Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-08-30
INTO AN OPEN SWITCH.

=
A bad accident occurred at German
town, on the Metropolitan Branch of tn,
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Tuesday
afternoon about 4:30 O'Clock. The Chi
cago limited express, No. 6, ran into ar
open switch, and into The rear end of {
freight train. Three men were killed
and two slightly injured.
The express was running an hour OF
more behind time, and at a rate of full
forty miles an hour. Approaching Ger.
mantown there is very heavy down
grade and a curve and a deep cut, which
prevent the lookout from seeing any
great distance. A pickup" freight
! train had pulled in cut the Germantown
switch to get out of the way of No 6.
Rear Brakeman T. Ray, of the freight,
failed to properly place the switch and
lock it. Probably thinking he had done
it all right, he had climbed into the ca
boose to catch half an hours rest. The
express came down the track and ran
into the rear of the freight train before
any one knew anything was amiss. The
express was made up heavy, having bag
gage, postal, smoking and day coaches,
three Pullman and dining car. All the
cars we're pretty well filled with passen-
gers, and the heavy shock threw the
passengers out of their seats in every
direction. Five or six of the freight cars
on the siding were totally demolished.
OF the express, the engine and tender
were overturned, the baggage, the postal
car set up on end, and the smoker sent
off the track. All the other cars re-
NAMED ON the track. The fact that the
train was made up of vestibule cars saved
it from telescoping.
Those on the train behaved admirably.
Of course, there was considerable excite
ment, but it was soon allayed, and only
few ladies became i'll from the shock
The train was drawn by engine No. S28,
Engineer David Ziler, Fireman c.. E..
Quarles. The train was in charge of
Conductor Henry Long, The dead are:
Engineer David Zler, of Martinsburg,
w. Va, Brakeman T, Ray, of the freight
train and of Sandy Hook, Washing coun-
over street, Baltimore. The injured are:
Postal Clerk Benton, of Fulton avenue,
slightly hurt about the legs.
Conductor Long and the crews of both
trains, assisted by Chief Detective Gran
nan and Mr. Paine, the legal department
and other officials of the road who hap
rendering assistance and putting things
to rights. The passengers also lent help
ing hands. A part of the engine had to
be lacked up to get out the dody of En-
gineer Ziler. He was literally cooked,
the steam pipes Of the engine having
burst. His skull was also crushed He
was a very large man, about forty years
old, single and one of the most popular
and careful engineers on the road. He
had been with the road for years.
Brakeman Ray was found in the debris
of the freight caboose badly mangled.
He lived about an hour and a half after
being taken out and had his wounds
dressed. He was about twenty-sevep
years old, Postal Clerk Benton S injuries
were very slight, and only caused him to
limp around. DR.. Jarboe, of German
town, and physician who was a passen-
ger ON the train, rendered valuable as
sistance. a wrecking crew from Sandy
Hook was soon on the scene, and in
about two or three hours the track was
cleared. One of the Pullman cars of the
express was occupied by the Columbus
Base Ball Club. Several base hits were
shaken out of them.
A very sad sequel to the accident oc
CURED about two hours after the crash.
A youth about sixteen years old, named
Baker Ruble, from Boyd's Station, was
badly crushed at Germantown Station.
He had come down to see the accident.
AS the Hagerstown train, which leaves
Baltimore at 4:l5 o clock, W s pulling in
to a switch near the platfyrm, Ruble at
tempted to get on the front platform of
the ladies' coach. The space between
the car and the platform was not much
over an inch. Both his legs were caught
Just above the knees, and he was rolled
along. His legs were twisted and ground
to jelly. He was Immediately taken
out by Conductor Long, Mr.. Grannon
and others, and Immediately attended
to by DR.. Jarboe. He may die from the
wound. His legs were coiled like a
piece of rope. He was taken to Wash
ington and sent to a hospital.
Germantown is about twent-eight miles
west of Washington and six miles this
side Of Boyd's Station. The Express was
due in Baltimore at 500 P. NJ, and ar
rived at about 11:05 ?. II.
An Associated Press account sent from
Washington says that Freight Brakeman
Ray was hurt during the early part of
the afternoon while coupling cars, and
was so badly injured that he could not
get out of the caboose to close the switch
after the freight had passed on the siding,
and the conductor forgot to do it.
The same account says that Quarles,
the fireman of the limited express, died
from his injuries 4 short time after the
accident.
The postal car was adjoining the tender
of the engine, and it was demolished. 1t
is said that it plunged twenty or thirty
feet in the air. There were three in this
car, and they saved themselve by getting
in the middle of the car as soon as they
heard the air-brakes go down. This is
rule they always follow. The loaded
freight cars instead of bullying up, bulged
downward. One of the gentlemen in
the postal car said that Engineer Ziler
undoubtedly saved the train. He stood
to his post and even after the final crash
signaled for down brakes, and as long
as he was alive and the engine would
answer. 1t is said that the conductor of
the freight asked Brakeman Ray three
times if he had closed and locked the
switch, and received each time an af-
firmative answer.
Mr.. Ziler was one Of our best railroad
men, living in Strinesville. He was a
middle aged man and unmarried. He
had been in the employ of the company
for 90 years had always been faithful
employee and when taken from under
the engine his hand was reaching for the
air brake.
Eucklen's Arnica Salve.