Evening star., 1898-09-21
HEAD-ON COLLISION.
Two Trains Come Together at Ger
mantOwn, Md.

Two trains Come Together at Ger
mantOwn, Md.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
GERMANTOWN, Nd, September 21-A
head-on collision between peach" train
and the Chicago vestibuled limited occurred
last night at this point few minutes past
o'clock. The Chicago limited, which left
Washington at SOo. had come to a full
stop short distance below the switch, in
order to allow the peach train to switch on
the sidirg and give the limited u clear
track ahead.
Engineer Henry Hoffman of the limited
thinking that the switch had been set to
run the peach train the siding was about
10 pun the lever as soon as the south
bound train had passed the switch, yhensto
MS amazement he saw the train laundering
down and pass the switch on the same
track his train on. Together with
Fireman T. b. Anderson he jumped from
the engine.
In the meantime, Benjamin T. Deck, en-
gineer of the peach train, and ]. Z. Malnix,
nreman, realizing their danger. jumped for
their lives. Engineer Deck remained at his
post until after he had applied all of the
airbrakes fast and then he jumped from
his cab. He was badly scalded about the
body and received an injury of the back
1t is thought he is also internally injured.
He was taken to a private residence here
for treatment.
The fireman of the peach train found
brakeman Kelly lying the bank along
side of the train, where he had been thrown
by the force of the collision, He was car
red back and laid on the floor of The bag
gage car and later was also taken to a
residence in Germantown. His injury was
not serious.
The cause of the accident, it is said, was
due to the overlooking of orders by the en-
gineer of the peach train. The peach trafn
which Is known as an extra, was composed
OF seven cars loaded with peaches from
Hagerstown, Md, and one day coach 1t
was drawn by engine No. 524 and was not
a scheduled train. The coach contained
only one passenger, who was not injured.
The engineer of the extra was sup
posed to set the switch for the siding and
remain there until the Chicago train had
passed and then take the main line again
1t was said last night that the engineer
after having passed the switch could not
hold the train, and realizing that an acci-
dent could not be averted applied the
brakes and jumped.
Two cars of the peach train were piled
up in the air above each other. but did not
leave the track. The engines of both trains
were badly damaged, but remained on the
track, with boilers intact and steamed ali
night.
The passengers on the limited were badly
shaken up, but no one was seriously in
jured Conductor ]. W. Smith of the limit
ed had the coaches his train which
could be moved uncoupled from the
wrecked cars, and, with the assistance of
the engine of train No. 9, bound for Cum
berland made up his train on the siding
at midnight
Conductor Andrew Rutter and G. F. Wat
son. brakeman, of train No. IA bound for
Washington, which was directly behind the
peach train, did excellent work in getting
the north and south-bound trains in opera
ton. by use Of the siding, after the wreck
DR.. Simpson of Germantown rendered med
ical aid to the injured trainmen, and had
them removed to private residences
The Hagerstown train, which was sched-
uled to reach Washington last night at 10
o'clock, arrived at 1 o'clock this morning
from the scene of the wreck.