The morning times., 1896-06-14
HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION
Two Men Injured in the Mount
Vernon Road Smash-Up.
MotOrman Alleged to Have Left the
Side Track and Moved With
out Orders.

1t was learned last night that two OF the
employees OF the Washington, Alexandria
and Mount Vernon Electric Railway were
painfully injured in the head ON col
lision, which occurred yesterday morn
ing at point about 200 yards Dorth OF
the powerhouse, at Four Mile Run, as de-
scribed in The Evening Times.
Joseph Grigg OF Alexandria, motorlnan of
train No. IL, uortbbound, had bis shoulder
dislocated by jumping from the flying car.
Robert Cheshire, who was on the rear OF
the same train, controlling the trolley, was
thro wn Violently into the car when the
crash came and had his head severely
cut and one of his arms injured. Motor
man Kerick, of the southbouud train.
No. l12, jumped few seconds before the
crash, but was not Injured.
Train No. II left Alexandria for Wash
ingtop at $50 O'Clock u. M, and it is
claimed it had the right of way.
While rounding the curve just beyond
the po owerhouse, where the track is single,
motor car, No. liz, hove In sight. Both
trains were going ut full speed, it is
said, The two motormen jumped aud
saved their lives, for had they remained
at their posts few seconds later they
would have been crushed to death, the
little stalls in which they stood, having
force of the collision.
The crash of the colliding cars could be
heard for long distance. The motor cars
reared into the air and splinters, bits Of
broken glass, and bolts were sent flying
in every direction.
When a Times reporter visited the scene
of the accident he found the mouths of the
railway employees had been sealed. They
had orders from the officials OF the COM
i'll t,S f:,tp gnrfHinp a ahnut
the accident.
Groups of countrymeD stood about the
wrecked trains discussing the accident. 1t
was reported that u man had been killed,
but this is not true. The report probably
grew out OF Grigg's and Cheshire injuries.
An employe of the road who would talk
was finally found. Hesaid the accident was
due TO disregard Of orders by the motor
man of No. l 2, ,southbouDd, who was steal
ing time" That is, he had no right CD
the track until his car had been passed
by No. / l north bound. But, in his efforts
to gain time, attempted, without the kDowl-
edge of the operator, to steal u few hun
dred yards by passing along from the sid
ing he was ON TO one nearer Alexandria.
The accepted cause of the collision is
that a mistake was made in the orders,
the conductors of both trains having been
told that the track was clear for them,
another train on the track between Wash
iugton and Alexandria.
The block system is not in use on this
line, the telegraph operators at the sta
tons being required TO keep the track
clear from point to point. There were
those about the scene of the accident
who thought one of the operators was
to blame for allowing No. liz to go ahead
toward Alexandria in the face of the
| approaching train, hauled by motor car
No. 1. They also declared that the
block system should be put in operation
with double tracks.
The superintendent of the company visited
the wreck about noon and brought the
| men on the two trains with him to Wash
ington. The telegraph operator at Four
mile Run declined to talk about the COL
| hsion.
He said he received orders from head
quarters not to give out any information.
| The damage to the moto cars is con-
| 81 derable. Those on the scene said
| had the trains been loaded or only half
| filled with passengers, the casualties
would have been terrible.