Philadelphia Inquirer – May 2, 1908
Samuel Bailey, Well Known Camden Business Man, Killed
Wife in Sanatorium, She is Likely To Die
Chauffeur Badly Injured, But He Will Recover—Collision Occured [sic] at Grade Crossing
Special to The Inquirer
MAYS LANDING, N.J., May 1—Faintly calling, “Where is my husband? Is he dead? Bring him to me. Oh, my arm.”
Mangled and bleeding this was the first thought of Mrs. Samuel Bailey, after the automobile in which she and her husband, a member of the Farr & Bailey Oilcloth Manufacturing Company, of Camden, had been struck by the 12.17 Atlantic City electric express at the Estelville avenue crossing at the upper depot this afternoon, and the car with its occupants hurled with terrific force upon the south-bound platform of the main station.
Mr. Bailey died before he could be transferred to the Atlantic City Hospital. Mrs. Bailey and the chauffeur, J. B. Tripp, miraculously escaped instant death.
The automobile was returning from Cape May and was crossing the tracks when the express, which does not make a stop at the upper station, struck it at full speed. The machine was hurled into the air and thrown a considerable distance from the crossing, a total wreck.
Mr. Bailey was thrown on the platform, badly mangled. Part of his skull was torn off and both feet were crushed.
Dashed Against Lamp Post
Mrs. Bailey was dashed against a lamp post, shattering the lamp and bending the post, and the chauffeur was thrown a distance of forty feet from the tracks. Both Mrs. Bailey and the chauffeur were conscious when picked up, but Mr. Bailey was so badly injured that he died before recovering consciousness.
The electric train was so damaged that it could not proceed until repairs were made and the unfortunate victims were taken aboard a freight caboose and rushed to Atlantic City in an effort to save their lives. The motorman, George Parker, escaped injury, although the glass windows and front of the car were damaged.
The express was running about forty-five miles an hour, while the automobile, according to the report of those who witnessed the accident, was not going over ten. At the place where the accident occurred a high coal yard fence makes it impossible to see up the track from the south side, and a high wind prevented the approach of the train being heard.
The automobile, a White Steamer, was struck near the front wheels, the engine being torn loose from the body of the car and hurled nearly a hundred feet away. A front wheel and portions of the car frame clung to the front of the express when it was brought to a stop several hundred yards from the crossing.
Several people in the vicinity of the railroad witnessed the accident, and by the time the express was run back to the scene they had rushed to the aid of the victims.
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