Mulford Street
Mulford Street runs south from Van Hook Street, east of South 10th Street to the railroad tracks at Bulson Street. It first appeared in Camden’s City Directories in 1878.
Mulford Street was named after Dr. Isaac Skillman Mulford, a prominent citizen of 19th century Camden, who had owned a great deal of land in the area and was involved in the movement that established Camden County in the 1840s. Dr. Mulford was brother-in-law to John W. Mickle, and also was a director of the Camden & Philadelphia Steamboat Ferry Company. Dr. Mulford was a highly respected civic orator at a time when public speeches were second only to newspapers as the primary means of mass communication. He also organized the city’s and county’s medical societies, and as a historian wrote a book entitled Civil and Political History of New Jersey.
1700 Block of Mulford Street
1700 Block of Mulford Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1895–2011.
1703 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
1711 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1947 | Occupied |
1713 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1916 | Henry Perry |
| 1947 | Occupied |
1715 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1947 | Occupied |
1717 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1947 | Occupied |
1719 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1947 | Occupied |
1727 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1895 | Gilbert Hubert |
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
1728 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Walter W. Carter |
| 1947 | John J. Hainsworth |
| 2012 | Occupied |
1729 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
1730 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2012 | Occupied |
1732 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2012 | Occupied |
1734 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2012 | Occupied |
1736 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2012 | Occupied |
1738 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2012 | Occupied |
1744 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
1752 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
| 2011 | Waddell A. Tidwell |
Arrested for Robbing Own Home
On complaint of his mother, Henry Perry, 19 years old, 1713 Mulford street was locked up in the Camden city jail yesterday for a hearing this morning on a charge of stealing articles from her home. The mother told Sergeant Stanger that her son is incorrigible.
John E. Faunce Shot
Wounded While on a Train Bound for Atlantic City.
A Boy Fired a Rifle and the Bullet Entered the Ex-Speaker’s Neck, Barely Missing the Jugular Vein.
John E. Faunce, who was Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1883, received a painful wound in the neck yesterday afternoon by a bullet from an air rifle fired through a car window. He was riding through West Collingswood at the time, on the 4.00 o’clock Reading express train to Atlantic City.
John Richardson, 14 years old, of 661 Central avenue; Gilbert Hubert, 15 years old, of 1727 Mulford street, and Robert Swain, aged 16 years, of 1737 Kossuth street, are locked up at the Camden City Hall charged with the shooting.
Young Richardson admits having fired the bullet. He claims that he shot at the car wheels as the train was passing, but his feet slipped and the rifle flew upwards, just as he pulled the trigger. The engineer of the train, however, saw the boy point the rifle directly at the car windows.
Ex-Speaker Faunce was sitting in the smoking car when the bullet crashed through the window and buried itself in the fleshy part of his neck. At Hammonton Dr. Bieling was called in and dressed the wound, but was unable to locate the bullet. He accompanied Mr. Faunce to his cottage on Indiana avenue, near Pacific avenue, Atlantic City. The wound is painful but is not thought to be serious.
The railroad officials in Camden were notified of the shooting, and Detective Moore went to work on the case. Accompanied by Policeman Laird, who had seen Richardson returning home with the rifle, they went to the lad’s house and placed him under arrest. He confessed to firing the shot and gave the names of the other boys that were with him.
A dispatch from Atlantic City last night stated that ex-Speaker Faunce was resting quietly. The ball entered within an eighth of an inch of the jugular vein, and the physician was afraid of irritating the wound by probing for it.
1800 Block of Mulford Street, 1805–1848
1800 Block of Mulford Street — Occupants (1805–1848)
City directory records, 1900–2012.
