Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-17

runaway car on the Georgetown and Ten
leytown railroad coasting uncontrolled down
the steep grade Of s2d street, in Georgetown, at
rate Of speed variously estimated by eve
witnesses at from sixty to ninety miles an
hour, threw that portion Of the
city into unusual state Of excitement about
li:So o'clock this morning. The car starting
from the power house, increased its velocity
until at the corner Of Prospect avenue Il
jumped the track az the curve and striking
an iron guide pole broke il as though il we're
pipestem, and CARRYING this obstacle with IL
did not come 70 q standstll until 10 reached tho
next iron pole, which was also broken.
by most fortunate chance, which would
almost seem to be miracle, no one WAS Sc
minor injuries and considerable damage was
done.
THE EXCITEMENT WAS GREAT.
At an hour when SD street is well flled with
people the accident occurred but so rapidly was
the car moving that few appreciated their
danger until 1t had passed. Then the excitement
was greatly intensified by the fact that several
OF the wires had been torn down. but none hap-
pened TO be live ones, and consequently no in
juries were received from this source.
No passengers were on the car when Il
encountered in its mad run, which accounts for
the fact that the injuries were SO small
The car, heavy vestibuled one. No. 4, had
started on Its return trip TO Georgetown. II
had passed the power house and reached Holy
wood cemetery when the machinist of the
road, ]. II. Mills, who happened to be
aboard, noticed that one OF the break
chains bad parted. The car was immediately
stopped and its passengers. six ladies, one OF
whom was Mrs. VIM f; Hunt,
ssrr.d gentleman Tne alshted to be trans,
back to the power house with Patrick J.
Cooke, the motorman; Henry Loughborough,
conductor, and Machinist Mills as the only oc-
cupants. No trouble occurred until the switch
had been reached and the car began TO turn
into the power house.
THE START on ITS TERRIBLE nrS.
At this point the fuse burned ont and all
control of the car lost. 1t immediately
began to descend the grade, and before IL could
be checked had begun its terrible run
The three employees stuck to the car In the hope
that they might in some way break its speed,
but they soon appreciated that their task was a
hopeless one and began 20 think Of their own
safety.
To jump while the car was going at the
fearful pace it had acquired would mean
certain injury. Each of them kept his
head and from their knowledge Of the
road were aware that the speed must decrease
as the ascent OF the reservoir hill was
encountered They thought perhaps that the
car might stop entirely. The momentum
was more than sufficient TO carry them
over this hill and when they appre-
ciated that the minimum speed had been
reached they jumped. All were considerably
shaken up, but Machinist Mills was the only
one hurt. He sprained his wrist, and his back
was strained by the fall
PAUSE TO rAKE BREATH.
The car went on. At the head Of the reser-
voir hill il hesitated a moment, az though to
take breath before making the descent, and
then plunged headlong down the steep grade.
Every second it's velocity increased and as it
sped along its noisy roar was the only warning
1t gave 10 those in front
Faster and faster became its speed, until
those who saw it fash by say that a mile min
ute is not an exaggerated estimate Of its rate.
The wild career was not checked for an instant
until it reached p street, where the first acci-
dent occurred.
THE FIRST ACCIDENT.
Unconscious of his danger Mr.. Columbus
Thomas, a contractor. residing at 1911 35th
street, was driving his horse and buggy
across the railroad. He was on the
track before he saw the car coming to-
ward HIM at terrific rate. Before
he could move to aid himself the buggy was
struck and he thrown to the sidewalk. A few
bruises were the only injuries. The buggy,
however. was entirely demolished, though the
horse was unhurt.
This little incident did not concern the car.
for the shock did not make it hesitate. On il
spun until the sharp turn Just above Prospect
avenue was reached, where the car
jumped the track and started Roadway for the
sidewalk on the east side of the street. People
| shouted, women screamed and the noise made
by the car added to the general confusion.
Again Providence appeared to be at hand for
the first obstacle the car met one of the
heavy iron poles erected TO hold up the trolley
wires. The crash could be heard for blocks
ms the front of the car smashed to smithereens,
the glass in it broke into thousand pieces and
the big pole broke easily as though il were a
stick of peppermint candy.
Even this shock did not stop the car so great
was the momentum ii had acquired Caree,,-
ing as though it wouldTopple over at any moment
the glass and parts of the car sire wn along
the sidewalk. it still plunged on like drunken
man, while embedded in the front platform was
to keep the car from running further up on
the sidewalk and tearing the front windows
from all the stores.
CoLLIDED WITH TRUCK WAGON.
Here the car encountered q truck wagon
driven by Chas. Walden. The horse was knocked
down aid the driver thrown into the doorway
of Talbot's stove store. He was considerably
cut and bruised about the arms and legs but
not seriously hurt. The wagon was broken to
pieces. At the same time a horse and wagon
owned by Joseph W. Riley were struck The
wagon was rendered unfit for Use and the horse
hurt. Luckily Mr.. Riley was leading his team
and was uninjured.
BY this time the speed of the car was checked
to some extent but il danced along to the next
iron pole. This it also broke of. but the fear
full pace had been stopped and leaning half on
the sidewalk and half in the gutter it
CAME TO A sTASDsTILL-
The affair was quickly over that the ex-
element principally came when the car
stopped The appearance similar 70 q rail-
way smashup, but there was not SO much Of it,
The car is an entire wreck
Mrs. James L. Clements was standing at the
second-story front window of her residence,
1241 32d street, as the car passed. She was
overcome by her excitement, and in attempting
to get to the street tainted while on the stairs
and rolled to the bottom. She was not seri-
ously hurt and in a moment recovered
The accident did not stop the traffic of the
road for any length OF time, as all cars were
running half an hour afterward. Patrick Cook,
the motorman, was placed on another car. but
neither he nor any of the other employees would
give any Information to THE STAR reporter,
but were referred by them to Mr. Frank
Turner. the superintendent, whom they said
would give all the details. Mr.. Turner could
not be found.