Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-30
An Elderly Woman Struck by an
Engine in South Washington.
A VICTIM TO THE GRADE CROSSING.
Horribly Mangled and She Died at
the Hospital.
AN INQUEST TO BE HELD

1t has been several weeks since the life
Of some innocent person has been crushed
out on one of the murderous grade cross
ings of the steam railroads in this city.
but there was a sad accident on the Nir-
ginia avenue crossing at 9th street south
west about o'clock this morning, which
will certainly result in the death Of the
victim. The stretch Of track from this cor
ner to the Baltimore and Potomac is regard
ed as the most dangerous part Of the road,
probably because a number Of persons have
been badly injured or killed along there.
and this is the third accident within a few
months.
The Victim an Elderly Woman.
This time the victim is an elderly woman
named Mary Flaherty. who resides at A
Jackson street northeast, near the govern
ment printing office. She Is seventy-fve
years old, and at the time Of the accident
she wore an old-fashioned Sonnet tied over
her ears, which. 1t is thought, prevented
her hearing the moving engine. She had
atte nded early service at st. Dominic's
Church and had started on her way home.
When she reached Virginia avenue just in
front of the Jefferson school building the
engine, No 131, in charge of Conductor c.
J. McCafferty and Engineer l.. NJ. Steese.
with caboose attached, came along at a
fairly good rate of speed.
The watchman lowered Tire gates just be-
fCre Mrs. Flaherty reached the track, but
she walked around the end of the gate and
started to cross. Just then the moving
engine came along. The engineer saw the
old woman, but he could not stop in time
to save her. The engine was backing, and
the caboose was attached to the pilot, being
drawn after the engine.
FrightfuIiy Injured.
In less time than 1t takes to tell the story
the woman was thrown to the ground and
frightfuly injured. A number of pedestri-
ans who were on the street at the time
witnessed the occurrence and hastened to
the spot where she lay groaning and
screaming. After being knocked down the
wheels had injured her feet One foot was
almost cut off and the other was terribly
mangled. Then, too, her legs were badly
bruised, and she was internally injured to
the extent that this injury alone would
probably cause death.
Although SO horribly injured the unfortu-
nate woman was still in her senses She
was gently removed from the track to the
sidewalk, and made as comfortable as
possible until the fourth precinct patrol
wagon arrived, which was only a few min
utes, and the sufferer was removed To
Providence Hospital
Died After the Operation.
At Providence Hospital the physicians
performed an operation, taking off one leg
ana The other foot The patient lived
through the operation, but soon after IL
was completed she died.
The deceased is the best known woman
in the section cf the city in the vicinity of
st. Aloysius Church. Many persons sup-
posed she was eccentric. She lived in the
hctse OF Mrs. Farrell and sold small ar
ucles OF dry goods, lemons and lamp CHM
neyS from basket.
AS church-goer she had no equal, for
she never missed a service and seldom a
uay passed that she did not go to church
three times.
About one year ago, when a woman was
Killed on the railroad. II was reported that
the victim was Mary F'laherty, and her
name appeared In some of the papers
Since that time she has feared death on
the rail, and the sad news Of her ending
vas great shock to her friends Her life
was insured and she will be given a Chris
tian burial.
The coroner will probably hold an inquest
tomorrow.