Evening journal., 1917-12-24
seven WORKMEH ARE
killed ON PENNSY
Mistaking Of Express for
Local Causes Magnolia,
Nd, Station Tragedy
NO EVIDENCE OF
NEGLIGENCE SHOWN

seven men lost their lives and three
sners were badly injured when they
crowded INTO an express train at Mag
nolia station. on the p. b. & w. II. X.
nifty miles south Of Wilmington on SAT-
urday.
one man was killed outright, three
otiiers died within a few minutes ana
OF Eve others who were sent TO Mercy
Hospital Baltimore, on O second train
two died within two hours.
KILLED.
David Hammand, railroad detective.
of Havre de Grace.
r. Nicloria, 290S Hudson street, Balti-
more workman at the proving grounds
VI. C. sherwood, of Baltimore, street
address unknown. also workman.
John Amos. Of Baltimore, "a workman.
Tohn McGarry. of Baltimore, a work
man.
Monroe Tapp, colored- who died on
The way to Mercy Hospital and whose
body was still unclaimed last night
An unidentified colored man, who car
led with him two pay checks--one
marked M C.. $40" and the other &C.
r. 5i5." Neither Of these checks had
seen identified last night
INJURED.
John J. Markey, Of Grimm's Hotel
pikesville, at Mercy Hospital suffering
fran a featured arm and cut on the
head and body
Henry C. Doiter, Of Gunpowder- Md,
nd Mercy Hospital In a critical condi-
ion from internal injuries
Tony Travato. OF Baltimore, treated
at Mercy Hospital for fractured
shoulder and cuts now at his home.
Howard Clenahan. Of Baltimore, treat
"a at Mercy Hospital for cuts; now at
his home
The 444 express from Wilmington ap-
preached while the workers, some 400 or
500 in number. were waiting at Magnolia
for the Baltimore local They were lined
along the platform for perhaps a hun
ired yards.
Most Of the men thought the express
was the local and they crowded toward
the rails. Hammond pushed them back
knowing that it was The express rush
Ing along.
He had gotten all Of them clear Of the
rails when the big engine thundered by
But the rumble Of the train caused
several score Of the workers waiting in
The station 10 believe It was the local
and they pressed forward impetuously,
10 be sure to get seats on the train.
This movement caused pressure on
The front rows Of the crowd on the
platform that swept Hammond and the
other eight men into the passing train.
They were struck by the second and
third coaches Of the train and whirled
lifeless or. diving into the crowd Of terri
fed mln. Unaware Of the tragedy the
express kept on.
Headless, armless. torn and shattered
the nine victims were tossed among th'
hundreds Of their fellow-Nvorkers. spat
tering all with blood.
hammond, who had been protecting
the men. and who had succeeded in
keeping them back until the locomotive
had passed. was hurled, dying, into the
crowd He expired a few minutes later
The whirling head Of the first victim
struck one Of the workers and broke his
arm, the impact almost flooring the
man.
pandemonium resulted at the sud-
denness Of the tragedy, but there was a
duick recovery, ana scores rushed TO
pick up the injured men, who were
placed beside the track, ready for the
oncomlng local, which approached a few
minutes later Hammond, a Negro and
two Of the others succumber before the
local arrived
There was no ebaggage car on the
local and the fve men were placed In
fhe rear seats of the last car and rushed
TO Mercy Hospital after reaching Union
Station. Baltimore
The local which is due at Magnolia
lnI uN IA ru %
The passing track ai EdgeW0od, the neXl
station north. when the accident oc
CURED. Most of the men forgot that the
express passes Magnolia "a few minutes
before the local, and only llammand'
WORK prevented the express from plow
ihg into the men and killing perhaps
scores
The headlight of the local was seer
through the darkness, but was though
30 be a freight and when the express ap
preached there was little to distinguish
it from the local except TO experienced
persons.
It was payday, and the Christmas
payday. as well. for the camp, and there
was a greater cagerness TO get home &C
Baltimore. This eagerness caused th'
majority Of the men TO overlook tht
express.
Al would have been well, because oI
Hsmmonds work in pressing back th'
crowds, had not the second pressure re-
suited from the pushing OF the crowd.
from inside the station who were I'M
aware Of the tragedy which had beer
ievrted by the railroad detective.
Walter r. McComas, of Harior
county, Md. went 10 the scene OF th
tragedy yesterday afternoon and inter
viewed witnesses Of the accident From
these interviews and from the furthe
investigations which Mr.. AlcComas mad
he could find no evidence Of crimina
negligence on which 20 base q prob,
Coroner Charles E. Creswen who sun
moned the jury Of inquest which, carl
Yesterday morning, rendered a verdi,
without fixing any blame, said there
nothing further he can do.
CHRISTMAS DAY AT ST PATRICK
Christmas will be elaborately o
served az st. Pairicks Church. IN
morning service viii be in conformi
with the joyousness Of the birth
Christ, and will be celebrated with q