Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-12

he is not utterly confused by the labyrinth of
tracks and complication of gates is stili further
handicapped by the fact that the fence prevents
him seeing ten feet around the curve. An
engine snatches Its victim here before he real
ICES that there is locomotive within ten
miles young son of Mr.. Springman
realized this not long ago when he had
his foot cut off by an engine. The general
public recognized it, too, only few DAYS ago,
wnen singleton Bell was horribly manged
right at this point This accident was SO re-
cent that every one will remember how Bell
and companion. George Webb both colored,
were Struck by an engine on October % and
thrown up against the fence. Bell died from
MS injuries. Both men were sober and neither
saw the train. Whether the gates were up or
down il almost al immaterial fact The dam
gerous crossing was there and is there today,
and you, gentle reader. may be the next VIC
TIM The coroner's jury in this case thought
no negligence had been shown but added the
remark: we regard thia crossing as q very
dangerous one. which should be more fully
protected"
Needless to say neither Of these men was in
any way related to Congressman
INTERSECTION OF MARYLAND AVENUE AND
SIXTH STREET.
Two squares above this combination OF curve
and grade crossing is another almost equally as
bad This IL where Maryland avenue and 9th
street intersect. There are tracks on 9th street
and more which curve into Maryland avenue,
running right across the sidewalk, which ia en-
tirely unprotected In the illustration of this
spot two gentlemen are standing at this curve
and The STAR reporter waited five minutes to
see them picked of by train. Closer inspec-
ton showed them to be railroad men, however,
and they probably knew the schedule. 1t is
dangerous standing ground, however. for ordi-
nary citizens. At this point, as will be seen.
the crossing over the main tracks il guarded
by gates, while one solitary gate runs at an
angle about half way across Mary
land avenue to block the approach Of
the street cars which cross at this point
The rest Of Maryland avenue, in regard to the
tracks on that street. is entirely unprotected.
This is the special death trap that killed
lamplighter named Mcintosh some years ago.
On March Maryland avenue and 9th street
was further distinguished by being the scene Of
the killing and horrible mutilation Of young
Paul Cullen, fourteen-year-old lad, who was
playing about the deadly grades. Neither Nc
Intosh nor young Cullen had ever served any
time in either the House or the Senate.
Only the presence Of mind Of 81 engineer
prevented horrible accident at this crossing
on July % Of this year. As has been said, the
Belt line OF street cars crosses the 9th street
tracks at this crossing. On July % car No. 26
going west was caught between the gates, the
bars having been lowered both In front and
rear. train dashing around the curve
from Virginia avenue. The engineer saw the
terrible danger and put on his air brakes and
the train was only stopped when within ten feet
Of the street car, which contained half a dozen
passengers The slightest hitch in the nerve
Of that engineer or in the efficacy of the air
brakes would have sent seven souls to eternity,
and this should be charged up to the grade
crossing The crossing had in this case done
its full duty and must have been surprised to
find an engineer with the skill to balk its
purpose.
OTHER DANGEROUS POINTS.
At ~ street the Metropolitan cars cross the
tracks and the crossing is an especially danger
GUS one and has several accidents to its credit.
Third street is something Of the same sort of
crossing, having safety gates and with the