1805 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Joseph Pinckney |
1810 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1932 | James Hinson |
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
1812 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
| 1932 | Hobart White |
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
1814 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | George Marple |
1822 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
| 2012 | Vacant |
1828 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2011 | Vacant |
1834 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1841 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1843 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1845 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Occupied |
1847 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1848 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Clifford Cole |
1852 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Felix Shoe Repair / Pancrazio DeFazio |
1854 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | No occupant listed |
| 1955 | Meo's Rug Cleaners (A. Di Fazio, Prop.) |
1859 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Anthony Kendzierski |
1861 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1863 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929–1931 | William B. Cunningham & Family |
| 1929–1931 | William B. & Carrie Cunningham |
| 1929–1931 | Edward Cunningham |
| 1929–1931 | John Cunningham |
| 1929–1931 | Florence Cunningham |
| 1929–1931 | Joseph Cunningham |
| 1929–1931 | William Cunningham |
1865 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1935–1962 | William B. & Carrie Clark Cunningham & Family |
| 1943 | Edward Cunningham (U.S. Army) |
| 1949 | John C. Cunningham (died in truck crash, Route 25, Pennsauken) |
1867 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1952 | Henry & Alberta Land & Family |
| 1947–1952 | Henry Land & Family |
| 1947–1952 | Margaret Land |
| 1947–1952 | Henry Land Jr. |
| 1947–1952 | Charles Land |
| 1947–1952 | Berniece Land |
| 1947–1952 | Mrs. Carrie Land Maddred |
| 1947–1952 | Louis Maddred |
| 1947–1952 | Robert Maddred |
1869 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1974 | Jonathan & Floretta Cropper Austin & Family |
| 1947–1974 | Jonathan Austin & Family |
1873 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1875 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1918 | Lucius Thomas |
| 1947 | Occupied |
1877 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1890 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Mrs. Mary Joslin |
| 1947 | Occupied |
1891 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Razed in February 1938 |
1892 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
1896 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1903–1909 | William 'Tin Can Billy' Bade (junk dealer) |
| 1903–1909 | William Bade |
1805 Mulford Street — Photographs taken March 19, 2012.
2 Young Coal Thieves Get 30-Day Sentence
Two youths who pleaded guilty to stealing coal were sentenced to 30 days, and two others were sent to the detention home by Police Judge Pancoast Saturday. Frank Carroll, 16, of 750 Pine street, and James Hinson, 16, of 1810 Mulford Street, got the jail sentences and Percy Jones, 14, of 808 Kaighn avenue, and William Carroll, 15, brother of Frank, were sent to the home.
They were arrested by Patrolman William Taylor who said they had been stealing coal from a yard at Seventh and Pine Streets. The boys admitted taking two sacks of coal.
Camden Evening Courier — March 28, 1932
26 Men and 6 Women Are Arrested in Raid
Lieutenant Herbert Anderson and patrolmen of the Fourth district, raided a house at 1812 Mulford Street early yesterday, held Hobart White, 27, colored, of that address, as the alleged proprietor, and 25 men and 6 women as material witnesses for hearing today.
White was released in $500 bail and the others in $100 bail, which was furnished by Mikey Brown and Jake Foos.
Camden Evening Courier — March 28, 1932
Over in Camden
The police made 297 arrests during July, which is 38 less than last month and 79 less than July of last year.
The Women’s Park Association has offered $50 towards a fund for the establishment of public baths this summer.
Joseph Lewis of Sewell, was fined $1.75 by Recorder Nowrey yesterday for bicycle “scorching.”
The body of the unknown man, found drowned in Cooper’s Creek last Sunday, was buried in the Potter’s field yesterday.
George Marple, of 1814 Mulford street, was held in bail by Justice Chester on a charge of receiving a bridle stolen from Freeholder Rhoads.
Chief of Police Foster declares that while Sunday liquor selling still continues the fourteen persons arraigned for drunkenness before Recorder Nowrey last Monday morning were nearly all arrested on Saturday night.
George Thomas, of Rudderow avenue, East Side, a blacksmith, employed at the Pavonia car shops, was forging a piece of iron yesterday when the iron slipped from the anvil and falling on his arm broke his wrist.
While at work at the Keystone Leather Works, at Seventeenth and Carman streets, East Side, yesterday afternoon, Frederick Myers, of 2630 Federal street, had his arm caught in the machinery and severely lacerated.
1822 Mulford Street — Photograph taken March 19, 2012.
1828 Mulford Street — Photograph taken March 19, 2012.
1843 Mulford Street — Photographs taken March 19, 2012.
1848 Mulford Street — Photographs taken March 19, 2012.
1800 Block of Mulford Street, 1852–1896
Meo’s Rug Cleaners, 1854 Mulford Street — 1955 New Jersey Bell Yellow Pages advertisement. A. Di Fazio, Proprietor.
