Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-11-21
DASTARDLY ATTEMPT
TO. WRECK A TRAIN
SOuthhound New York and Nor
folk Express Sent Through
a Misplaced Switch.
SIGNAL LAMPS CHANGED
FROM RED TO WHITE
Train Derailed and Engineer
and Fireman Injured Traf-
fic on the Road Blocked
for Several Hours.


dastsrdiy attempt was made to
wreck the Norfolk express over the Del
aware RAILROAD, which left this city at
1911 O'Clock Saturday morning, the
wrecker throwing switch three -fourths
Of a mile below Farnhurst and then
deliberately turning the switch signal
around, showing a white light instead
OF red. AS a result, the train was side
tackled on siding where freight cars
were stored, wreoking the locomotive,
tender, baggage car and several freight
cars and iniuring the engineer and
fireman.
There is no clue TO the guilty person,
but 1t is believed the dastardly act was
the work OF some person of unsouud
mind. Had the train not been running
slowly the consequences would have
been very serious.
Three freight trains had already
passed in safety over the tracks short
time before. A switch was opened by
some unknown person after the last
freight train had passed and the signal
light was changed, which made il to
show white IN place OF red, and, seeing
che white light the engineer supposed
the track was clear until il was too
'obo w ubpps LhO bfdtu CThhnbu lNtO hQ6
freight cars on he siding, wreoking
several of them and also the engine,
tender and baggage car. Fortunately,
when the train struck the open switch,
the engine was moving at slow rate
Of speed and the impact was not as
great as the train wreoker had probably
hoped for. The speed at this point has
been ordered not to exceed six miles.
per hour, on account OF the work
going on at that pace. The engine,
after jumping the rail. slowed and after
striking number Of fiat cars became
imbedded in the bank on the side of
the track and tore up portion of the
rails.
Immediately after tue accident word
was sent to Stationmaster Crsmer at
tarnhurst aud he notified tho Clayton
office and the office In this city. Wreck
Ing crews were at once sent to the
scene oil the accident and the work Of
strengthening out the tracks was begun.
Engineer Richard Harrison of the
wrecked train WAS severely but not
seriously bruised by being jolted in
his cab. Fireman James Galigna of
No. 1926 Morrow street, this city, was
severely and perhaps fatally injured.
He was brought here and sent to his
home in cab. He complained of his
legs and abdomen and it is feared that
ne is injureu internally, Conductor
Hugh Mearns was in charge of the train,
With Frank +. Bonsall as baggage
master and Reyneir Salisbury brake
man. The passengers were shaken up,
but none was injured.
shifting engine was sent to the
scene of The trouble and brought the
train to this city at 8. 80 O'Clock and
after having an engine attached it was
sent over the cut of, via Edge Moor to
this city and thence tn New CASTLE to
the main Inns, leaving French street
station at 4.3l O'Clock, more than four
hours late.
The train due in this Icity from the
Delaware road at 8.46 o'clock arrived
at 9.47 o'clock, having come to Edge
Moor via the cut off from New Castle.
On the arrival Of the train at Edge
Moor it was met by q special train from
this city consisting of four coaches, two
of which were attached to the train
which proceeded to Philadelphia, while
two others conveyed the passengers
from the lower part Of the State to this
city. The train due In thieoity at 10. O6
O'Clock arrived three quarters of an
hour late and came over the same route
Some of the passengers left the trains
at New. Castle and came to Wilmington
by trolley.
The track was cleared about 10. 30
O'Clock and the first train to pass
through was the one leaving French
street station st los O'Clock. The
train left here ON time and had no
trouble. The first train ncrth was the
I Delaware railroad express due here at
LIS, which arrived at IL O'Clock,
having been detained on the lower part
of the road. s
The scene of the wreck is a rlsce
where's wreck occurred a short time
ago, but which fortunately did but
little harm.
As result of the accident mails were
delayed both to and from the local
postoffice over the Delaware railroad.