Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-10
FINE IN AUTO KILLED
Car Crashes Into Pennsylvania
Flyer Near Cape May.
CROSSING NOT GUARDED
Railway Hidden From Motorists by
Fields of Corn.
DEATH COMES IN A FLASH
Mangled Bodies Strewn Along the
Track for Two Hundred Yards.
Victims From Baltimore.
DEATH COMES IN A FLASH

CAPE MAY, August 1O-Driviug head
long into the locomotive of the Cape May
fyer on the Pennsylvania railroad at Mill
lane crossing, three miles from here, a
large touring car. in which were five per-
sons, was ground to pieces yesterday aft
ernoon and all the occupants instantly
killed. The dead are:
Frederick W. Feldner, president of the
Furst-Clark Dredging Company, Balti-
more, and former president of the Cape
May Real Estate Company.
Mrs. Frederick W. Feldner, his wife.
Fritz Mergenthaler Of the Mergenthaler
Linotype Company.
Mrs. Fritz Mergenthaler, daughter of
| the Feldners.
A chauffeur, supposed to be Joseph Win
son.
The accident occurred at one of the most
dangerous spots in south Jersey, a place
| absolutely unprotected by gates, watch
men or signals of any kind to warn ap-
preaching motorists or drivers.
The Pennsylvania and Reading railroads
run parallel there, about twenty feet
apart, and just above is sharp curve.
In addition the road is bordered with veg
citation. and the railroad runs between
two fields of tall corn, making it impossi-
BILE to see in either direction.
The party left Atlantic City Monday
afternoon. bound for Cape May. They
chose the Mill lane route because it of
fered short cut, and also affords a fine
view of the city and harbor. For these
reasons it is a favorite with motorists.
The train left Market street, PhiIadel-
phia, at 4:OS o'clock, and was due at
Cape May at 800 Whirlng around the
l -, ~, A.
ed his whistle.
Death in a Flash.
| The next moment the automobile shot
out between the fields of corn, and be-
fore the engineer could whistle or re-
verse it crashed into the fast-flying loco
motive So sudden and unexpected was
the collision that even those in the car
was instantaneous.
| AS quickly as possible the train was
| brought to standstill. Thomas Mcneil,
| John l.. Munday and Anthony Crosse.
| farmers ran from their fields nearby and
joined the train crew and passengers,
who hurried back to ascertain the extent
of the damage.
The scene was so horrible that men
mangled we're scattered along the track
for 200 yards. Feldner's face was actu-
ally torn off, and the body of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Mergenthaler. was mangled al
most beyond recognition. The chauffeur
was buried in the debris OF the autOmO-
bile and crushed
All along the line were scattered
watches, valuable rings and other jewelry
and baggage belonging to the party. All
of it was gathered up and cared for by
three farmers until claimed by the cor
Officials Leave for Scene.
News of the disaster was-f1ashed to this
city, and Coroner George H. Reeves and
General Passenger Agent George W.
Boyd of the Pennsylvania railroad hur-
ried to the scene. quickly followed by
Supt. A. G. McCausland of the Reading
railway.
The front of the locomotive was cover
ed with blood. and it's piston cocks and
iron steps torn off.
The McNeills live near the crossing,
and Mrs. McNeill. who was on the porch
of her home. saw the peril of the car
and its occupants and shouted a warm
ing. 1t is believed that the chauffeur
did not hear the cry nor the locomotive
whistle, or, if he did. thought he had
time to cross. The latter theory is not
generally believed, as it it said that the
automobile was not going at rapid
pace.
Gloom Cast Over City.
The accident cast a gloom over the
city. for all the dead were well known
and popular here. Hundreds made their
way to the scene as quickly as possible
and when the bodies were brought to
The morsue of Henry Rutherford the
place was besieged by a morbid crowd
for hours
The engineer, Joseph Wheaton of West
Cape May, and Conductor George Tay-
lor were overcome by the calamity, and
it was particularly distressing to the
former He is considered one of the
best and safest engineers on the Penn
sylvania system.
Mrs. Mergenthaler was bride. scarcely
twenty years old. and a beautiful bru-
nette. She was one of the most popular
members of the younger set at the Hotel
Cane Nav where the two little families
spent much of their time. They had
spent several days at Atlantic City by
way of a change. and were returning.
having promised to be in Cape May in
time to dine with friends.
The inquest will be held today. when
Coroner Reeves will endeavor to fix
the responsibility.
\ petition is being circulated, and finds
ready signers, calling upon the interstate
commerce commission to compel the rail-
roads to place gates and watchmen at all
crossings between Tuckahoe and Cape
May.
Victims All From Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, Md, August 1O.-Fred w.
Feldner of this city, who, with his wife,
son-in-law and daughter. Mr.. and Mrs.
Fritz Mergenthaler. and their chauffeur,
was killed when their auto crashed into
a Pennsylvania railroad express train
near Cape May. N. j.. Yesterday after
noon. was a lawyer of this city, and was
associated with Frank A. Furst. also of
Baltimore, in a contract which contem-
plates the draining of the Everglades and
in he, lar anfernriSeS.