Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-02-20
TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT
COLLISION AT FoUR-MILE RUN.

COLLISION AT FoUR-MILE RUN.
WOUNDED.
TWO ENGINES AND TWENTY FIVE CARS
DESTROYED.
Last uIght II collision occurred at -Four
Nile Run. on the Alexandria aud Washing
,on Railroad. about 1890 o'clock between
passenger train No 81 of the Virginia Mid
land railroad bound north, and a south
hound freight train on the Alexandria and
fredericksburg road, which resulted in the
death of Eve persons and the injuring of a
punber Of others.
The scene of the disaster, Four Mile
Run, is about 2! miles from this city. The
.tream runs from the west into the Potomac,
and the Alexandria canal runs over the
tracks of the railway company by means OF
~ brick viaduct This viaduct forms tun-
mel through which all trains pass. and IS
about seventy five feet in width, aud is only
wide enough for one train tn pass through
At a time. The tracks leading through the
tunnel are the extension Of the main tracks,
and on either side arc several SIDE tracks
where trains wait for others to pass. AS
ou the other roads, all passenger trains
have the right Of way and freight trains are
the ones that usually wait. About 100 yards
from the tunnel on the north and south ap-
proaches are two signal lights, which are
worked automatically, ard when train
passes one of the signal lights it turns the
red light of the signal station on the other
side to all trains coming from that dlrec-
sion, cau,ioniag them to run on the side
track. These lights are arranged every
night about 5 O'Clock by Thomas Taylor,
who lives about 100 Yards from the tunnel.
He so arranged them last night.
The facts concerning the accident are as
follows: The Virginia Midland train was
due at the tunnel at 1908 O'Clock last night,
but was some minutes behind time, and
had the right of way. The train was made
up of an engine, mail car, express Car. bag
gage car, one passenger coach, and Two
sleeping cars. The officers in charge OF the
train were Pilot Captain Bennett, ticket
litter Capt. wilkins, Engineer Bruce, Fire
man Thomas barley, Baggage Master Il.
l.. Ropey. and the express and mail clerks.
The freight train left Washington at 9:45,
bound for Quantico. H. consisted OF thirty
FIVE cars. which were filed with all kinds
of merchandise, including oil, paper, hides
and machinery. This train, II seems, should
have waited on the north side track until
the passenger train had passed on the north
track. The passenger train had no know-
edge of the freight, aud was not aware OF
any order authorizing the freight train to
push ahead The officers of the freight
t,aip were: Andrew Anger, conductor;
Frere, engineer; Maloney, fireman; Stew
art brakeman. The Midland train got
nearly through the tunnel when terrible
crash came, wTecking the two engines, me
escaping steam -nveloping the ruins i'll ire
and vapor. The flames spread over the
cars, and in less than two minutes half
dozen of them were on lire, ami the paSsen-
gers and employees who escaped unhurt
were running for their lives, the heat from
the burning cars being intense. Every
second cars were falling from their irreg-
ular positions to the ground on either side,
aud the passengers, among whom were
many ladies, rushed out of the cars to the
top of the EN- bank ment of the viaduct and
watched the scene The conductor OF the
freight train Mr.. Andrew Anger form
srly of this city, was Instantly killed, as
was also Mr.. Thomas barley, fireman of the
Midland train The latter was wedged in
the burning wreck and when extricated
was burned to crisp.) Engineer Frere,
Fireman Maloney and Brakeman Stewart,
of the freight train, were also killed, and q
brakeman injured. Engineer John ID:
Bruce, of the Midland train, and postal
clerks Galord, Mcneil, Jones, Clerney and
Franey were more or less injured-Bruce
seriously SO. No passengers were seriously
injured.
The fire gained great Roadway, and soon
reached some tanks of oil, that we're IN the
.;,ht i,f,
lowing over the other cars and Oh the
ground, took FIRE, and then running on The
ice in the river, burned there with Iurid
glare for some time. The fire COM
mupicated with other cars, and altogether
twenty five were burned. The damage
to the railway company will be SlOO,OOO
When the news of the accident became
known in Alexandria crowds of people
went to the scene, although the weather
was very cold.
Upon the arrival Of the Inflated Midland
train in this city last night it was, as usual
taken in charge by Mr.. Bennett, of the
Alexandria and Washington Railroad, whose
duty it was to pilot the same from this city
10 Washington. The train was allowed to
pass the switch house at the st. Asaph
Junction without any cautionary signals
beiug displayed, and those in charge were
ignorant of the fact that the freight train
was on the road Those in charge of the
latter supposed they had time to run their
train through the tunnel before the passen-
ger train reached the same. The passen-
ger train had the right of way over freight
traiH, according TO the rules of the road.
Ii is, therefore, likely that, even if the engi-
neel of the passenger train had seen the
headlight Of the other locomotive, he sup
posed i, was standing still. Train officials,
II is said ated last night that the freight
bad positive orders to wait until the passen-
ger tain had passed before attempting TO
enter upon the single track under the tun-
mel
The mail for the north, consisting OF eleven
registered pouches and one hundred and
seventy five reuiStered ma ok aoes palnel at