NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC - OBITUARIES - Thomas Day Rittenhouse, 14 Oct 1895 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- October 13, 1895 -- A BAD ACCIDENT On the Wilmington Street Railway--Fortunately Attended with No Loss of Life Three Men Hurt-- All employes of the Company--the Car Smashed to Pieces--Statement from Manager Skelding. An accident occurred on the Wilmington Street Railway at 4:15 p.m. yesterday, in which the escape of three men from instant death seems almost miraculous. Car No. 12 ran off the track just as it reached the bridge over the Carolina Central railroad track at the intersection of Fourth and Taylor Streets. It ran along the bridge for about ten feet, then toppling over the west side, turned completely upside down, falling a distance of about thirty feel to the Carolina Central railroad track below. The car was smashed and broken half in two and was a mere mass of wreckage. The car left the power station shortly before the accident occurred for a test or trial trip, having been recently repaired and put in order for Winter service, therefore there were no passingers on board, only employees of the Wilmington Street Railway Company, as follows: Machinist and foreman of the shop force, Thomas D. Rittenhouse, acting as motorman; Mr. T. F. Rivenbark, one of the shop force, acting as conductor, and a negro workman, Stilley Jones. The car had run about the average speed until within about one square of the bridge when Mr. Rittenhouse increased the speed to give it a good testing. Car No. 8, with Conductor John Sheehan and motorman George Bishop, left the junction at Fourth and Nixon Streets behind No. 11 and when about a block and a half from the bridge saw No. 12 leap from the track, run a short distance on the bridge and fall over. The track of the Wilmington Street Railway Company is built on the extreme West side of the bridge, a few feet from the common plank hand-railing, which was smashed through by the weight of the car against it. As soon as Mr. Sheehan, Motorman Bishop and Supt. Kinney of the Oil Mills, (the latter being the only passenger on No. 8 car) saw the peril of the three employees who were on the wrecked car, they immediately put on brakes, stopped the car and ran to the assistance of the three men who they expected to find lifeless; but to their surprise found none killed. Foreman Rittenhouse was lying in the ditch below, a few feet from the car, having fallen against one of the large rafters which supports the bridge. Mr. Rivenbark was found on top of the trucks of the upturned and smashed car, and Stilley Jones, the negro, with his face cut and bleeding, was on the opposite side of the car from Mr. Rittenhouse, with his hand fastened underneath a part of the car. Physicians were sent for immediately, while the crowd which had gathered upon hearing the crash were taking care of the injured men. Mr. Rittenhouse, who was possibly seriously injured was carried to a house nearby and every attention possible given him until the doctors arrived. Mr. Rivenbark having received only a slight bruise on the hip, was able to take care of himself, and stood around the crowd answering questions. Stilley Jones, the negro, after having the attention of Dr. Bell, was sent to his home. Dr. Schonwald was the first to appear and administer to Mr. Rittenhouse. After Mr. Rittenhouse recovered from the shock he was carried to his home on Fifth, between Campbell and Hanover Streets, about 6 o'clock in the afternoon. At. 8 o'clock last night the attending physician, Dr. Schonwald, called in Drs. W. J. Bellamy, T.S. Burbank and W.E.Storm, and made a thorough examination of the case. They found that Mr. Rittenhouse's injuries were internal, there being no cuts. He was badly bruised in the lower region on the right side and the physicians only feared heart failure from the shock, Mr. Rittenhouse is about forty years old and came to this city from Staten Island about five years ago to accept a position with the Imperial Pine Product Company. He afterwards engaged with the firm of Rittenhouse & Hume, and for the past year has been connected with the Wilmington Street Railway Company as foreman. He is a faithful member of Clarendon Lodge K. of P., and has a wife and five young children, the oldest being about thirteen years old. October 15, 1895 -- DEATH OF MR. RITTENHOUSE Victim of the Street Railway Accident--the funeral yesterday afternoon attended by Knights of Pythias and other friends. Mr. Thos. D. Rittenhouse, who was seriously injured in the accident last Saturday on the Wilmington Street Railway, died of his injuries yesterday morning at 2:45 o'clock. Drs. T.S.Burbank and W.J.H. Bellamy were with him until 12 o'clock. Drs. J.T. Schonwalk and W.E. Storm until he died. He seemed to be resting easy up to 10:30 Sunday night, and then gradually grew worse until death relieved him of his sufferings. Deceased was from Staten Island and had resided here five years. He was forty years of age, a quiet, easy-going man, respected by all who knew him. He leaves a widow and five small children--four girls and one boy--the oldest being only thirteen years old. His wife is from Albany, N.Y., and is a lovable lady. After death the doctors made a post mortem examination, which revealed the fact that the kidneys and liver had been seriously injured, and it is a wonder he lived as long as he did. The funeral took place at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon from his late residence near the corner of Fifth and Campbell Streets. It was conducted by Rev. W.C. Norman, pastor of Grace M.E. Church. A large number of friends were present, including Clarendon Lodge K. of P. The pall bearers were Col. Walker Taylor, Messrs. John Littleton, J.D. Nutt, O.M. Fillyaw, A.W. Rivenbark and M. Blackman. Messrs. H.A.Whiting, J.B. Shelding, H. Hues and S. Merrell were present representing the Street Railway Co. Mr. Humes (on old friend and partner of the deceased) and Mr. Charles Wood were unremitting in their attentions and remained with the deceased until the end came. All expenses attending the sickness and funeral will be paid by the Knights of Pythias and the Wilmington Street Railway Company. Manager Skelding and Superintendent Hughes of the Wilmington Street Railway Company, rendered all the assistance possible to the injured men and a number of his fellow lodge members sat up with Mr. Rittenhouse last night. An engine from the Carolina Central railroad depot with a number of workmen was sent to the scene of the accident by direction of Capt. Thos. D. Meares, agent of the company here, and the wrecked car was speedily removed from the railroad track. Mr. Skelding, manager of the Street Railway Company, last night gave the STAR the following statement concerning the unfortunate affair. "Car No. 12 left the shed for a trial trip about 4 p.m. with two men, Rivenbark and Jones (colored), in charge of Foreman Rittenhouse. At the south end of the bridge over the Carolina Central tracks the car, which was funning at a dangerously high speed, jumped the track, breaking through the rails and falling to the railroad tracks below. The accident was probably due to a defect in the wheel flange or an obstruction on the rail, as this section of track has been thoroughly overhauled during the last week in expectation of Buffalo Bill's show. Mr. Rittenhouse, who was running the car, is one of the most careful men in the employ of the company, but probably did not realize the risk he was running in going at so brisk a rate of speed which crossing a bridge. Motormen have always had instructions to run over this bridge with the utmost caution, and in future will be obliged to come to a full stop before crossing." A.B. Skelding "Manager W.S.R. Co." All spelling errors are as they appear in the original article. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Jarman ljarman@dnet.net ___________________________________________________________________