Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-31
HURLED FROM A CAR
A Serious Accident This Morning on
the Chevy Chase Line.
K. TODD oF5qHE SMITHSONIAN HURT
Tried to Step From the Motor to
the Trailer and Was Thrown.
IN A PRECKRIoUs CONDITION

Mr.. Everard R. Todd. document clerk at
the Smithsonian institution. met with Sc
rious and perhaps fatal accident while on
his way to the office this morning. He lives
on the Pierce Mill road, about midway be-
tween the Tenleytown and Chevy Chase
railroads. In accordance with his invariable
custom for years. he boarded train No. "a
Of the Chevy Chase road at the intersection
Of the Pierce Mill road at 8 o'clock this
morning. He carried a small basket of
very fine plums, and these, in a measure.
were responsible for the accident Of which
he was the victim. In getting on he chose
the rear seat in the motor car. and showed
his fruit with special pride to several
friends sitting near him. He was in partic-
ularfy good spirits, and just as the train
was nearing the Rock Creek bridge 1t sud
denly occurred to him that he would like
to show his plums to a neighbor who oc-
cupied seat in the trailer. He was APP
parently accustomed to the cars. and antfc-
fpated no difficulty in getting from one to
an air OF confidence he stepped on the foot
rail OF the motor and swung himself around
to the hand-rail Of the trailer. Just as he
was about to make his position secure the
train entered a sharp curve, and the two
cars spreading suddenly outward at the
side where Mr.. Todd stood, his hold was
broken and he was thrown headlong to the
road. several feet from the track. In fall
weight on his shoulders and back of his
head. The force Of the fall rolled him over
several times in the dust, and when this
momentum was lost he lay perfectly mo-
tionless on his back. The incident caused
unusual excitement, and the train, which
was crowded at the time, was stopped as
soon as possible. The conductor and sew
eral passengers ran back to the PROSTATE
yvh HOY To of1 Nv
Todd. He was entirely unconscious, and 1t
was impossible 10 tell the extent Of his in
1uries. He was alive and that was ALL and
1t was feared that he had sustained Sc
we're conclusion Of the brain. There were
no residences convenient, and 1t was de-
cided as the best thing to be done under
the circumstances to carry the injured man
to town at once on the train. Willing
hands carried him to the rear seat and
made him as comfortable as possible The
nearest drug store on the route was at the
corner Of 14th and U streets. and Mr.. Todd
was removed there and medical assistance
summoned. "a
What the Passengers Say.
Among those on the train at the time of
the accident were Mr.. Dunlop Of the Wash
ington and Georgetown Railroad Company
and his two sons; Mr.. E. I. Renick, chief
clerk Of the State Department: DIR. Foster
of the National Tribune, Mr.. Richardson of
several other residents Of Chevy Chase and
vicinity. All OF them assisted In carrying
the unconscious man from the roadbed to
the cars. which were brought back to the
point where he fell, and they also assisted
In taking him to the drug store at the cor
ner of 14th street. No one of them knew
exactly how the accident occurred.
Mr. Todd rose suddenly from his seat
near the end and. with the simple remark,
I'm going to, see some one on the other
car" stepped on the footboard and tried
to get to the trailer by swinging around
outside to the handrail and footboarl Of
the other car. He moved very quickly, and
none of the passengers realized his danger
until they saw him thrown violently 70 the
road Mr.. Todd's motive in attempting the
dangerous passage from car to car under
the circumstances is not known.
What makes his conduct all the more
inexplicable IS that he Is usually careful,
conservative man of cool, methodfcal tenn
permanent.
All the passengers on the train agree
that the accident was unavoidable. and
that the train hands were in no wise re-
sponsible for it.
His Condition Unchanged.
Mr.. Todd was removed to the Garfield
Hospital soon after he arrived at the drug
store. At late hour this afternoon his
condition was practically unchanged. The
physicians stated that although 1t is hard
to express an opinion now regarding the
outcome of the accident, they are inclined
to think that it will not result fatally.