GREENWOOD, DELAWARE
DECEMBER 2, 1903
NAPHTHA EXPOLOSION ON
RAILROAD.
An explosion of a naphtha
tank car in the center of a freight train on the Delaware
division of the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington railroad caused the death
of
two, injury of a number of
persons and the wrecking of several buildings and several
freight cars. The
accident occurred 8 miles south of Dover and is thought to have
been
the result of spontaneous
combustion and the burning fluid was scattered in all directions.
Fifteen rail cars were
wrecked and destroyed by fire. Several buildings near the railroad
took fire. Brakeman Edward
J. Roach of Georgetown was taken from the wreck dead.
An infant died from shock.
Engineer H. W. Sheppard inhaled steam and is critical,
conductor Cornelius Rath
was badly burned, fireman John Barker was burned as was the
tower man, Horace Lynch
of Greenwood. Dozens more town citizens were injured.
As soon as was possible a
locomotive was sent to Seaford and returned some time later
doctors and other
assistants. Telephone and telegraph wire were down so there was no
communication with other
towns.
As the doctors worked with
the injured others were busy with the fires but despite their hard
work, residences and the
public school were burnt and many others rendered uninhabitable,
Abstract: Harrison H.
from Oil City Pennsylvania newspaper, December 3, 1903
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