Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-11-03
Samuel Kleinberger. Atlantic City.
The Injured,

Philadelphia: Joseph Devilo. manager
of Royal Artillery Band. severely in.
jured about head and ribs: Oreste Rov
Maiiello. Philadelphia; w. II. Stewart,
Wenonah. n. j.: Frank Deceri. Phila-
delphia; John Fortunate. Philadelphia.
Angelo Fanzein. Philadelphia: Andrew
Taylor. Camden. n. j.; Ida Debal Flor
ence. ~ j.; Edward Morgan. Scranton,
Pa. Oresto Roy. Philadelphia; H. ID.
Joseph. Camden. N. j.. George MCGEE,
Philadelphia.
Coroner viii Make Rigid Inquiry.
Aside from the search for the bod.
les. interest now centers on the In.
quest which will be held by Coroner
Gaskil. on Thursday. While h will
DOT express an opinion before tn 'n-
luiry as to the cause Of the accident,
It appears from his statement that he
Is convinced that the bridge on which
he accident occurred is not as II
should be and may have to be rebuilt.
That the officials of the city generally
want most rigid inquiry so that re-
sponsibility for the accident may be
ellis in adopting resolutions express
mg sympathy for the bereaved and en-
bodying the following:
Resolved. That every officer OF the
rity government. who by reason OF his
presence in the work OF rescue. or for
any other reason. can give assistance
10 the county officials charged with
the work Of determining thecause Of
this disaster. Is hereby directed to give
such assistance In order that those re-
sponsible for the appalling loss Of life
may be punished and the lives of rail-
road passengers safeguarded."
The central figures In the inquiry on
Tuesday will probably be Daniel Stew
art. the old bridge tender. and John
Spiker. the towerman who operates the
signals Stewart declares positively
that he locked the draw properly after
the schooner yacht Sinbad passed
through and the railroad officials say
that in any event the signal for safety
would not have been set when the
train came along had the rails not
towerman. when asked about this said
that he could not see the tracks clearly
enough from his position TO know
whether the tracks were in line. but he
said he got the signal from the tender
that they were all right and gave the
train a clear track.
Frantic Rush From Rear Car.
When the rear car OF the train
caught on the abutment on the bridge
where II hung poised for q minute
there was a frantic rush OF the pas
sengers for the rear door. Probably
a score or more got out and as the car
plunged over the edge others lsaped
into the water The last car that went
over the bridge fell upon the others
and slowly slid off into the water. The
moments delay. however. gave several
passengers the opportunity 10 leap
into the water before the car was I'm
ally submerged.
Motorman Scott stuck TO his post
and went down with his train. The
third trainman. Brakeman Wood.
proved himself a hero. When the train
left the rails and was humping over
the ties Wood ran TO the rear door OF
the last car, threw II wide open and
held Is open for the passengers to es'
cape. He held the door open until the
car slid of the bridge, and went into
the water with 1t. He then swan IN
the shore His action in holding the
door open probably saved many lives.
No Warning Of Death.
On leaving Westville the third-rail
electric car was applied. and the train
from there on bowled along at It's Gus.
tomary speed. Not the slightest Incl
dent occurred to cause the motorman
to slow down. When the drawbridgs,
which crosses the stream popularity
known as the "Thoroughfare" was ap-
preached. the motorman saw a clear
track before him. There was nothing
to warn him of danger. nothing to show
that the rail might not have been In
place, In fact, nothing to indicate that
everything was not as II should be.
So the train bounded along over the
bridge with never a hint TO the unsus.
pecting passengers that death would
come TO many so suddenly. All al
once the forward coach lurched. the
ponderous wheels leaped the rails and
came down upon the ties Swervins
to the left. the first coach dragged the
others after and plunged over the edge
into the water. The third coach. how
ever, struck a heavy abutment. and
was left momentarily suspended In
midair.
As soon as the first coach was pre-.
cipitated into the water there were
screams OF men. women and children.
Caught like so many rats In trap,
they we're thrown in heaps. and what
little chance these might have had to
escape was cut on by the wild seram-
BILE which ensued. The two cars which
were hurled from the bridge sank
quickly in 20 feet Of water. and are now
completely hidden from view.
Heartrending Scenes at Morgue.
The scene nj the old Empire Thea
ire Tho tamnorary mOrgue on Allan.