Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-06
CARS
Serious Accident Today on Glen Echo
Electric Railroad.
TWO MEN QUITE SERIOUSLY INJURED
Trains Close Together Before the
Danger Was Realized.
ONE ON WRONG TRACK

O&>A w W ~
A head-on collision occurred this morn
ing about o'clock on the Glen Echo cleo
trio railroad in which two people were
quite badly injured, and a number OF others
slightly hurt. some very painfully. The
collision occurred at a point about half
mile west of the Georgetown and Rockville
pike. Both cars were going at lively
rate of speed at the time. it is said, and it
is regarded as little short of miraculous
that no fatality resulted. There was
rumor circulated to the effect that man
had been killed, but this was not verified.
Passenger car No. Z. west bound. on its
way to Cabin John bridge, collided with
construction car No. 2, east bound, on It's
way to Chevy Chase Circle. The passenger
car was on the left hand track, going west,
the wrong track, it is stated. while the
construction car was travelling on the same
track, where it should run. The scene OF
the collision was near curve. and the
cars were close upon each other before the
danger was realized, or before the MOTOR
man of one knew of the proximity of the
other. There is a small bridge there, ana
on either side of the track there is a luxu-
RANT. growth of foliage and shrubbery, pre-
venting a clear view of the track for any
distance 1t was on this account that each
motorman could not discover the approach
of the other until the cumbersome convey
ances were close upon each other, and then
1t was too late to prevent their onward
progress.
EndeavOred to Avert Accident.
The motormen endeavored to do all In
their power to prevent the accident, 1t Is
said. The brakes were applied and the
current reversed in the shortest possible
~, he IF no
more than sufficient to carry them together.
Notwithstanding the counteracting infiu-
euce of the electric current. The passenger
car telescoped the construction car. Had
it not been for the brakes and the reversed
current the chances are that the accident
would have been a good deal more serious.
The passenger car carried ten people, so
far as 1t can be learned, besides the motor
man and conductor. Several passengers
boarded the car, which was an open one, at
Chevy Chase Circle, and at the Junction
with the TenleytOwn railroad four were
added. Between this place and the scene
Of the accident several other passengers
were picked up. There were several men
on the construction car, one of the old
closed railroad cars which had been set
apart for the uses of repairing the road.
T.. G. Duley, an aged man, who resides
at 21S street northwest. was one of the
victims, and John Hough. aged twenty
three, was another. The latter sustained
a fracture of the right leg. and the former
Is supposed to have sustained a fracture Of
the left leg. Besides the broken leg Hough
was gashed clear through one ear. An
other MAZE passenger was injured about
the wrist. his name not being obtained.
while all on board were more or less Jared
and bruised by the impact of the collision.
The motorman escaped injury and several
of the passengers were fortunate enough In
jumping in time to prevent any serious In
jury to themselves.
Blame Not Located.
Upon whom the blame of the collision IS
to be placed 1t is said. is hard to determine.
The railroad officials were somewhat reti-
cent about the affair. The passenger car
was on the wrong track, but this Is ex
planned by the fact that short distance
east of the accident the road is being re-
paired and the right track may have been
so blocked that the passenger car was
switched to the left track, the presence Of
the construction car being overlooked or
forgotten entirely.
The construction car was almost totally
demolished by the collision. and the pas
senger car was badly wrecked. The heavy
passenger car. in telescoping the lighter
vehicle, split and splintered the woodwork
into kndling iron braces being broken as
though they were pipe stems. The accident
delayed traffic on the road for some little
time.
The two injured men were picked up and
made comfortable near by and as soon as
possible afterward were placed on a car
and brought to the car barn of the George
town and Tenleytown railroad. on 32d
street extended. from which point the po-
lice station was telephoned and the patrol
wagon conveyed the men to tne George
town University Hospital, where Dr. Pot
bury made an examination of their INJURIES
Mr.. Duley, whose age was given as sixty-
six. was so Painfully bruised that a thor
ough explanation was practically impossi-
ble<e the time. While 1t is believed he Is
Offering with broken leg, it may be only
a dislocation.
Statements by Injured Men.
Hough, who is employed by the railroad
as a blacksmith, lives about a mile and
half above Cabin John bridge on the Con-
duit road. He boarded the construction
car on his way to Somerset Heights, where
he had some work to do. He stated to a
Star reporter that he was standing near
the door of the construction car, and when
rounding a curve the passenger car came
right upon them. being about twenty feet
away and going at good rate Of speed.
He started to run back through the car
and had only gone few steps when the
crash occurred. He knew nothing more,
being knocked unconscious, and when he
came to his senses he found himself lying
on a grassy spot alongside the track.
Mr.. Dudley, who occupied cot alongside
of Hough, stated that he was on his way
with Mr.. Tschiffely to Cabin John bridge,
Wnere ne went 10 look after some work.
When he saw the construction car 1t was
almost upon the passenger car He was
sitting in the end seat, to the right, and
the third row from the front. He grasped
hold Of the side post in front Of him, and
when the crash came he was thrown out
and landed on the right-hand track Fear
ing the car would topple over he endeey
ored to crawl away. Mr.. DuleY esmetime
ago had his leg broken and sustained other
injuries. which left hin. somewhat Crippled.
forcing him TO Use stick in walking. He
SELF
Mr.. Tschifely, who was sitting next to
him. escaped injury. He jumped out and
landed by a culvert and was not hurt
There was one lady passenger in the car,
whose pame could not be ascertained. She
was not seriously hurt.
Paying for Extension.
The condemnation proceedings provided