National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-27

Gus damage was done to the child, he, with his
companion, proceeded towards Washington.
Last night while one Of the employees OF the
road was prytng the baggage car Of the south
bound train of the track ne had one OF his fingers
mashed to such an extent that there can De no
doubt hut what he will lose the use Of 1t forever.
While force Of wreckers were removing me
truck Of q crushed car from the track one OF the
Workmen fell and the truck caught him, but
lneEtly did no serious injury.
An old lady, who had been very efficient IN al,
leYiating the suheEings OF the wounded, slipped
off one Of the banks near the track and sprainea
her ankle.
In the noEth-bOund train there was gentleman man
sitting quietly smoking cigar with ms legs
crossed, and he did not know anything Of the col
lision until he picked himself up on the outside,
and locking around exclaimed, "What IN the
hi is all this; where has my cigar gone"
THE CONDUCTORS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Christopher Buchanan, the conductor In
charge Of the outgoing train, known as the
Philadelphia express, was probably as seriously
ceiVed cut on the right side Of the head, sever
ing the temporal artery, second cut on the LEFT
head. His left hand was considerably bruised,
and the skin and flesh on the little finger stripped
OF, leaving the bone naked. In conversation
with q representative Of THE NATIONAL Re-
PUBLICAN, after returning to the city, he gave
the following account Of the origin Of the accl-
dent: He left the depot with his train at 1853 p.
charge OF the engine, and Harry Bechtel fireman.
AS the train approached the Navy Yard station,
down, and then stopped to take on a passenger.
1t was then started through the tunnel on the
right one Of the double tracks, and continued to
gain hgadWay until 1t was moving at the rate Of
fifteen miles an hour, which was about the rate
of speed when the collision occurred.
II is customary fer the outgoing train at this
hour to make halt at the upper end Of the double
track, which terminated short distance east of
the tunnel and wait fifteen minutes, if necessary,
for the incoming New York and Philadelphia eX-
press, due here at sis p. If at the expiration
OF that time 1t fails to appear or signal Its ap-
prOach in the distance, then the train moving
North is entitled TO the right of way, and the
down express from New York must be watchful
and give a clear track to it. Mr.. Buchanan no.
ticed that the train was travelling along pretty
with plenty of time and distance for the train TO
halt in the double track, pulled the bell-rOpe for
the engineer to down breaks and stop. The sig
nal was rot needed, and the rope was pulled
second time for the stoppage of the train, aud
again not properly responded to. At this time
Mr.. Buchanan was in the rear passenger car LOOK
ing after tickets. When he found his directions
were neither noticed nor Obeyed and that his
train was increasing its speed and getting off the
double track
he BECAME ALARMED
at the consequences that would ensue if the on
CINE was not Immediately checked. Thinking
the rope in passing through the cars or over the
tender had become fast, and thus prevented the
bell the engine from sounding, he started to go
forward and give a verbal order for the returning
Of the train to the double track. The failure of
the gong to sound or the engineer TO hear and
obey it caused the accident. Before Mr.. Blu
chanan could leave the car the two engines had
met. Mr.. Buchanan had Just reached the car
door and was about opening it, when the collision
damned his head through the glass window, in
tiicting the Wounds above described. He feels
satisfied that il the signal had been properly and
promptly answered by the engineer the catas-
trophe would have been averted. The time be-
tween leaving the double track and the accident
was scarcely a minute, and if the road had been
straight instead of curved at that point the down
express would have been seen in time for the
nOrthWaTd bound train to get back out OF her way.
He wondered that the engineer, If his bell failed
10 ring, did not take the responsibility upon him.
self to halt and wait the usual time knowing that
il was orders for that train to wait fifteen minutes
at that switch. II this had been done the disaster
would not have happened.
MP" LUEGREN.
most miraculous escape was made by Mr..
men as Nip" He has been railroadfng for the
past eleven years, experienced many accidents
and mishaps, but always got OF without injury.
This time he was baggage-master on the fnconi.
ing New York express and at the time OF the col.
lison was among the trunks and boxes preparing
for their discharge on reaching the depot In this
city. The first Indication he had Of the accident
was terrific jar, the rolling and tumblIng Of the
boxes and baggage, the raising and breaking Of
bis car in the middle apd the driving Of the truck
bolt with lightning sWiftness from its socket.
This was quickly succeeded by the telescope pro-
cess, which combination Of events pushing hard
upon each other made Nip" imagine that his
day had come at last, and that he had checked
his baggage through for all time. In the midst
OF this catastrophe over came the stove, small in
size, but apparently able and willing to add its
share in making the disaster more dreadful.
Nip" determined to fight for his life and die
game. He pulled and dug his way through the
debris, and was finally successful in getting from
under the wreck unframed excepting a few
scratches. Believing that railroad accidents,
like lightning, do not strike twice in the same
place, he will be ready and willing to resume
work this morning.
AT NIGHT.
A visit to the spot at night amply repaid the
curiousIy inclined. By o'clock the uninured
cars at the end Of the two trains were removed,
those of the sOuth-bOund trains returning to Bal
timore and those that had Just left the Sixth
street depot returning hence with the passengers
OF the SOUTH bound train. The locomotives had
baBkment. The cOal-bOx OF the tender Of No. 2
the en CINE OF the south-DOund train, was thrown
of from its trucks and over upon the engine,
where 1t remained. The other locomotive, No.
10, was shattered in every part by the terrible
shock. The castings of the boilers Of both engines
were rent, and portions OF the machinery aud
strewn for some distance up and down the track.
The huge hulks lay in deadly embrace. 1t was
difficult to distinguish in the darkness that set
in one engine from the other, so close was their
union. Nothing could be seen but the dismsntled
boilers steaming and Kissing, with here and there
a blaze from some bit Of infammable material
about the machinery.
TOth east of the locomotives lay the trucks Of
the tender of No. 2, and on one side Of the track
completely turned over, lay the baggage car Of
the soutb-bOund train. To the west, towards the
tunnel, were two cars of the outbound train, q
passenger COdCu, WHICH udu DSeu D6INeeu
the locomotive and the baggage car for conve-
Dience Of switching at Baltimore, and the baggage
car. The passenger car had received but little
injury in the general shock, but the baggage car
had been telescOped over the car behind IL. 1t
lay with one end thrown both from the truck and
from the track. This end had been telescOped.
The wood work had been crushed in and furnished
q view Of the interior. The crowds that had been
attracted by the tirst rumOr kept increasing, and
the policemen were obliged to keep them back
from the wreck.
THE wRECKERs
worEe ed at the debris when it became dark with
the aid Of lanterns and torches, which, as they
flashed out their light, discovered rows OF excited
and inQuirnG faces ranged along in every availa-
bic spot. Steep inclinations that would, on any
other occasion, have been insurmountable, were
climbed by the eager sightseers, and more than
one had to receive a sharp word from policeman
before he would be content with remaining at q
respectable distance from the workmen. Every
one had some tale to tell; every one had differ
ent report of the number Of injured, and each had
bis own theory Of the cause Of the disaster. The
crowd extended from the wreck to the tunnel,
quarter Of mile away, over the mouth Of which
was gathered a crowd Of women, and even beyond
this spot, along the streets, every doorstep was
occupied by an anxious, laxative group, who were
anxious to know the latest from the scene. The
excitement ran high, and has continued until
daylight this morning, many surprising that
there were bodies in the vicinity that had not
been accounted for. The men Of the Wrecker
train worked hard, and succeeded in getting the
debris so far removed as to allow the 1879 train
to pass.
CARPENTERS AND J0INERs.