National Republican., 1877-09-10
FOR BOYS.
School SnIIs nt
EIsEN.S Bros, corner Seventh and + sts.
RAILROAD RECKLESSNESs.

RAILROAD ACCIDENT AT TIE VIRGINIA
END OF THE LONG BRIDGE-oNE CATTLE
TRAIN RUNS INTO ANOrIIER-wRECRS A
NUMBER OF CARS KILLS CATTLE AND
FATALLY INJURIES A CoNDuCroR-BUT NO
ONE IL TO BLAME.
An accident occurred on tho Washington
and Alexandria railroad just beyond tho
south end of the Long bridge yesterday
morning about 2:i5 o'clock which resulted in
the destruction of an engine a caboose and a
cattle car, tho death Of eleven head of cattle
and in injuries to the conductor, Thomas
I.uckett, which will probably terminate
fatally. As Is usual In railway accidents,
information as to the circumstances is very
difficult to obtain, but In this case enough was
learned to show gross cnrelessncss on the part
of some one Shortly after the repairs to the
draw Of the bridge were commenced cattle
train approached, and being unable to cross
over stopped within a hundred yards Of the
bridge. About 2:3O o'clock In the morning
the noise of another train coming from the
same direction was heard, and fagman was
sent back to notify II of the danger.
The whistle was blown and other al pnals
employed to acquaint the approaching train of
the presence Of another just ahead of It on the
same track, but all passed unhecded, and q
collision and crash followed A scene of the
widest excitement ensued. The imprisoned
cattle beloved and shrieked, the road hands
yelled and rOared orders indiscriminately, and
to add to the din and confusion the ruins
caught on fire, and sent lurid glare up into
the pitchy darkness of tho night. Help was
near at hand In the force of men at work OH
the bridge, and with their assistance the
flames, which had also communicated to the
railroad ties, were quickly extinguished. The
rear cattle ear contained about a dozen bceyes
all but one of which were killed, either by
It..,n nflt lh. IL q l.. 4.
| cabouse and engine tclescOpcd into this car,
and the mass was soon in blaze There was
no means of extricating the cattle, and they
were left to their fate, while the energies OF
the wreckcrs wcrc employed in removing the
other ears out Of danger.
While all the hands on both trains were
more or less bruised by the shock, the conduc-
tor Of the moving train, Mr. Luckett, was the
only person who sustained any serious injury.
His shoulder blade and breast bone were
broken and he was injured internally to such
an extent rs to make his speedy death an ab-
sOlutC certainty. He was at once removed To
the hotel near by and every attention paid
him. DIR. G. NJ. Ford was summoned by the
railroad company and arrived soon after, and
by his advice Luckott was removed to his home
on Missouri avenue, between Four-and- q half
aud Sixth streets.
When the wreck had been cleared away,
and the burnt ties on the Culvert replaced by
new ones, both trains were taken in tow and sent
I" leNandria. The work of removal was thor
'ut"iy done. Tho engine and cabooso were
..., Ted together aud removed with the
,..,i, aud the burned carcasscs were seut to
' hl"'boiling establishment In the vicinity,
'f! ,i'r only things left to mark the spot were
l"' dr!Ii., of the cattle car piled in compact
Inn.a, nui "nr or two of tho charred ties
Mnl"h were lea IN position.
Though there WA undoubtedly bluuder uu