Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-04
6 PERSONS DEAD
AND s. OTHERS
HURT IN WRECK
Investigation From Four
Sources Is Under Way to-
Place Responsibility for
Jersey Accident.
(By The Associated Press.)

Atlantic City, N. j., July S.-In-
vestigation from four sources was
under way tonight to place respon-
sibility for the wreck of Phila-
delphia and Reading railway train
shortly after midnight at Winslow
Junction, near here, which cost
the lives of six persons and injuries
to more than siXty-five others.
Besides the investigation by the
railroad company, others were be-
ing made by the county and state
authorities and the Interstate Com
merce commission.
The wrecked train was the Mid
night Flyer" which left Camden
at 11:4O p. m. and was due in At
lantic City at 1885 a. m.
The smash occurred on the Cape
Wildwood branch, when the
train running at full speed, swept
into an open switch leading off
from the main line to the Cape
May line. The engine left the rails
on the curve and catapulted down
an embankment, taking with it five
of the six cars.
Switch Opened by Mistake.
The Cape May switch had been
opened by mistake and John De
Walt, sixty years old towerman at
Winslow Junction, Is under sur
veillance by the state police. He
is in bed at his home at Hammon-
ton, where a state trooper remains
with him.
Reports that De Walt had as
sumed the blame for the wreck
were denied by the towerman's
relatives and also by the Reading
management. ..
In explaining the apparent cause
for the switch being open, Charles
III. Ewing, vice president of the
Reading railway, in statement
said De Walt had set the switches
for the movement of the Cape
May branch, seemingly in the be-
lief that a train of empty passen-
ger coaches which had passed pre-
viously, was the Midnight Flyer"
Railroad officials said that when
switch is open a signal warns the
enginemen of an approaching train
u slow down. A train going 40
miles an hour. they said, would
not have left the rails.
The enginemen on the FLYER took
the junction switch at full speed.
Mr.. Ewing's statement said, and
this caused the derailment.
Ninety passengers. bound for the
shore over the holiday. were
aboard the train. They were most
ly from southern New JERSEY and
from the vicinity of PHILADELPHIA.
NO Additional Bodies Found.
Wrecking crews late today re-
moved the wreckage of three of
the coaches and found no addition
al bodies, and It is not thought
likely any more will be found. The
body of Walter Wescott of Gloves
ton, N. j.. engineman. still lies be-
meath his locomotive.
Wescott was killed instantly,
and his fireman, William T. Sou
der of Atlantic City. died on the
way to the hospital.
Almost every one on the train
suffered more or less serious in
Juries, among them being 16 wo-
men and children.
Little hope was held out tonight
for the recovery of four Of the in
jured at the Atlantic City hospi-
tai. They are: Louis Kolker and
Mrs. Bessie Kolker. his bride of a
day; John F. Mace and Mrs. Gut
lohn, all of Philadelphia. Kolker
was married yesterday and was on
his way to the shore to spend his
honeymoon.
Eighteen others are still in the
hospital here, but hone of them
is believed to be fatally hurt.