Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1909-12-01
W. 6 N. TRAINS
HIT HEAD-ON.
Crashed Into Each Other at
MOntChanin, and PaSAen-
gers We're JOIted
NOBODY SERIOUSLY
INJURED, HOWEVER

Evidently due 20 the mix-up over
signals and the fact that two trains
could not pass upon a sigle track, two
passenger trains of the Wilmington
and Northern branch of the Phlladel-
phia and Reading Railway collided at
Montchanin station last evening. The
engines Of both trains were badly dam
aged. and the passengers IN the trains
were spilled about the cars. but for
tunately nobody was injured seri-
ousiy.
Responsibility for the wreck had not
been fixed to-day. according TO off,
cials at the Wilmington offices of the
railroad company, who said the report
on the wreck will be forwarded 20 the
main offices Of the Philadelphia and
Reading Company. The question to
be determined Is whether or not the
northbound train ran past a danger
signal and thus crashed into the south
bound train that was standing at
Montchanin station. Operator Bayer
at the station says he set a signal
against the northbound train. The
crew of the northbound train said they
had a clear signal
The two trains we're known as Nos
g, southbound, and 10, northbound.
Train No. 1s. was in charge OF Engi-
neer Henry Elliott Fireman Norris
Wynn and Conductor ]. c. Meredith.
Train No. 3 was in charge Of Engineer
Frank Pagan, Fireman James Welsh
and Conductor T. G.. Pennington. All
are residents of this city.
The southbound train was at Mont
d
train approached the station. There
is a siding there which the north
bound train was supposed to have run
upon to permit the southbound train
70 pass upon its way The entrance
to the siding or switch is governed by
a signal set by orders received at
Montchanin station.
As the northbound train approached
the station from around a curve it ran
into the train that was standing there.
Fortunately the brakes Of the north
bound train had been set, and the i'm
pact was not 50 heavy. It was suffi-
cient, however, to derail and badly
twist and damage one Of the locomo-
tives. The other engine was dam
aged, but II remained upon the tracks.
None Of the cars left the tracks.
The passengers were severely jolted
about blythe shock OF tho collision
and while some Of them were bruised
none was hurt so seriously as TO re-
quire hospital treatment.
George Rommel. master mechanic OF
the Wilmington and Northern division
was standing upon the platform OF
the southbound train when the collision
occurred. After seeing that nobody
was injured seriously he Immediately
telephoned to the company's offices in
this city and Supervisor John Boyer
with a crew Of men. took the wreckina
train to Montchanin. After several
hours work the derailed locomotive
was replaced on the tracks. Meanwhile
other trains were made up to carry
the passengers up and down the divi-
sion.
The engineers and hremen on boil
trai' S stuck to their posts when they saw
collision was unavoidable. Neither wa,
hurt. Lemuel Slider. brakeman on th'
northbound train was in the baggage ca
and was thrown to the floor. severa
boxes fell upon him, and he was bruised
He lives I'm Coatesville and was sent ther'
on the northbound train.
Frank Robb, OF this city, express mes
senger on the southbound train wa'
knocked down and boxes fell on him ant
a big butter tub crushed his side. He was
sent home. He said he saw the northbounc
train Approaching and would have Jumped
had he thought It was going to run into
the train on which he was working
Says Signals Were Set.
According to the explanation Of some OF
the railroad men after the accident the
two trains were supposed to pass eact
other on a sidetrack at Guyencourt The
northbound train was late for some un.
explained cause and the southbound trair
was then ordered to proceed as far as tbs
Montchanin station and allow the north.
bound train TO pass IT, This II did anc
Operator Bayer was told to set the signals
for the northbound train, warning tho en-
gineer that train NO. 8 was standing al
the station waiting for II to pass.
Operator Bayer said his signals were se
according to the instructions given him
The northbound train came hurryinl
along. and Engineer Elliott had shut OF
the power and had applied the brakes a.
he rounded the curve.