Evening star., 1898-09-06
Fireman and Brakeman Killed and
Engineer Severely Injured.
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT ON A RAILWAY
William E. Reynolds Arrested and
Held for an Investigation.
CORONER TO HOLD INQUEST

Gus injury to a third. The killed are Fire
man Frederick Freeland and Brakeman Ed
ward F. Cooper. Engineer Darius Har-
man was terribly burned and scalded and
had to be taken to the Emergency Hospi
tai. This morning he was in an extremely
critical condition.
Operator William E. Reynolds, whose
alleged mistake caused the fatal accident.
was arrested by Policeman McGrath and
held to await the action of the coroner's
jury. 1t is charged that he mistook a
freight train for trolley car and before he
realized the mistake the freight came thun-
dering along and the failure of the signal
instrument and switch paddle to operate
threw the freight on the open switch
The freight train was made up of engine
NO. 1OS, two cattle cars and a cabooSe. The
cattle cars contained cows, calves and
sheep. and the train had come from GUAM
tico in charge of Conductor Edward T.
Thornberry Engineer Darius Harman,
Fireman Frederick Freeland. Brakemen
Benjamin 2. Cooper and George Butte and
Flagnfan Patrick Mcmahon. Operator Rey-
nolds was on duty in the tower, where he
had charge Of the several instruments
which guide the movements of steam rail-
road trains and trolley cars.
When the train entered upon the bridge
there was nothing about the signals TO
show that the track was occupied, and as
the north end of the bridge was neared
the engine put on steam enough 20 take
the train up the steep grade Just north and
east of the bridge.
Engine and Cars Derailed.
Hardly hld the engine cleared the end
of the bridge when the open switch was
encountered. and Engineer Harman then
knew there was something wrong. An In
stant later his engine was derailed and it
was topping over. There was no human
IA
and as soon as the engine was on it's side
the engineer started to climb out the cab
window Before he could get away, how
ever there was terrific explosion. which
was followed by escaping steam from the
boiler. The steam and hot water inflicted
terrible injuries to the engineer. Behind
the engine came the tender filled with
coal. 1t left the track with the engine, ard
also overturned. Following these came the
cattle cars. and these We're deraled, caus-
ing the railroad fence to go down.
The opening of the switch In itself. 1t Is
said. would not have caused the accident
but the turn in the track leading up 1ith
street for the electric cars was too sharp
for the engine. This caused a separation
of the rails and the consequent derailment
of the cars.
Willing Hands Assist.
The explosion of the engine made so loud
a report that large crowd soon gathered
and willing hands went to work in an eff
fort to rescue Fireman Freeland and
Brakeman Cooper, who were the only ones
missing. Communication with the officials
at the depot was also had. and a wrecking
train was dispatched to the scene of the
fatal accident. Members of the crew who.
escaped injury worked as hard as men
could, hoping they would be able to save
at least one of the missing ones before
death claimed him. Brakeman Cooper's
body was first found, he having been buried
hpn n the nnaI fpnY t11h J.
dead when his co-workers reached him,
and his body was removed from the scene
of the wreck. The work on the mass of
ruins was continued, but it was not until
the Wreckers arrived that Freemans body
was removed from beneath the engine
Both bodies were removed to the morgue
Policeman McGrath who was at Maryland
ave nue. and 11th street when ne heard tha
explosion, was among those who responded
and rendered assistance. He saw that En-
gileer Harman was removed to the Emer-
gency Hospital for treatment as soon as
possible When the officer heard that the
accident was probably tae result of mis-
take on the part of the operator, the latter
was placed under arrest and sent to the
fourth precinct station to be detained until
jury passes upon the case.
Causes Excitement.
Everybody in the vicinity of the wreck
was very much excited when Policeman
McGrath reached the scene. Charges and
counter-charges of responsibility were
made, and it was not until thu officer heard
of the operators alleged mistake that he
determined to arrest him. When placed
under arrest Reynolds seemed greatly wor-
ried, and regretted very much that the two
lives had been lost. At first he was in
cl1ned to belieye the fault did not rest in
the tower. but after reaching the police sta
tion he made an explanation. He said he
mistook the freight for a trolley car and
set the switch accordingly.
Discovers His Mistake.
When he realized his mistake he e:ideav-
ored to throw the danger signal to stop
the train and then he made an effort to
throw the switch. Neither instrument, he
said, would work. Instead of being put in
cell he was made comfortable in the
lcdgers' room.
1t is stated by some of the railroad men
that the paddle was set for the freight
while the switch was set for the electric
trains. 1t '.ppears that an electric train
was due at this end of the bridge about
the time the freight appeared.
Most of the trajnmen were reticent about
the affair. and said they would reserve
their statements until the coroner sum-
moned them to appear before jury.
Search for Victims.
The work OF the trainmen in searching
for the missing members of their crew was
SAD one. AS soon as the steam exhaust
ed and they were able to go nears the de-
rallied cars they began upon the debris with
picks and shovels. as well as crowbars
They were not long in finding Cooper's body
and soon afterward they discovered the
body of Freeland, pinned on the track be-
meath the engine. The latter had evidently
come in contact with the escaping steam
and then with the fire from the engine or
the hot iron. as was shown by its charred
condition. He had then been dead a con-
siderable time.
Benjamin f. Cooper, the dead brakeman,
lived at 12S street southeast, only short
distance from the canal. He was only
about thirty years old and had been in the
railroad companys employ for about five
years. He leaves widow. but no children.
Frederick Freeland, the fireman, who was
also instantly killed, was only twenty-eight
years old, and was unmarried. He lived ar
220 New Jersey avenue southeast
Darius Harman, the injured engineer, is
about thirty-f1ve years old, and has been in
the service of the company for about ten
years. He has a wife and child. His home
Is at No. 7f9 9th street southeast.
Officers Investigating.
AS soon Acting Lieut. Dunnigau heard
of tie wreck he detailed Precinct Detective