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

The Washington branch of the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad seems fated. Hardly in exist
enee two years 1t has been the scene OF several
minor accidents with different degrees Of losses.
Not long ago the terrible burning of the mail car
ut Bennings station, wit its attendant loss OF life
and treasure was recorded, and yesterday added
another to the chapter Of accidents, which might
have rivaled its predecessor in horror, but which
happily ended without loss OF any life, althoug h
several were seriously wounded. The accident
occurred within the city limits, and was caused by
the collision of two trains about $40 O'Clock, the
particulars Of which are given below.
The train from this city was the 4:53 express for
Philadelphia, consisting OF four passenger, one
baggage ann one postal car. 1t was in charge Of
Conductor Christopher buchanan, with Mr.. Geo.
McAiee as engineer and Harry Bechtel as tlre-
man. The incoming train was the New FORK and
PHILADELPHIA express, due here At $50, with six
Dassenper one D0stal and one baggage car with
Barney AughCHbaugh as conductor; Jacob Fry,
engineer, and Albert RCdmyeT, fireman. The
Outgoing train started on time and proceeded
slowly as is usual, along Virginia avenue, stop
ping this side Of the tunnel to take on passen-
ger.
nal and went through the tunnel increasing its
Sleed until Fourteenth street east was reached
Here, in addition ~ the insecurity of a single
track, there is deep cut and sharp curve so
deep and so sharp as TO render the sight OF train
from either side impossible to the engineers
IheTe 1aO Deen no WarnlnE SlgnBl gwen IlaJ any
OF the passengers heard, and as they did not OF
course know OF the fact afterwards made pain
fully apparently that the two tratGs were due at
that point about the same time, they sat quietly
in their seats anticipating anything rather than
the collision which soon startled them from
their musings pitched them pellmell from their
seats, caused wounds anu bruises 10 many and
a terrible scare TO ALL
THE COLLISION.
Both engines struck plumb on the face crush
ing each other to near the centre Of the smoke
stacks Bells and other appurtenances were
thrown on each side OF the track; the baggage
car Of the SOuthern-bOund train ran upon the
engine, and nothing was left intact but its top,
which was lying on the locomotive. The tenders
OF both engines were completely wrecked. The
front OF the passenger car behind the engine of
the Northern bound train was badly smashed,
ard the baggage car behind it was telescOped
ever the next passenger car.
The IRE from one Of the engines communicated
TO the Cebris and 1t twas soon burning briskly. An
alarm was sounded from box No. 5, and the fire
department was soon on the ground, but the flames
were eXtinguished before their arrival, thus pre-
venting another Benning's catastrophe.
The scene, of course, was one Of extraordinary
excitement. The uniDJUred passengers with that
instinct selEpreservatiOn which is part of human
nature, at once sought for exit through the doors
OF the cars, the wounded grOaned in their agony
and called for help and sill another class aided
TO make up chorus Of fearful sounds The latter
class were few, but their situation must have been
appalling. BY the curious freaks Of the wreck
they had been damned in different portions Of it,
and although Comparatively uninjured they we're
unable 20 move. Thus firmly held It was soon ap-
parent to them that the train was on fire, and
with the flames approaching them and the recol-
lection Of other similar disasters flashing through
their minds, it is no wonder they shrieked for aid
which, although soon at hand, seemed to them
like hours in reaching. Ready hands with buckets
eXtinguished the flames, and ready hands with
axes and other implements soon forced them from
the perilOus embrace in which they were held.
AT THE WRECK.
When the fact became known las 1t did in mo-
ment) throughout the eastern section Of the city
that q collision had taken place ON the railroad
the people turned out from all directions, and
hastened through every available avenue TO the
pOiEt on the road where the accident occurred
old and young, rich and poor, white and black
jOstled along-all seeming bent on one object
that Of getting to the scene of confusion as soon
as possible. When they arrived there they were.
in0eed, motley gathering, but the ma Ority tried
10 aid in aleViatng the sutierinRs of the injured
TO the extent OF their power. Women came with
water and bandages, and men who have not
sOiled their hands for years went to work with
will, removing the debris from around those
whom It had entangled. Lieut.. Austin and his
officers were prompt in attendance, and rendered
efficient aid in keeping back the crowd that COL
lected around each Of the severely wounded, pro-
teetiEg the property OF Tie railroad company and
preserving order at the scene of the disaster.
He also telegrRphed al once TO the Board Of
Health for their ambulGnces and the services Of
physlcians-a request which was complied with
as speedily as possible. Among those, also, who
deserve credit for prompt aid rendered was Mr..
H. T. Hicks, 3l3 PeDnsy lYania avenue east, who
was early on the scene with his wagon, and con-
Veyed two Of the wounded to Providence hospital.
OthoeT L. r. Uhutt, of the Eighth precinct, con-
Veyed another Of the wounded to the hospital in
buggy.
