The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-27
Serious Accident on The Baltimore and POtO-
mac Road Near Washington.
ENGINES AND CARS DEMOLISHED.
List Of Employees and Pas
sengers Injured.
DETAILS OF THE CATASTROPHE.

Railroad between washington ana Baltimore the
inward bound passenger train, due here from New
York at 5l5 this afternoon, colllded with the
Philadelphia express which left the Washington
depot at 4:53. The collision occurred near what Is
called the Navy Yard Tunnel.
The first report OF the accident to the quiet peo
pie OF Washington was the fire alarm which con-
veyed the intelligence that another postal car had
been burned. Being early in the evening the cit-
gems turned out to witness the connagration, but
were disappointed when called upon to render
professional services or provide filters for the
wounded.
A VISIT TO TEE SCENE
of the railroad accident tonight shows that the
catastrophe was of a most serious character.
Laborers, by the light OF torches, were engaged
in removing the wreck from the road, and ex-
pected to have the track cleared before morning.
The trains departing and arriving transferred
passengers ana baggage to either end OF the
wreck, thus causing but slight detention 10
travel between Washington and the North. 1t was
remarked generally fortunate that the colltding
cars aid not on the track, as in
such case they would have been precipitated
over the embankment which is fifteen or twenty
feet high at this place. The accident occurred a
short distance from the northern end of the tun-
mel and not more than 200 or 300 yards from the
bridge crossing the eastern branch OF the Poto-
mac. Had the collision occurred one minute
earlier, on the bridge. the loss OF life would have
been nightful. from information obtained at the
scene OF the disaster it appears that the engineer
on the northern bound train did not stop suni-
mouth OF tho tunsel to allow the
southern bound train to pass, but proceeded on
MS way and met the latter train just around
curve coming at full speed, that train peing en-
titled to the right of way.
THE CRASH
caused by the collision was fearful, both engines
and TOUR cars being completely demolished. The
tender OF one OF the engines was thrown on the
top of the wreck, ana the baggage car OF the
north bound train the top OF Its engine.
Three OF the cars wrecked were attached to the
north bound train and the fourth one to the south
bound tram. The following named persons were
injured:-
George McAfee, engineer OF the north bound
train; chin cut open and otherwise injured about
the face.
Jacob Fry, engineer OF the south bound train;
leg broken by jumping from the train.
Henry Becntil, fireman; injured internally.
George W. Baker, OF wilmington, DEL, a pas
senger; injured internally.
Thomas Collins, OF Baltimore, Nd; severely
bruised.
George Duritz, western Union Telegraph
operator; cut and bruised.
Albert Redmeyer, passenger; wrist broken.
Mr.. Buchanan. conductor; cut about the head
and lace.
Charles Mccarthy, OF Washington, D. O., passen-
ger; slightly bruised
Several other passengers, whose names could
not be ascertained, were slightly injured but
were able to proceed on their journey or return
to their homes In this city.
McAfee, Baker Collins, FRY. Bechtil and Duritz
were taken to the Providence Hospital ana re-
ceived proper medical aid.
Az ENGINEERS STATEMENT
",
says the north bound train should have remained
on the switch at the mouth OF the tunnel at least
fifteen minutes, even If he mad been behind time;
but ne was on time and looked at his watch Just
after crossing the Eastern branch bridge, when ne
found he had one minute TO reach the switch.
Just then he sighted the north bound train coming
around the curve. He Immediately put on the
air brakes reversed his engine and jumped. break
ing mis- leg.
STATEMENT OF A PASSENGER
MIR. W. z. King, Surveyor OF Customs at Green.
port N. Y, who was passenger on the New
York express, which len that city at forty minutes
past eight this morning, makes the following
statement: 1.-THE tram left New York on time.
when we arrived at Philadelphia the train was
detained for some cause. think we must have
been from ten to fifteen minutes behind time
when we left there, though we arrived at tnat
city on time. do not think We made up any OF
that time until We left Baltimore, .wnen the
tram ran at very rapid rate, so fast,
in TACT, as TO occasion considerable I'M
easiness on the part OF the passen-
gers, and this fast travelling was evidently for the
purpose OF making up the time lost by the deten
ton Mt Philadelphia. the FIRST indications had
Of collision or Of anything wrong was just after
we lett the Eastern brancn OF the Potomac River,
entering washington and in fun view Of the dome
OF the Capitol, when there was a sudden and ter
rife crash, occasioncd By the engine OF the ex-
press train on which / was travelling and the
engine OF the Baltimore train coming into COLI
sion and
TEEEsCOPfNG THE BOILER
or one engine completely into the other The bag-
gage car or the express train moving south was
run on top OF the engine, and rested upon the
ground only upon the rear truck, the otner trucks