Edward Cunningham Camden
[Portrait photograph of Edward Cunningham in military uniform, with caption:]
Edward Cunningham Camden
1865 Mulford Street — see Camden Courier-Post, September 16, 1949.
Found Senseless With Gas Flowing
Found unconscious from gas in a room he occupied at 1875 Mulford street, Lucius Thomas, aged 50 years, colored, was this morning taken to Cooper Hospital where he was revived in a short time. Thomas was on his back in bed when he was found by his brother. He was placed under arrest by Motorcycle Policeman George Clayton as he was leaving the hospital on a charge of attempting suicide.
At police headquarters he told Captain Humes that he had no intention of ending his life.
“In the South where I came from,” he said to the Police Captain, “I always used an oil lamp and when I found gas in my room I was afraid to use it and kept on using an oil lamp.”
It was explained that there was a bad leak in the gas pipe but the occupants of the house were not aware of the fact until Thomas was found unconscious.
2 Women Granted Decrees of Divorce
Two women who said they were forced to leave their husbands won divorce recommendations from Advisory Master William B. Knight yesterday.
Mrs. Mary Joslin, 1890 Mulford street, said that after “15 or 20 preliminary separations,” her husband, Felix, ordered her and their son out of their home in July, 1933, because she refused to go with him to Sea Isle City “and live in a tent on the beach for the July 4 holiday.”
Mrs. Joslin said she was married in July, 1907, and that her husband started quarreling with her a few months after their marriage. She testified her husband ordered their daughter, Mrs. Catherine Shaw of Camden, out of their home in 1927.
Joslin, whose address was given as 358 Atlantic avenue, had filed suit for divorce against his wife, alleging desertion. Mrs. Joslin filed a countersuit. Later Joslin dropped his suit.
Philadelphia Inquirer — June 17, 1906
While William Bade, alias “Tin Can Billy,” of 1896 Mulford street, was driving down Broadway yesterday, a wheel came off his wagon and he was thrown headlong into the street. He was taken to Cooper Hospital.
Philadelphia Inquirer — August 4, 1906
All the downtown fire companies were called out yesterday because William, alias “Tin Can Billy” Bade, of Mulford street, Camden, thought his pile of tin cans was in danger of being burned. After the engines, the hose wagons and other apparatus had responded, causing intense excitement, it was found the only evidence of any fire was in the chicken coop of one of Billy’s neighbors, who was smoking out insects.
William Bade Dies in the Hospital
Death on last Friday night removed an eccentric character of Centreville in the person of William Bade, better known as “Tin Can Billy,” a rag and junk dealer of 1896 Mulford street, who passed away on Christmas Eve, at Homeopathic Hospital from exhaustion due to violent attacks of convulsions. He had only been in the hospital for two days previous to his demise and was practically dying when the ambulance took him there.
Intersection of Mulford Street & Ferry Avenue
Intersection of Mulford Street and Ferry Avenue — Photographs taken July 20, 2011. Northeast corner: 1051 & 1053 Ferry Avenue. Southwest corner: 1046 Ferry Avenue.
2000 Block of Mulford Street
2000 Block of Mulford Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1907–2011.
2009 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2011 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2012 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2023 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2025 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2027 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2029 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1907 | Charles Gibson & Stephen Dorsey |
| 1947 | Occupied |
2031 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2032 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2033 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2035 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2036 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2037 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2039 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
Brained With Ax, Women Lie Dead
Two Victims of Mystery Attack in Farmhouse Near Blackwood Terraces, Camden County
Farmer’s Wife Killed
Italian Domestic, Though Severely Injured, May Recover — Two Negroes Arrested
Blackwood Terraces, Camden County, August 20. — Lying in pools of blood, one dead and one dying, two women were found this morning in the farm house of Edward Horner, near here, by Horner himself, who returned at 7 o’clock from a trip to Philadelphia. One of the women was Mrs. Horner, who was killed; the other was a young Italian domestic servant, Grazietta Natoli, whose skull was fractured and who is not expected to live.
Two negroes, Zach Gibson and Will Dorsey, both of whom had been employed by Horner, are under arrest, charged with the crime.
Near the end of a long kitchen table lay his wife, her head resting in an ever-widening pool of blood. He stooped and placed his hand over her heart, but it had been stilled in death. Her face was almost unrecognizable because of the great gush of blood that had flowed from two horrible wounds on her head. He was about to go out and call for help when in the dim light he saw the form of the Italian woman. He found she was still alive and then he gave the alarm.