THE WOUNDED
The following named are those who were in
JOTed by the accident. 1t will be seen that all
were properly cared for, and also that there were
no females among the number:
Mr.. Christopher Buchanan, Familiarity known
as Tim" conductor Of outward bound train,
badly cut about the throat, the cash commencing
q the Tighs temple, cutting the artery and ali
the veins the right side Of the head: little nm
ger Of left hand injured and slight cuts about the
tad and face. MT. Buchanan would have died
from loss OF blood in very short time, II profess
siOnal aid had not been promptly rendered by Dr.
Aaron II. Miller, who dressed the wound, with
the assistance OF Or. Z. A. Adams. Geo. fee,
engineer Of Mir. Buchanan's train, badly cut
about the mouth ana lace. Jacob Fry, engineer
OF the Southern bound train, resident OF the city
OF Baltimore had his rig hit leg broke at the kle
by jumping from his engine lust as the collision
took place; Mr.. Hugh Herman, formerly pro-
pTietOT Of the COmique, both ankles badly
mashed; Mr.. 5. T. Everett, city treasurer Of
Cleveland, Ohio, severe cut on forehead; Mr.. II.
X. Stevens, OF Ohio, slight cut on back Of lett
hand; q. +. Needham, Sixth Auditors office
both legs bruised below the knees: Crittenden
CTOne, brakeman on Philadelphia train, right
knee slightly Dlured, and pants badly torn; J.
Il. Robinson, bOOkkeeper for II. j. Gregory. of
this city, badly bruised about the legs: Geo. W.
Baker, passenger, injured about the head; Henry
Bechtel, fireman, internally injured; George
Durity, passenger, injured internally; Thomas
Collins, passenger, injured internally leg broken
shoulder dislocated, and q coIored man. name un-
known. Among the gentlemen who rendered
surgical aid were Drs. A W. Miller, E. A.
Adams J. S. Beale, J. Z. Bird, A. H. S McKim
VIZ. E. Roberts, Alex McWiilisms and J. Lee
Adams.
AT THE DEPOT.
The news Of the disaster spread like wild-fre
over the city, the stories increasing in size aud
the number Of dead and wounded being aug
mented as it passed from lip to lip until It
reached the maximum Of one hundred killed.
ADDED TO this Wss a dispatch sent from the
Board OF Health asking for ambulances and
physicians to attend to and remove the wounded
10 hospital. This served to increase the excite
ment and NIL the minds Of many with fears and
dread lest relatives and friends whom they were
expecting or those who had Just bid dear ones
adieu that they were enrolled in the list OF dead
OF wounded. This state of affairs, as was to be
supposed, drew an immense throng about the
depot, where they waited for their arrival. The
accident was The only topic Of conversation aud
any one thought to possess any knowledge cOa-
eerning it was eagerly pressed to diVulge 1t.
Newspaper men ana policemen were objects Of
considerable attention and were regarded as
very important persUnages. Through them the
information was impaired that the result of tho
accident was not as serious as had beer repOrtet
that no lives had been lost, aid the number Of
injured uWindled down to fourteen. These were
comfortable words, and did much TO assuage the
foTebOdings Of the apprehensiye ones. While
this was the uppermost thought in the minds OF
many, there was another current Of human life
being exhibited right in the depot. On the track
within the station stood
A soUTRE INBOUND TRAIN
awaiting the hour for its departure. At the
ticket-WinCOW was a throng eager and anxious to
purchase tickets to take passage for their homes.
AS they received their passport they we're passed
through an iron wicket and took seats in the cars
While there they had an opportunity to see some
Of those hurt by the accident, but the sickening
sight did not deter them from proceeding with
the train to their destination. About $50 O'Clock
the train that had been sent out to the scene Of
the wreck to render assistance returned with all
OF the wounded, excepting some sent from the
place where the collision occurred to Providence
Hospital, and the passengers OF both trains.
Considerable anxiety was manifested by those
assembled at the depot as the wounded were
being removed TO zee If any familiar faces could
be dlscerned among them. Those best known,
with the exception OF Mr. Buchanan, the cOnduc-
tor, had escaped with slight Commissions and flesh
WOUNDS, and were soon receiving the cOngratula-
lions OF their friends.
AS the tive engineers, McAfee and Fry, were
eaITle9 cut on carseats one with his legs ald the
other DIS hands and arms baDdaged, much sym
pathy was expressed for their misfortune. They
were Immediately removed to PrOVidedce hosDi-
tai Ter treatment Mr.. Buchanan was taken 10
WIZARDS MOTEL where his wounds were dressed.
As soon as the passengers and baggage were
removed NUMBER OF employee Of the road we're
taken 10 the spot and began clearing away the
wreck, making such rapid progress as 70 allow the
9.Os p. m. New YORK express to leave on time.
INCIDENTS.
Among the passengers on the incoming train
was a lady who had with her her two dauShteTs.
She happened to be looking out Of the window
/. H.