Evening star., 1896-10-08
A RAILROAD WRECK
A Steam Engine Crashes Into an
Electric Train.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN ALEXANDRIA
Fortunately No Lives Were Lost
by the Collision.


''Well it has come at last" was the ejacu-
lation from many throats this morning
when the repor! of the accident at the corner
of Fayette and King streets had become
circulated. Fortunately no loss of life was
the result would have been the case had
the electric train been going in the opposite
direction.
Shortly before o'clock this morning cleo
trio train No. Q, in charge of Conductor ].
b. Farley and Motorman Mumford. was
struck and knocked from the track by
northbound-train No. 81, Conductor Bresen-
ham. Engineer John Graham, engine No 1o7,
of the Washington Southern division of the
Pennsylvania railway, at the corner of
Fayette and King streets. Conductor Farley
of the electric train was quite badly hurt
about the head and shoulders. He was
taken into the Hotel Ramer. where his IN
1uries received medical attention by Dr. NJ
w. OBrien, the company's surgeon, after
which he was taken to his home. No 1905
9TH street. Washington. Farley is a mar
ried man. thirty-fve years of age
II. 5. Burke, brakeman on the electric
train, was slightly cut across the cheek and
had the thumb on his left hand badly cut
Both men We're badly shaken up and were
IN a nervous, excited condition
Electric Train Damages.
The damage to the electric train was most
serious. The motor car. strange to saw was
not injured, but the coach, No. 1U5. next to
it was carried seventy-tive feet up the Penn
sylvania track, and almost entirely de-
molished-the entire side being stove in"
and the interior arrangement completely
wrecked both platforms We're knocked off
ana the running gear badly broken up. All
the glass on both sides was smashed This
..rnc e
Slne throwing the latter from the track
breaking off the cowca tcher and otherwise
demoEshinS the front. Coach No 100 the
rear coach o fthe electric train had its front
badly knocked in and was thrown from the
track. blocking it completely. The front
platform was knocked off, and the running
gear seriously affected.
An Engine Wrecked.
Engine No. II of the Pennsylvania rail-
road was badly wrecked being thrown from
the IRA about se .ty-fve feet from where
1t struck the electric train, carrying with IT
the middle coach No. 1O5. The cowcatch-
er Is badly damaged. the headlight gone.
main roo broken, cylinder heads smashed
in. cab broken in the right side and other
damage of a serious nature. The railway
gates on the north side of King street were
completely torn up and broken into match
tlmDer. Ihe ground is StreWn with broken
glass, bolts iron. brass and timber ana
other debris
AS stated. train No. . Of the electric rail-
way was coming from the power house to
start from this city at o'clock Cor WASH
lngton. and consequently, and NEST for
tunately, there was no one on il but tie
train employees, and 1t is a miracle thai
they We're not killed. Just as the ;rain
reached Hayette street train No. -. of the
pennsylvania railroad dashed around the
corner OF Duke into Fayette at a lightning
rate, and before the electric train ronld
stop or cross the track it was struck broad
no n
catcher or the engine, striking the ground
and literally breaking into a thousand
pieces. Many who witnessed the accii mt
stated that the steam train was running
at rate of tnirty-five miles an hour-the
law of the city being five miles per hour
A High Rate of Speed
The Star reporter saw H. S Burke. he
brakeman on the electric train a few
minutes after the accident. and he app,a
ed very nervous and shaken up He said
that he saw the train at Duke street Cwo
squares Off just as the train approach he'd
the crossing, and, he said, Il was so scared.
it was running so fast, that 1 tried to get
out of the window, but before / could do
so and before we could get across we were
struck. Thomas Gorham, experienced
railroad engineer, told Policeman Lyies
that when the train passed the corner cf
Duke and Fayette streets it was running
at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour
James Kelly, an eyewitness told The Star
reporter that the train was running at a
Fearful rate, fully forty miles an hour"
Other witnesses to the accident, J. II.
Chilcoch, Edward Coleman Sam Deyaurhn
- Parker, Rich Coleman, John F.tzger-
AID. Robert Ford and others, ali say that
the steam train was running at high
rate of speed. The train is said to nave
been about ten minutes late, and was en-
deavoring to make up time. The high rate
OF speed and the fact that here was no
fagman on duty at the corner of Fayette
and King streets seems to have been the
cause of the accident.
Gates Not Down.
The Star reporter questioned many rail-
road employees, but none of them would say
which train had the right of way though
from what could be learned in regard to it
the steam trains have the right of way
but this is shown to the employees by the
street gates being closed against the cleo
trio trains. sgnifying the approach of
train cn the Pennsylvania tracks.
This morning, however, the gates were
not closed and there no fagman or
watchman to warn passing pedestrians,
accident happened shortly. after o'clock,
when several trains had passed on both
roads.
To BE Investigated.
The matter will be investigated by the
city authorities. Had the electric train
been en- route to Washington instead of the
opposite direction it would have been load
ed down with mechanics and others Off to
Washington for their days work, and the
loss of Ii, ,e and limb would have been ap-
palling.
wrecking force was sent to the scene
from Washington, and the work of clearing
the debris commenced at once. The train
attached to engine No. 127 was backed into
the Southern railway yards and proceeded
on to Washington over their tracks.
The electric railway track was cleared
and travel resumed at 10 o'clock.
Much trouble was experienced in getting
engine No. 127 back on the track, its front
truck being completely off and badly dam
aged. A large crowd of people gathered
to watch the work. The track was cleared
about 10:30 There was no delay to trains
on account of the accident.
Engineer Graham was placed under ar
rest, but Conductor Bresenham went on
to Washington with the train. Mayor
Thompson has ordered an investigation of
the affair to take place tomorrow night at
o'clock. Many witnesses have been sum-
moned and the matter will he thoroughly
sifted. Engineer Graham of the Pennsyi-
vania train in q conversation heard BY
The Star reporter this morning claim OIL