Armed with this information, County Detective Smith, who had been on the scene since 6 o’clock in the morning, began a search for Gibson. His quest led him into the southern section of Camden, known as Centreville.
In company with Policeman Valentine the detective found Gibson at 1831 South Eighth street. He was immediately placed under arrest and taken to the office of Prosecutor Scovel. He wore a defiant mien and sought to throw off any suspicion connecting him with the crime by declaring his entire ignorance of it.
Stripped of his clothing, he was carefully examined, but no blood marks were found on his body. When his pockets were searched, however, a pawn ticket, on which the ink was hardly dry, was found. It was issued by a Philadelphia pawnbroker at 125 Market street, and was given in exchange for a watch. A handkerchief literally soaked with blood, was also found in one of his pockets, together with a revolver. As to the handkerchief, he said the blood came from his nose.
Gibson never moved, but looked at the officials and the pawnbroker with a defiant glare. He was then placed in a cell in the county jail, to await trial, which Prosecutor Scovel promises will be a speedy one.
Shortly after Gibson’s arrest Detective Smith received information which resulted in him seeking Dorsey. The negro was found at his home, on Mulford street. When taken to the office of Prosecutor Scovel, he at first denied having any knowledge of the matter. In fact, he endeavored to create the impression he was not acquainted with Gibson, but seeing the absurdity of this, he finally acknowledged being out with Gibson Monday night. Then he admitted he was with Gibson when the watches were pawned.
Horner was taken to the jail, and after positively identifying Gibson as the negro who had made the threats, and who Monday night asked to be taken back as a farmhand, the farmer also identified the watches as belonging to him and his wife. The revolver found on the negro was one of two which were stolen.
2100 Block of Mulford Street
2100 Block of Mulford Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1947–2012.
2101 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2103 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
2105 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2011 | Vacant |
2107 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Occupied |
| 2011 | Vacant |
2109 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Beatrice Burch |
| 2011 | Vacant |
2111 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Susie Roberts |
| 1954–1959 | James & Laura B. Germany & Family |
2137 Mulford Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947–1953 | Samuel E. Greene & Family |
| 1947–1953 | Samuel E. & Florence Greene |
| 1947–1953 | Ethel Greene Smith |
| 1947–1953 | Samuel Greene |
| 1947–1953 | Edward Greene |
| 1947–1953 | Isaac Greene |
| 1947–1953 | Elmer Greene |
| 1947–1953 | Theodore Greene |
| 1947–1953 | Oscar Greene |
| 1990s | Harris Auto Repair |
| 1990s | Harris Washington |
2105–2109 Mulford Street — Photographs taken March 19, 2012.
Mrs. Laura B. Germany
Mrs. Laura B. Germany, 42, of 2111 Mulford st., died Sunday in Cooper Hospital. A native of Pickens County, Ala., she was a Camden resident 12 years.
Surviving are her husband, James, and a stepson, George, at home.
Services will be held in Allisville, Ala. Friends may call Thursday night in a funeral home at 831 Van Hook st.
Samuel E. Greene
Samuel E. Greene, 71, died Wednesday in his home, 2137 Mulford st., after a long illness. He was born in Philadelphia and resided in Camden more than 50 years. He was a retired cement contractor and had been in business for himself for more than 50 years.
Mr. Greene was a member of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church. With his wife, Florence, who survives, he celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.
Also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Ethel Smith; his sons, Samuel, Edward, Isaac, Elmer, Theodore and Oscar, all of Camden; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. in the residence where friends may call Friday night. Burial will be in Mt. Peace Cemetery, Lawnside.
2137 Mulford Street — Harris Auto Repair (Harris Washington), 1990s.
Camden Youth, Driver Trapped in Wreckage
Camden Courier-Post —
A Camden man and a youth perished in the cab of a blazing truck shortly before 11 a.m. today, after a collision with another vehicle on Route 25, Pennsauken, underneath the S-41 overpass.
The victims were: John C. Cunningham, 22, of 1865 Mulford street, the driver. Allen L. Todd, 17, of 817 Penn street.
Todd suffered a crushed chest and skull and Cunningham a crushed skull and compound fracture of the left leg. Both bodies were burned beyond recognition in the fire which followed the crash. Coroner Inglesby said both apparently were unconscious when they were burned.
