Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-23
ANOTHER RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
An Old Couple Killed on the Metropolitan
Branch This Morning.

II
| Branch This Morning.
/ THE ENGINEER BLEW THE WHISTLE, But THE,
/ DID NOT HEAR 1.-THE MASGI.ED REMAIN
BROUGHT To THIS cTTY-A SONS eRrEF-rHl
CORONER TO HOLD An INQUEST.
Another chapter in the history Of railroad
I tragedies WIS enacted this morning at rail
road crossing about mile and q half from thi
city on the Metropolitan branch of the Balti
more and Ohio railroad, known as Maguirei
crossing, which leads 10 South Brookland, re-
sulting in the death Of James E. Owens, aged
seventy-nine, and his wife, Nancy A. Owens
aged seventy-four.
Train number 50, which left Frederick at {
o'clock this morning for this city, was the exc
cutioner. The accident happened at abou
s:is o'clock. The point where the road crosse,
the railroad tracks is unprotected. there being
no safety gates there. To cross the tracks the
road inclines on each side, and il is impossible
for an approaching train to see the crossing
until ii is right up on it.
BOTH MAN AND woAAx KILLED.
The victims of the accident were a very poor
couple, who lived in South Brookland and de.
rived livelihood by furnishing milk to people
in Washington. They were on their way to
serve their customers this morning in their old
covered wagon when the accident occurred.
The engine struck the wagon about midway,
breaking it in half and instantly killing the old
couple. The horse escaped. As soon as the
engineer saw the danger he reversed the engine
and put on the air brakes, but it was too late
to avoid the accident. The engine ran the
length Of about ten cars before it stopped.
Then it was brought back and Conductor Brown
and Baggage Master Gather found the old
couple between the two tracks, and placing
them in the baggage car the train proceeded to
this city, where the police we're notified and the
bodies removed to the morgue at the sixth pre-
cinet.
When a reporter of The STAR visited the
morgue this morning he found the bodies
stretched out on the cooling boards with a
sheet thrown over them. Upon investigation
1t was found that the man was the more man.
gled of the two. His face was cut in a great
many places, and his upper lip hung by a
shred. The woman, Oh the other hand, showed
no injuries about the face, although it was COW
cred with blood. Both hands, however, were
broken.
SONS GRIEF.
As the reporter was leaving the station a tall,
6ne-looking gentleman applied for admission
to the morgue that he might see the bodies.
The policeman in charge asked him if he knew
the parties and he replied with a sob that they
were his parents He asked if they were much
disfgured and being informed that they were
he said he would wait until the undertaken had
laid them out before he would see them. Poor
father and mother" he said to the reporter,
they always said that they wanted to die to-
gether and their wish has been granted. In
life they were inseparable, in death they are
together"
Later in the day the coroner was notified and
he will hold an inquest.
THE ENGNEER's REPORT.
Superintendent Alvey of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad showed tie reporter the accident
report. 1t was made out by Patrick Collins,
the engineer of the engine which did the fatal
work. He stated substantially that he did not
see the wagon until he was right up on it. and
although he did his utmost he could not avoid
the accident. He stated that in rounding the
slight curve just beyond the scene where the
accident took place he blew the whistle several
times as a warning. The report also states that
the old couple had comforters about their ears
and did not hear the train.