Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-05
DEADLY GRADE CROSSING
An Engine Runs Into Grip Gar and .
Wagon.
SIEVE raj Persons Badly Injured-what
In Said by an Eyewitness of
the Accident.

Virginia avenue. This is a crossing where
many lives have already been sacrificed.
That the list of fatalities was not length.
eDed yesterday was due to several fortu-
Fate circumstances. and in no wise to the
railroad company.
The accident occurred in a rather curious
fashion. and while the system of gates was
to blame. 1t would not seem to have been
in any way the fault of the gateman who
is stationed at that point to prevent whole
sale slaughter, IL possible.
Although no lives were lost. several peo-
pie were quRe severely injured. and in one
or two cases the injuries are likely to re-
jured are Frederick Lee. 1872 L street:
Charles Otis. TIA Maryland avenue south
west, and P. W. Doyle. 5I Florida avenue.
A woman whose name was not ascertained
also received slight injuries.
The Scene of the Accident.
At the point where the accident occurred
there are four railroad tracks running
through the middle of Virginia avenue. To
the north track runs through Maryland
avenue, joining the others at Sth street.
whence they all run southwest along Mary
land avenue to the Long bridge. These
two sets of tracks. together with the
tracks running north and south on 9TH
street from the Pennsylvania station. form
a triangle or Y, which is used to great
extent for switching purposes. An engine
comes into the station head-on with It's
train. In order to turn 1t SO That II can
leave later with its train. heading IN the
right direction the engine backs down 6tn
street, heads west along Virginia avenue,
then backs up Maryland avenue to 9TH
street, and so on into the station, Where IL
is left heading outward.
It was one of these switching or shunting
engines which caused the accident yes.er-
day. The arrangement OF tracks maA h.ts
two extremely dangerous crossings on TN
street and the cable cars and passing We
hcles are constantly in danger along mere.
If they get safely over one set 81 tracks
there is still the other menacing them. Ine
gripmen very wary ana care1ui m
crossing the tracks, and II TINS were hot
so the annual list of casualties would De
much greater. The gatemen, 100, are m
structed to be on the lookout at all times,
but they are hr.;an. and have neen known
to make mistakes.
About the hour named grip car NO, .,
with two cars attached, was going south
on Ith street. 1t had passed the Maryland
avenue track, and was stopped ny me
gates at Virginia avenue, which had peen
lowered to allow a north-bouno ireiSh.
train to pass. As soon as the freight had
passed the gateman hoisted his gates anu
the cable train at once started TO the east
of the grip car there was grocer ss s., wi tEais
TO mass 1t started with the cable train.
Just before they reached the second track
from the north single engine, belonging
to the Southern railway, was .esh APP
proachinr at a goodly rate of speed from
The east 1t had not been noticed by the
gateman.
struck by the Engine.
Engineer and gripman at once realized
tie danger and endeayG'ed to prevent
collision, but both the engine ana the
cable cars had too much momentum to De
stopped in such short space, and this was
true also of the wagon. Tine result was
that the engine struck the horse and threw
nd ftS
the grip car. The engine passed in front
of the grip car, which struck 1t larry on
the side The front of the grip was badiy
damaged, and the car was wrenched from
the track delaying traffic for some little
time.
The horse was torn from the wagon and
carried a short distance on the cowcatcher
of the engine. 1t was found that the ami
NAL had one of it's hind legs broken, and
was badly cut, SO that 1t was necessary
to shoot 1t to put 1T out of its misery.
crowd to gather. and every one expected
to find number OF people killed. 1t SEEM
ed almost miracle that any one escaped.
The wagon belonged to Samuel c. Bow
ers 9TH and E streets southwest. Two
boys were in it at the time of the accident,
Charles Otis the driver. and Frederick
Lee. young colored lad. Both of them
were badly injured. Otis received a sprain-
ed ankle. and was considerably bruised
about the body. Lee was also hurt about
the legs and shoulders, and he was re-
was taken to his home in ambulance.
Both boys weres attended by Dr. L. A.
Johnson and Dr. Boarman. who arrived on
the scene almost Immediately after the
occurrence.
P. W. Doyle. n contractor was slightly
hurt by being thrown from the grip car.
Promptness of the Gripman.
The gripman, Ben. Cooper, had plenty of
time to jump from his car before it struck
If he had been mind to do so but instead
of that Re stuck to his post like man.
He threw off his grip and put on both
brakes with all his strength, and, in the.I
opinion of those who the accident, 1t
was largely due to his promptness and
rerve that tie accident was not worse |
than it was.
To those VINO were early on the scene !
the reason for the accident was very ap-
parent Between 9th and 18th streets on the |
Forth tracks were parked five passenger
coaches in a line, absolutely shutting off |
from the gatemans place any view OF |
train approaching from the cast. The |
street along there is public property, but |
is always used yard for parking cars |
In the opinion of eyewitnesses of the ac-
cident the gateman, Patrick Casey, was not
to blame. as he is expected to stand near
his crank, which operates the gates,
and from that spot it is quite i'm
possible to see a train coming as did
the engine yesterday Mr.. Daniel p. Nc
keever the traiDmaster of the Baltimore
ara potomac Raiirta d Company, arrived on
the scene shortly after the accident, and
at once started investigation.
When a Star reporter visited the slot
this morning Casey was still on duty. and
the five passenger cars were still where
they were yesterday. making possible just
such another accident at any time. Short
ly aftcrward four of the cars were remov-
ed, but. judging by the past, others will
take their place as the occasion arises.
The Gatcman Won't Talk.
Casey, who is an intelligent young man,
was standing out on the tracks at spot
whence he could see up and down the lines
He was asked to give his version of the
affair, but declined to say anything about
1t.
'iou will have to find out about it UP at
the depot he said.
Prom Mr.. Mckeever?"
Il suppose So
But he wasn't here and you were"
Cant help that"
We'll. how does he know anything about |
1t? Have you made report to him?"
Haven't yet"
Were you instru cted not to say anything
about the accident?''
That's my business" said Casey in
.surly manner.
DIR. l.. A. johnson. son of Mr. ]. Harrison