Truck Carried Scrap Iron
The truck in which the two perished was traveling north on Route 25 with a load of scrap iron, when it collided with a huge flat deck trailer-truck carrying a 20-ton ship propeller. The death truck was spun around, facing south by the impact, while the vehicle carrying the propeller was split in two by the crash. The cab of the second truck struck one of the concrete overpass supports and burst into flames. The propeller dropped to the road, and the flat section on which it had been carried came to rest against several other of the concrete pillars.
Tried to Turn Left
The only witness to the fatal crash was Willie G. Babington, 30, Hagerstown, Md., driver of one of the six trucks involved in the pile-up. Babington, who is employed by the Associated Transport Co., New York City, was traveling north on Route 25 with a cargo of rayon goods.
“The truck in which the two men died,” Babington told police, “passed me just north of Haddonfield road in the center lane. When the vehicle reached the second of the two ramps leading up onto Route S-41, he attempted to make a left turn. That’s when the truck collided with the flat trailer carrying the propeller and going south.”
“I think the truck hit the propeller and caused the crash.” The truck carrying the propeller was owned by the Ferguson Reconditioning Co., Hoboken. The death truck was owned by Kendzierski Bros., 1829 Tioga street, junk yard operators. The vehicle was carrying a load of scrap iron and auto parts.
Another Driver Hurt
Oliver Goins, 26, driver of the propeller truck, is a resident of Baltimore, and was treated at Cooper Hospital for burns and cuts on the face, shoulders and arm. He described his escape from the burning cab as miraculous. He said the death truck swerved against his vehicle and then at the concrete side of the overpass. He was alone, was thrown against the right side of the overpass and his cab caught fire immediately. Both doors were jammed and as the flames started to lick at the cab he slid over to the right, punched a hole in the windshield and climbed out.
Traveling north, not far behind the death vehicle, was a Parcel Service delivery truck operated by Harry Diehl, 62, of 8050 Fairview street, Philadelphia. Behind Diehl’s truck was a gasoline tanker driven by Frank A. Duffield, 24, of 57 East Collingswood avenue, Oaklyn.
Diehl, observing the inferno a few hundred feet in front of him, jammed on his brakes. Duffield resisted an impulse to pull out of the lane to pass the parcel truck and took his chances on a rear-end collision, thus preventing his load of gasoline feeding the flames. He pushed the parcel truck safely past the two burning vehicles.
Man Slightly Injured
The trailer-truck driven by Babington was also headed north and was slowed by its driver as it neared the crash scene, and was hit in the rear by a similar vehicle carrying a load of pecans and driven by M. C. Wells, 40, of Macon, Ga.
Wells was also treated at Cooper Hospital for head injuries and released.
The first fire company to reach the scene was a volunteer group from Parry. The firemen could see the two men trapped in the cab, but they were powerless to remove them but bent their efforts toward extinguishing the flames. Other fire companies which fought the blaze were Delaview 5, of Delair, and the East Pennsauken Company.
Police departments functioning at the scene were Pennsauken, commanded by Chief Thomas Thorpe; Merchantville, Chief Edward Hare; Palmyra, Capt. Lawrence Betty; Cinnaminson township, and state troopers of the Riverton barracks.
Flames shot 50 feet into the air at the crash scene, and traffic on the overpass was halted by dense clouds of smoke. Shortly after the crash, traffic on Route 25 was jammed for two miles in each direction. Pennsauken and state police swung into action and designated detours to ease the congestion. Northbound traffic was detoured east on Haddonfield road to Maple avenue, then back to Route 25 clear of the wreck scene. Southbound vehicles were detoured west over the S-41 cloverleaf, then back to Route 25 south of the crash area.
Coroner Spares Relatives
Coroner Inglesby refused to allow relatives of the two victims to see the bodies because they were so badly charred.
Cunningham attended Bonsall School and the Camden County Vocational School. He served in the navy two years during War II, and was stationed at Pensacola, Fla., and Norfolk, Va. Surviving are his parents, William and Carrie Cunningham; three brothers, Edward, 24; William Jr., 17, and Joseph, 10, and a sister, Florence, 20.
Todd attended Burrough Junior High School and had been working only a few months. He is survived by his father, Joseph; a stepmother, Doris; five brothers, Joseph, Herbert, Albert, Robert and William, and three sisters, Evelyn, Florence and Anna.