National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-21
THE poUR-M1LE RUN DISASTER

Six Men ISniod-Tho Names OF the
Dead aud wounded-How the Acci-
dent was Possible.
The nett result in fatalities OF the rail-
road accident at Four Mile Run Thursday
night is the death Of six employees Of the
two companies whose trains collided.
The body of Andrew J. Anger, conductor
on the Alexandria and Fredericksburg
freight train, arrived in this city from
Alexandria last evening, and was con-
vevod to his home, 1913 D street southwest.
The bodies Of Geo. Freer engineer of the
freight train, whose residence was on +
street, between Ninth and Tenth; Thomas
Malone, Of the freight train, and George
+. Miller, of the same train, Will be for
warded to this city on the 8 o'clock train
this morning. Mr.. Freor was on the en-
CINE of the train on which was ex-Presi-
dent Hayes on the occasion of the acct.
dent on the Baltimore and Potomac road,
four years ago, when his engineer was
killed.
Tho others who woro killed outright or
died from their injuries subsequently
were Thomas barley, fireman on the pas
man on tho freight train.
THE INJURED,
who are now cared for in tho baggage
room at Alexandria, are: John II. Bruce,
Of Alexandria, engineer of the passenger
train, who had one of his legs badly In
jured and finger cut oil and is generally
badly bruised Richard o. Stone, of Balti-
more, express messenger, who is seriously
injured about the body; Thomas Gaylor,
mail woigher; T. w. Jones, chief clerk Of
the postal car; c. 4. Stewart and j. I.
Franey, postal clerks, and w. A. McNoal,
mail agent, seriously injured.
NONE OF THE SEVENTY OCCUPANTS OF
THE PASSENGER TRAIN
received serious injuries, but several sus-
tanned slight bruises, among whom were
Rev. DIR. Bliss, of Philadelphia, who was
cut about the face.
The tracks at Four-Milo Run, on the
Virginia Midland road, were cleared and
trains were running at 4:30 o'clock yes
terday evening.
The fast passenger train coming north
was, IL appears, ten minutes late. At the
same time tho south-bound freight train,
on time, was approaching tho tunnel
from tho opposite direction. The
single track under the canal is
steep, and it is impossible for q train
running ut high speed TO stop when
once started down either incline. On each
side. at distance of 200 yards from the
tunnel entrances, are automatic signals.
The train first reaching the light on the
side it approaches, changes the signal on
the opposite side to red light at which
a train coming from that direction waits
until the other passes.
THE ORDERS ARE
for all trains to run very slow and be pre-
pared to stop at moments notice. I'M
der this system IL is possible that two
trains might reach the lights OF exactly
the same moment Tho only men VINO
could explain the exact cause of the col
lision are the engineers and firemen, all
but one of whom, Engineer John II.
Bruce, who is seriously injured, were
killed. Conjecture suggests that one of
the trains was running at too high a
speed to stop when tho engineer saw the
danger signal, or that both trains reached
the lights at the same time.
Among tho mails lost were those which
left New Orleans, Mobile, and Montgom-
cry, Ala, on the morning of the 18th;
Atlanta, Ga, OH the morning of the 18th;
Danville, Va, on the morning of the 18th
and morning of the 10th; Chattanooga,
Knoxville, and offices in East Tennessee,
Western North Carolina, Northern
Georgia, and Alabama on the 18th, and
Southern Alabama on the 18th. The
pouches containing registered matter
from Houston aud Southern Texas, Mont
gomery, aud middle and Southern Ala
bama, Lynchburg and Southern aud
Western Virginia, and Chattanooga and
middle and Southern Tennessee formed
part of tho burned mail. Postmasters
will probably receive lists OF the addresses
borne by the registered letters in few
| days.