Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-08
Frightful Accident on the Washington and
Baltimore Railroad

| Yesterday afternoon, as the hslf-past fou
o'clock train of cars from this city was on it
way to Baltimore, under charge Of conducto
George w. Hoover, it was thrown from tn,
track near Elk Ridge Landing, about on
mile and q half this side the Relay House, th,
result being the killing Of two persons, wound
ing of thirteen others, and tho almost com
plete wrecking of tie whole train, which con
sisted IF FIVE passenger cars, a smoking car
and baggage, express, land mail car. They
1 were going at the usual time, when the switch
Of side track, used by the road hands, being
turned, threw the engine of the track. The
express car was thrown across the track, and
the mail car mounting on it was literally
broken to pieces; the baggage car and smok
| ing car were also greatly damaged, leaving
only the four passenger cars on the track.
The engineer, James Cough, it is supposed
| jumped from the locomotive, and fell under
instantly killed, his head being nearly cut on
| He leaves a wife and two children.
The fireman, John Russell, remained on the
| truck, and had his arm broken, his left ear
cut of, and was severely scalded and bruised.
Mr.. Joseph Hedges, the mail agent, whose
car was a perfect wreck, niraculously escaped
| with his life. He was quite severely bruised,
but no bones were broken, though 1t was
| feared that he was internally injured. de Is
| a resident of Wilmington, Delaware.
Mr.. Henry Nagle a newsman, about TWEEN
ty. i've wears of age, was standing on the plat
| form of the smoking car, and was crushed
| between the cars, causing instant death. lie
served in the Baltimore regiment during the
Mexican war, and was an officer of the CON-
pany of Maryland Volunteers, which is COM
posed of a portion of that brave band.
Mr.. William Bridges. confectioner, Of Bal
timore, was considerably bruised, and some
of the veins of his wrist cut by coming in
contact with the glass of the window
Mr. Bryce Worthington, of Annapolis, re-
ceived severe wound on his head, and was
very weak from the loss Of blood lie was
taken to the residence of a friend nea. Frank,
lin Square.
Mr.. Cummiskey, one of the passengers, was
considerably bruised and cut about the heal,
but was not dangerously injured.
Two colored women in the smoking car were
also injured, one Of them receiving a severe
blow on the breast and the other having an
iron rod passed through her leg
Jacob Croft, the baggage master, was q lso
injured, having received bruises on his leg
and head.
The Baltimore American says hat the switch,
which was left half open, had not been used
for more than week, and was a side track
intended for the workmen on the road to lay
off with their repair train. Some person had
broken the lock that secured the turn off, with
an iron bar, and half opened the swith Had
it been all the way open the train would have
run on to the sideling, and no damage could
have occurred but being half open, the Aange
of the wheel split the rail for about fifteen
feet, when the engine left the track, and was
considerably wrecked, as were also the first
four cars of the train, being piled one upon
the other. Capt Hoover brought in with him
the broken lock, showing evidently that it was
the work of design, and that the loss of life and
suffering occasioned by this accident may vet
be traced to its villainous perpetrator
DR.. Woodside, the Master of Transporta-
ton, before tidings of the accident had been
received, had a locomotive and cars in readi-
ness, on account of the delay of the train,
and before seven o'clock started with a mum.
Der Of assistants, out to the scene of the dis
aster, and with physicians to render prompt
aid to the sufferers On arriving at the Relay
House, he ordered the Washington train
which left Baltimore at quarter past 5 o'clock
to return to the city, it being impossible, on
account Of the distractions on the road, for
them to pass. The wounded were also brought
in On this train, and at 10 o'clock Dr. Wood
side, with the balance of the passengers, and
the bodies Of Cough and Maggie arrived
The citizens of Elkridge were promptly ON
the spot and rendered every assistancs to the
wounded. large force of men were left at
work removing the obstacles from the track,
and the trains will start out to-day as usual
Soon after the arrival of the train brin ginp
in the dead, Coroner Hughes was in attend !,
ance and summoned a jury of inquest. The
bodies of the dead were removed to the freight
room at the depot and viewed by the Jury.
After the bodies had been examined, the
conductor Of the train, Captain Hoover, was
sworn and gave his testimony as to the cir
cumstances of the accident. He stated that
he was in the smoking car when the signal
was given to break up He looked back and
saw the baggage master at the breaks at the
rear Of the car, and started for the front
breaks. Before he could reach the door, the
car was thrown from the track, the passep.
gers in alarm rushed into the aisle, and the
smoke and steam filed the car, completely
obstructiDg the view Of everything As soon
as possible he reached the platform, he found
there the body of Magic. He expired ap-
parently at the moment he was raised up
The engineer probably jumped at the moment
the engine left the track, but was caught by
the tender and thrown under the truck of the
express car. Afterwards examined the switch
TO determine the cause of the accident The
switch had flew back to it's place, but the
end of the rail was cut, showing that it had
been misplaced, and caused the accident.
The switch led to a sliding used for running
the dirt cars off the main track. 1t was
always kept locked, and to the witnesses
knowledge had not been used for some days.
There was no switchman in charge of it,
nor was there any men working upon the
road nearer than four or five miles. Ex-
amined the lock which held the switch bar
in place, and was Of opinion that it had been
tempered with, probably By some malicious
person. 1t was battered on one side, the mark
being recent and plain. 1t was unlocked.
The lock might be driven back by violent
blows on one side. Three trains had passed
the switch during the day, one having gone
along half an hour before the accident occur
red.
The through baggage agent was also exam
ined. He was in the smoking car with the
conductor, and corroborated generally his evi.
dence. He also had examined the switch
lock, and was of opinion that it had been
opened and the switch misplaced
The jury was still in session, seeking for
further testimony, at midnight.
PERSONAL.