lawson and A. A. Waite, who
were on one of the cars, picked up
Jones and carried him into the resi-.
dence Of Irwin g. Hanna, 6l3 West
Sixth street, where DR.. +. II. Pierson
administered stimulants A large
gaping wound in his back is the one
which renders his condition so serious.
Numerous other persons were hurt in
the final collision. The wild ride down
the bill, ard the attendant shrisks Of
the excited passengers, followed by
the successive crashes had aroused the
residents along tine thoroughfare and
almost by tho time the series oi
accidents had ended, houses were
being thrown open to receive the in.
iured, and many persons were doing oil
In their power TO aid them. The police
station was notified Of the catastrophe
and responded with the patrol wagon
and squad Of officers. Capr. Thomas
A. Kane, SerReants Kelleher and
Massey and several pat,olmen rendered
active aid. The Phoenix Ambulance
was also quickly on the scene, hacks
were sent for, and little time was lost
in attending to the injured and con.
veying them to their homes or to the
Delaware Hospital.
| An act much appreciated by the
4
assistance from Superintendent O.
Reginald Van Trump OF the Whining
ton City Railway Co., who arrived or
the scene with a corps Of men.
The wreckage of the cars strewe6
Sixth street fiom Harrison to Madison.
Pieces small enough to handle were
carried off as souvenirs. After the
trolley employees had cleared away the
heavier pieces the operation Of tbs
Brandywine Springs line was con
tinued, but it was very late when thu
last passenger had been safely landed
in town.
Coroner's Physician James T.
Chandler took charge Of the body o
Joshua Gilman. He was a Hebrew
who carried on the business Of selling
goods on iustalments. He had lived il
Wilmington about 10 years, and for |
year or 80 lodged with Annie r.
Collins, No. 407 East Third street. H,
has two sisters in this city, and ,
brother in Philadelphia. The hrothe
visited him only last week.
Charles Simmons of No. 6l5 FRANKLIN
street, while talking to Edward
Melchoir at Sixth and FRANKLIN
streets, was an eye witness of portion
of the accident. In speaking of il, b.
said: When the accident happened
was standing on the corner talkinl
with Mr.. Melchoir. One of the car
passed while wa wore standing Their
, and remark was made about it beinl
! SO crowded. In another instant
second car went past at terrific rat
Of speed. remarked that there wa
going TO be q collision and a secon,
later the car struck the one in front O
i, 1t. The cars went together hetwee
Franklin and Harrison streets and i
second all was excitement. ut ono
!, started down the street with MIR
Melchoir to give what assistance W
, possibly could. We had only gone
!, few yards when we came across dea
man lying in the gutter The impure
persons were groaning with pnin an
everyone was SO excited that IL wa
some minutes before it could be fouu
, Just who were injured
George Smith, oolored, and his wife
. Of No. 1856 Tatnall street, attempted I
:, jump from the car at Adams stree
The woman landed un her head and ht
foot fell under the wheels, so that ht
toes were cut off.
DR.. O. Hherburne Rice, John Braun
stein and A. A. Waite, who were O
4 car 16 tried to prevent persons fro
- jumping, and Conductor Jones did II
h same on car No. 5. Horacs Rettey
- sun Of the receiver Of taxes, was stant
\ ing near Motorman krauss of No.
= and said Krauss did all he could to pr
!, vent the accident.
!. John j. Finn of Finn Brothers WI
: another passenger who tried to chez
= the panic stricken ones. His arm wi
Y, severely wrenohed by his trying to pr
= vent woman from jumping.
n Wesley Trotter and Henry L. Maie
: cadet major Of Delaware College, we
. on oar 8. Something blew out
4 the car" they said, land our car OF
y nailed to the one ahead some way. N
. l6 reversed, and we bumped into
III near Franklin street, as nearly as :
can figure. The passengers Of our @
In yelled and jumped up They we
"a panic stricken. Some leaped from /
" windows, others leared fiom the pls
=, FERNS. 1t seemed that we went doy
We did not know what would happ
90 next. After the first collision with q
-. No. 16 we shot down the hill at
az awful rate. Then we slid back to Mo
~ roe street.
~ A woman carrying child was in Z
al vestibule of No. 16 but escaped unhu
~ Elwood Alexander was In the vestib,
~ also and escaped uninjured.
hi STATEMENT BY MANAGER CROOK.
General Manager Richard ". Orc
rs of the Peoples Railway Co., made {
rs following statement this afternoon OF
a oerning the accident:
rn "Ths accident was caused by the
ne brake Of car No. not working. VT
M Motorman Benson saw that It did /