Evening star., 1896-03-20
THROWN OVER THE BANK
Train Dsrailsa nth. Fort Mysr Trolley
Road.
Car Ran Over Private Morris and
Both His Feet Were Crushed
I'm the accident.

Trailer No. 40 Of the Washington and
Fort Myer railway jumped the track this
morning about 1880 O'clock while moving
at rapid rate, but fortunately no fatality
occurred. There wsre four persons in the
car. including the cpnductor. The scene of
the accident was 30D yards from the Ross
lyn terminal, and Just at a small stream,
which has assumed the proportions Of a
creek since the late rains.
Every person in tie car was more or less
bruised, the most Eserious being Private
Morris Of the caval Try band at Fort Myer.
who was run over by the derailed car and
both feet mashed.
The train was in charge of William Will
son, the conductor, with George Cutzshaw,
motorman.
The train was composed Of two cars, one
open car built for the road while the
trailer was one of the old box cars used
for SO many years by the Metropolitan rail
way. The coupling of the cars is not very
rigid, and the diffetence in the heights Of
the platforms of both cars is considerable
On account of today being drill day 1t
Fort Myer extra preparations were made
for the handling Of the crowd, which, while
not large, taxes the capacity of the road in
its present shape.
No Cause known.
Just how the accident occurred no one
seems to know. The train was city bound
end running at a good rate of speed, there
being clear way. Just at the point of
the accident there is an embankment of
loose earth, which has been affected by
the recent rain. The tracks are extremely
weak at this point and sag considerably.
and it may have been OH this account that
the car went Off.
The motor car remained on the track after
the trailer was derailed, but, on account Of
the speed, it Was impossible to check the
ears in a short space. Tde trailer bumped
over the ties for 4 distance of over twenty
feet. the iron wheel leaving deep impress
sion in the oak ties. The strain of the
trailer was So great that the coupling pin
snapped and the ear rolled over TO the en-,
bankment and part OF the way dowa. The
embankment at the point is over fifteen
feet high and but for the softaess Of the
earth the car would have rolled to the bot
tom, with far more serious results.
How Morris Was Hurt.
Private Morris was standing on the front
platform IF the trailer, and the force of
the dcralment WIS sufficient to throw him
over the embanknent, Just in time for the
car wheels to pass over his legs. between
the ankle and the knee BY some it is
claimed that Morris jumped, but it is more
probable tha: he was thrown. There were
two lady passengers in the car, one of
whom withheld her name, while the other
was Mrs. Crane, who lives back cf Fort
Myer. Both of these ladies were badly
scared, their hands cut and more or less
body bruises sustained. Mrs. Crane was
the worst injured IF the two Conductor
Wilson was also Slightly injured, his hands
being cut.
The force of the deraiIment was sufficient
10 break the front dash of the car, snap
the axle and do other miscellaneous dam
age. 1t is claimed by the road manage
ment that the accident was caused by the
breaking of The axle. The peculiar sight
was witnessed by number Of persons
Immediately after the accident the road
officials sent for Mr.. Thomas Cation of the
firm of Cation & Sons, to remove the wreck
age.
Private Morris was carried to the office
of the company, Where medical attendance
was summoned. He remained at the place
Cor nearly two hours, before being removed
to the hospital at the fort. An examira;i lion
revealed the fact that both legs were
brokens besides a number of other bruises.