Evening journal., 1901-02-22
DISOBEDIENCE
CAUSED DEATH
Ten Killed and Many Injured
in Terrible Wreck
CARS TOOK FIRE AFTER CRASH
Many Passengers in Escaping From
Overturned Coach Fell Into Bed
Of Canal
CARS TOOK FIRE AFTER CRASH

Trenton, Feb. 22.-One of the worst
collisions in the history Of the Amboy
division of the Pennsylvania railroad
occurred about $3.50 o'clock last even
ing at Risling's siding, near Borden
town, and about eight miles south OF
Trenton. The Nellie Bly, express,
from New York for Atlantic City, col
lided with passenger train No. $50,
running from Camden to Trenton. The
number of dead so far as known is ten
and the number of injured upward OF
25. A special train at about 8 o'clock
from the scene of the wreck brought
eight dead bodies and % wounded per-
sons to Trenton. The wounded were
distributed among the three Trenton
hospitals. Other wounded passengers
were taken to Cooper hospital at Cam
den.
Among the killed was Walter Earl,
engineer of the express, and James
Birmingham. baggage master Of the 10
cal train. Most Of the others killed
were Italians.
Frank Boland, a passenger on train
No $50, an employe of the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad company, had both legs
cut of. The doctors say he Will die.
The dead who have been identified
are Walter Earl, engineer of the ex-
press train; James Birmingham, bag
gage master OF the local train; Frank
Hill, of White Hill, a railroad employe
who was a passenger on the local
train; John Gates, of Trenton, a pas
senger on the local train; four .Ital-
ians, whose names have not been
learned.
Michael McGraw, fireman of the
"Nellie Bly," was badly injured, but
is expected to recover.
Frank Thompson, engineer of No.
$780, had a leg broken and is badly
bruised. He is in a precarious condi-
tion.
Edward Garwood, fireman of No. 800,
was badly bruised, but will recover.
Edward Sapp, conductor of No. 800,
was also injured by being thrown for
ward on the floor of the rear car of his
train. His wounds are not believed
to be serious.
Most of the remaining dead and in
! jured are Italians. The Italians were
riding in the smoking car of the ex-
press train. They were being taken to
Atlantic City to do construction work
for the railroad company.
The scene at the wreck is described
by those who were present as horrify-
ing The two trains collided at full
speed, and both engines were complete
ly demolished. The forward car of
each train, in both instances a COM
bination baggage and smoker, were en-
tirely demolished also, and to add to
the horror the wreckage took fire. The
second car of the Nellie bly," turned
! over on its side and the passengers
had to climb out through the windows
In this they were assisted by passen-
gers from the cars that did not leave
the track. The track at this point is SO
close to the Delaware and Rarltan
canal that the passengers, in getting
out Of the coach, got into the dry canal
Thomas Lawrence, Of Trenton, said
he saw one man buried beneath the
ruins and crying for assistance. He
tried to pry him out, but found ht
could do nothing to help him. He be-
lieves the man perished in the flames
The scene Of the wreck was far from
outside assistance, and when tho
wrecking train arrived from Trenton
IL was after dark and the work o
the bodies was necessarily slow.
The survivors shuddered as they de
scribed the scene of carnage. The,
said the cries of agony coming from
under the wreclkage where the Italian
were confined were heartrending. TIL
mass took fire from the wrecked en-
gines, and it is believed that a mum
Der of the Italians who were not killei
| frr1aN q,
of the first bodies taken out was tha
of Engineer Walter Earl, of Atlanti
City, who was in charge of the ex
press. He was killed instantly, hi
head having been cut off. Then tn
body of James Birmingham, Of BoT
dentown, n. j., baggage master of tn
local freight, was found.
Willing hands went instantly I
work, and It was due to the good wor
of the uninjured passengers that man
lives were saved. Judge Kelly, of Me-
York, paid a high tribute to his fello'
passengers, including the women, fo
the way they took up the work {
rescue.
= A miraculous escape was that tn
George Enger, Of South Orange. Nj
Enger is a cripple, and was sitting /
a wheel chair in the baggage car whe
the crash came. This car was terribl
{ splintered, and part of it was on ia
j OF the first car. Mr.. Enger was pitcl
ed out of his chair, but fortunately I
was not hurt, and he managed
crawl to the opening in the side Of II
car and was lifted out.
The railroad officials put the blan
y on the crew of the local train, whiC
,e was in charge of Conductor r. S. SaI
h and Engineer B. T. Thompson. both
~ Camden. The railroad authorities S;
m that the crew Of this train had beC
II. given orders to "meet" the express