Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-12
FREIGHT CARS WRECKED
Engine Runs Into Part of Train Left on
Main Track.
b. md o. Locomotive Badly Damaged
and Two Cars DemOlIshed-The Of
fcers Investigating.

There was a serious freight wreck on the
Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad at 4th and T streets north
east about ) o'clock this morning. Two
cars were destroyed and an engine was bad
~ damaged. Several freight cars left stand
ing on the main track caused the acci-
dent. They were struck by engine 2S3 of
ar incoming freight.
Railroad officials have the affair under in
vestigation and the question of whether
proper signals were displayed on the cars
will be determined by them. Until this in
resignation is ended the exact cause of the
accident will not be known.
II is stated that a freight train reached
the lexington yard some time before 8
O'Clock and the cars were being shifted in
orGer to get them on the proper sidings.
While this work was going on several cars
We're left on the main track as stated, The
incoming train reached the T street cross
ing about fifteen minutes before 5 o'clock.
Engineer Charles Lee and Fireman A.
X. Craig We're on the engine. 1t was
not until the moving train was al
most against the freight cars that the
engineer and fireman realized that there
was danger of a collision. Engineer Lee
remained at his post until the crash came
and then managed to get off his engine
with but a few scratches. The fireman
stepped from the engine just before the
collision occurred He was not injured.
Debris Catches Fire.
An instant after the engine struck the
debris caught fire. An alarm was turned
in by some unknown citizen from box 61S,
and the fire department was called out.
The engines experienced some trouble
reaching the place over the ice-covered
streets. Despite the cold weather a number
of citizens turned "A a the
and a number of railroad men were also
sent out from the depot. The extent of the
damage could not be ascertained until after
daybreak, after the flames had been eXtin-
guished. Wreckers We're upon the scene
soon after the collision occurred, and by 0
o'clock the debris had been cleared from
the track. A delay of few minutes was
caused to moving trains. Fortunately the
northbound track was not much INSTRUCTED.
There was caboose at the end of the
train struck by the engine, and this car
was completely demolished. Fragments of
wood and iron left were thrown down the
embankment adjoining the tracks. The
freight car next to the cabooSe was also de-
strOyed The front of the engine was
smashed in and the cab was badly charred
by the flames.
The Escaping Steam.
Escaping steam made it impossible for
the railroad men to get near the engine for
several minutes to attempt to extinguish
the fire.
A car filled with live chickens was in the
rear of the demolished engine This car
was badly damaged and a few chickens
were liberated. Others were imprisoned be-
tween the coOps and the side of the car.
The car was an open one and citizens who
We're upon the scene during the early morn
ing hours expressed Indignation because the
fowls had not been removed.
Terminal Agent Legge said to a Star re-
porter that the damage would amount to
only few hundred dollars He said he did
not know what was the cause of the acct
dent and could not know until the investi-
CATION Is finished.