Terror on the West Jersey Line
By Mari D Dattolo
Down The Shore on August 11th, 1880. For an estimated 2000 passengers, including a charter of 1300 members from St. Ann’s Parish in Kensington, this fateful day in history began as an escape from Philadelphia’s sweltering temperatures aboard two steam powered excursion trains. Destined for the Atlantic City seashore, this summer daytrip was met with much anticipation by the eager travelers.
Following an afternoon on the world-famous beaches and boardwalk, the clouds began to gather for an impending summer storm. The return trek was on schedule to leave the Atlantic City station at 6 p.m., followed by the second train at 6:05 p.m., just as a torrential cloudburst opened up the skies. With windows sealed from the pelting rain, passengers could not have imagined the looming tragedy to befall them, just seventeen miles away, beyond the railroad trestle. As they pulled into the station at Mays Landing, a series of dire consequences unfolded, when the brakes on the second train failed to engage. The collision of steel on steel, followed by the scalding steam sent into the sealed passenger car set off a reign of terror, the likes of which the town had never seen. The accident occurred in what is now Gaskill Park.
Mays Landing’s residents (population:1460), sprang into action, rendering aid and opening their homes and hotels to dozens of injured and dying. Without a hospital or fire department, ordinary citizens became first responders in one of South Jersey’s deadliest accidents in railroad history. Today it is still considered Mays Landing’s most horrific tragedy.
The following is a factual account of the events as they were reported in the New York Times on August 12th, 1880. All names and places are accurate as reported:
