Evening star., 1894-01-06
SMASHED THE CAR.
A Startling Accident on the d Street
Grade Crossing.
A STREET CAR CAUGHT In A TRAP.
Struck by a Train, but No one
Seriously Injured.
CONFLICTING STATEMENTS.

/ "A Il Z NJ Il. n
A startling grade crossing accident which
fortunately did not result in serious injury
occurred this morning at the III street
crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
Columbia line street car was struck by
train as IL was crossing the tracks and
though the car was demolished, the people
aboard were not badly hurt. AS usual.
when such accidents occur. the stories re-
specting 1t are conflicting.
The accident occurred about 6:37 this
morning. At that time car No. 33 of the
Columbia railway. James Kelly, conductor,
and Samuel Ridgely. driver. going east
ward, was stopped on the H street crossing
over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad by
the lowering Of the gates thrown across the
street on account of the approach on the
track of the main branch Of the railroad of
an ingoing engine. Three passengers, Jas.
Grady OF No. q street northwest, +. II.
Jett of 1lG II street northeast and a colored
woman, whose name could not be ascer-
tained. were on the street car at the time.
As Told by the street Car Conductor
According to the story Of Conductor
Kelly. Immediately after the ingoing engine
had passed. the gates were raised and his
car went on. When II had passed nearly
over the b. and o. tracks. IL was struck
by an outgoing train. The force of the
blow pulled the harness from the horses
and they ran on, uninjured. The street-car
was showed along. striking the northern
half OF the eastern street gate, throwing
those aboard Of the car out fortunately for
them. clear of the tracks, and smashing
the gate. The car was also thrown clear OF
the track. although ii was about complete
ly demolished
The passengers on the street car, while
badly shaken up. escaped with no more
serious injuries than some bruises, and in
the case of Mr.. Jett, with a slightly cut
face. The drivers face was also cut The
outgoing train had got under but slight
from instant death OF those aboard of the
street car Conductor Kelly claims that
when he saw the gates raised, he supposed,
of course. that the tracks were clear. and
signaled his driver to 20 ahead, not being
aware OF the close proximity OF the out
going train until it struck the car.
The Gateman's Story.
The gateman on duty at the crossing at
the time of the accident whose name, IL
was stated by the b. and o. people. was
NJ. F. Murray, blames the street car en-
pioyes. If what he is understood to have
stated to the officials of the road be true
Supt Alvey stated that while he had not
yet thoroughly investigated the matter he
was Informed that Gateman Murray con-
tended that he had lowered the gates to
allow the passage of the ingoing engine,
and that just after IL had passed he pro-
ceeded to raise the gates TO allow the
street car to go ahead. At almost the very
moment he started TO do so, however, the
electric signal signaled the coming of the
outgoing train, Baltimore local No. 142
Oscar Peters, engineer, leaving Washington
at G:35 am. According TO the gateman's
story he instantly dropped the gates, and
they fell between the horses and the street
car. Then. IL Murray's story be true the
driver whipped up his horses. breaking a
few feet OF the gate of, started across
the track. and before he could clear them
was struck by the ergine OF the outgoing
train.
the tracks of the main line is broken, but
whether broken this morning in the man.
ner described by the gateman could not be
definitely ascertained by a Star reporter
who visited the scene of the wreck after
the accident occurred 1t is a fact how
ever, that Mr.. Brady, one of the passengers
on the street car. In speaking with the re-
porter. corroborated to some extent the
statement of the gateman.
Mr. Brady's Statement.
Mr.. Brady was found by the reporter at
his home. suffering considerable pain from
a badly bruised back and nip. He said: Il
was sitting on the drivers chair on the
front platform of the street car. No. y3
1 think. going east. smoking my pipe. As
the car got to the crossing, the gates were
lowered to allow a shifting engine to go
into the depot. The conductor had gotten
out of the street car to run ahead of IL. and
when the shifter had gone by. the driver
started up again. the gates being lifted to
let IL go on. Just as the car started, the
gates were lowered again, striking the
horses. The driver first tried to put his
brakes on. but then whipped his horses up
and had got almost over the track when
the outgoing train struck the car. knocking
II loose from the horses and throwing II
against the eastern gate ana on the track.
The driver and 1 were thrown out, and
think the other passengers. white man
and woman inside, were also thrown out.
/ didn't notice where the conductor of the
street car was. but 1 think he was on the
car. 1t seems to me the thing was caused
by the gateman's carelessness. and it was
not the first time i have had a narrow es-
cape at that very place, because OF the
carelessness of the gatemen."
The Electric Bells.
The electric bells at the crossing ring, II
| is said. at the approach of trains from
| both directions, and The theory was ad-
vanced this morning by some Of those liv-
| ing near there, that the bell having been
rung by the approach of the fhgoing en-
gine. 1t had not ceased to ring when the
outgoing train approached, and that the
gateman imagined untll too late that the
bell was ringing because Of the approach
of the ingoing engine. The Baltimore and
Ohio people claim, however. that as the
| tracks were not filled UP SO as to obscure
| the approach of the outgoing train, the
| street car employees could, had they looked
| for Ii, as IL is understood they are required
| to do under the rules of their company,
| have seen the train in time to have pre-
| vented the accident, even though the gate
| man did raise the gates too quickly.
| Precauttops should he Taken. .
| To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
| The accident to the Columbia street car
this morning at the B. and o. crossing at
| H street northeast should warn the Colum-
bia Company that until Congress passes an
act requiring the b. and q. Company 10
| elevate their track the street car company
should take precautions to protect the lives
| of the patrons of the street car company
| who cross the tracks in their cars. The
| Conductors do not go ahead of the street
| cars sufficient distance to avoid danger
should a train be approaching and the
gates not down. They should not be ex-
pected to do so. That requirement OF the
company Is a farce.
| 1t appears that the accident this morning
| was caused by the failure of conductor to
| far enough ahead of his apd % 20