Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-26
URGES ELIMINATION
OF death GRADES
Camden Mayor Appeals to
Council to Wipe Out Fatal
RI Crossings
2 MORE KILLED BY TRAINS

Camden council was urged to take
immediate .action to bring about the
elimination of the grader crossing dan
1er by Mayor Ellis at it's meeting this
a''T The mayors address to council fol-
'"Tbe city of Camden has been shocked
nv the terrible tragedy at the Morgan
street grade crossing OF the West Jer-
,ey and Seashore Railroad last Sunday
evening, when an autobus was wrecked
nv an electric train, resulting in the
death Of eleven persons and the main-
ing of four others.
Demands Investigation -
"such events az these call for more
than perfunctory investigation or the
holding Of any one criminally respon-
sible. Our main object should be to
nlan so that 1t will be impossible for
such an accident to occur again.
"During my incumbency as mayor of
Camden I have repeatedly suggested In
nv annual messages to your body the
elimination Of all railroad grade cross
ings. In the present instance no such
tragedy as has shocked the community
would have occurred IL this action had
been taken. When we talk Of eliminat-
Ing grade crossings the great cost Is
always alluded to. but where II is case
involving the lives of our citizens we
cannot stop to haggle over the nero
financial aspect.
Something must be done and as
speedily as possible to prevent even u
possibility Of the recurrence of an ac-
cident such as that at Morgan street.
II respectfully urge upon your hon
orable body to take prompt and definite
action to have grade crossings in Cam
den eliminated. 1t is the only solution
to the problem involved in the sacrifice
Of so many lives.
"In the meantime I would recommend
that your body make such representa-
tions to the railroad companies as will
result in the proper safeguarding Of all
such crossings. Without in the least
speaking disparagingly of any one I
would suggest that action be taken
toward having the most thoroughly com
petent men employed as crossing watch
men. That is an imperative need just
now"
Reports to Council
The mayors report to Council was
drawn IN following conference with
City Solicitor Bleakley.
Two more deaths have occurred at
South Jersey grade crossings.
John Mangold, twenty six years old.
Of Hammonton. n. j.. was killed at
7:45 o'clock this morning at the same
Hammonton crossing where his mother
met her death several years ago. He
was struck by Reading express train
bound from Atlantic City to Philadel-
pha.
Mangold was driving truck of the
W. r. Crane Lumber Co.. filled with
sawdust. The impact was so great that
portion of the truck flew up and broke
the upper crossarm Of n nearby tele
graph pole. The truck was completely
demolished. The accident occurred at
the Passmore avenue crossing, where
there is no crossing watchman and 40
gates. An alarm bell. which residents
declare does not always ring, is the only
protection.
A truck driver was killed at the same
crossing a year ago.
A dangerous grade crossing cost the
life of John Fitzgerald. who was killed
at Ashland station on the Pennsylvania
Railroad, below Camden, yesterday.
Fitzgerald was brakeman, and
while he was tagging a southbounc
train to prevent its running into the
'Ilu"pou VApiVeS, thC VAplVo NV III"
Funeral services were held today fol
three OF the victims of the Morgan
grade crossing accident.
Services we're held for William A
StreeEer, his wife, Alice. and thei
two-year- old daughter, Dorothy. at
o'clock this afternoon at the Baptis
church ut Asbury Park, n. J. Th
Rev. W. A. Atchley, Of Asbury Park
conducted the services. The Streekel