Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21
HIS LEG MANGLED
A'Other Victim Of Deadly Grade
Crossing. r-.
THIS TIME IT WAS 4 LITTLE BABY
Crushed by an Engine at Sixth
Street.
TIL e LEG ATED

Another resident Of Northeast Washing
ton has been made victim Of the deadly
Baltimore and Ohio railroad trains This
time the victim Is a two-and-a -half-year-
old boy. son Of Mr.. J. II. Hooker, who lives
at No. eOc street northeast only a few
feet from the railroad tracks. The little
boy had left his home some time before the
sad accident. and was out playing with
number Of other children. They were
either playing on the tracks or endeavoring
to cross them about 1870 o'clock, when en-
sine No. ZIG. drawing several cars, came
IN sight. The appearance Of the engine
seemed to startle the young ones, and they
made break to get out Of the way Little
Willie Hooker, the smallest child in the
party, was unable to make much headway
In his Efforts to get out Of the way, and
scrne OF the older ones assisted hir,
When almost out Of the engines way he
seemed to lose ground, and It is thought he
probably stumbled. A. any rate his left leg
was caught BY the wheel Of the heavy en-
gine and almost torn from his body
The foot was entirely cut off. and the
larger bones of the leg near the knee
scrapad over the dirt and railroad ties
The flesh had been torn from the bones, and
the latter prOtruded fully six inches In
this sad condition the almost dead child
was picked up and taken to his parents
house, where DIR. Perkins called and stop
ped the now of blood.
A telephone message was sent to the
ninth precinct station, only q few squares
away. and also to police headquarters. The
patrol wagon started from the station and
James E. Richmond, in charge of the am
bulance. made a start for the house 1t
took the ambulance but few minutes to
reach the house, and the driver found there
q little patient who displayed a great
"a
scicus. although so seriously wounded and
wanted the injured leg covered when re-
moved from the house. When the driver
picked him up he held closely around his
neck and gave vent to his feelings.
Upon his arrival at Providence Hospital
Sister Beatrice took charge Of him. and
said he was the boldest little fellow she
had ever seen in the hospital
And we Will save the dear little fellows
life IL we possibly can.' she said.
He was soon on the operating table, and
DR.. Elliott. with the assistance Of other
physicians. amputated the leg above the
knee
This afternoon the patient was doing re-
markably well under the circumstances,
Mrs. Hooker. the child's mother. is almost
crazed with grief.
Scene of Accident.
It was stated this afternoon that the In.
jury to young Hooker was inflicted by an
engine moving between Trinidad and the
Baltimore and Ohio station, and that no
cars were attached to the engine at the
time of the accident
AT the place where the accident happened,
near 9Th street northeast; there Is no cross
ins, the tracks being fully eight or ten feet
above the grade at that point.
The tracks are not inclosed by a fence,
nor IS there any watchman stationed be-
tween 4th and Tth streets to keep the track
clear.
TIE boy was struck just this side Of the
curve at Florida avenue and persons re-
siding In the neighborhood Of the tracks
state that some of the engines shifting be-
tween the depot and Trinidad run at a rate
Of speed IN excess of that allowed by law.
Members OF the Northeast Washington
Citizens Association have been endeavoring
to have the tracks constructed IN . manner
to prevent these sad occurrences, but Con-
greSS has been so slow in the matter that
they have been unable to accomplish much.
beyond the few safeguards. such as gates
an watchInen at certain points.
The members Of the congressional commit
tee who went out there and inspected the
tracks were of the opinion that the danger
Gus obstruction should be removed and
favorable action on the railroad bill is eX-
pectei by the members of the association.