Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-03
WAS A MISPLACED SWITCH
VERDICT RECITING CAUSE OF FATAL
RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
Conductor Killed and Several Pass.
engers and Others Slightly Injured
"A Brakeman's Haste.

The desire of a brakeman to go OFF duty
with the least possible delay 1t Ia stated
resulted last night at Chesapeake Junction
In the death of one person, the painful and
perhaps serious injury OF another and the
slight bruisng Of several more. regular
passenger train OF the Chesapeake Beach
railway ran onto the wrong track and
against a motioness trAin OF empty cars.
Conductor ]. w. Gilbert of the passenger
train was thrown to the ground and in
stantly killed. Mrs. Fabian Columbus
was injured internally. the seriousness of
which has not yet been definitely deter
mined; and, 1t is reported. Engineer Gam
BILE Kelly, Fireman John P. Hurd, Mrs. j.
D. Boerng, E. Louis Robinson, Jesse Roll
Inns, John P. Clark Mrs. c. NJ. Buck and
Mrs. A. A. Sullivan We're severely shaken,
bruised or scratched. -slrs
The train on which the persons named
were being transported left Chesapeake
Beach at 8 o'clock last evening and slowed
up approaching the Junction at 1910
o'clock. 1t should have passed along the
track the north side of the junction sta
ton and there halted. It swerved. suddenly
to the south, however. and although the
air brakes were Immediately clapped on, 1t
struck against the end car of a line Of
empty coaches. Engineer Gilbert, valise
IL hand, was on the rear platform of the
car next to the end Of the moving train at
the time. 1t is supposed the jar threw him
off, and although outward sign of in
jury was visible, his death, as stated, was
instantaneous Mrs. Columbus was struck
on the hip by the arm-piece Of a car seat
The others were injured in various ways as
q result Of the jar.
Lieut. Daley OF the ninth police precinct
and number Of his subordinates were at
the junction at the time and rendered val
liable assistance. Those who were hurt re-
ceived proper attention. The railway COM
pany's surgeon and several other physicians
were dispatched to the scene Of the occur
renee as quickly possible.
Inquest Held.
Justice OF the Peace Behrend Of Prince
Georges county, Nd. held an inquest over
the remains Of Conductor Gilbert at the
junction at o'clock this morning A jury
was sworn and a number Of witnesses were
examined. One of the physicians testified
that In his opinion death was due to shock.
The jury reported a verdict to the effect
that Conductor Gilbert came to his death
by being thrown from the platform Of a
coach of his train. From the evidence the
jury found that misplaced switch caused
an incoming train to collide with empty
coaches, causing Conductor Gilbert to fall
from the train described.
AS soon az he heard of what had happened
President Otto Mears of the Chesapeake
Beach Railway Company proceeded to the
junction and began an investigation. His
explanation is that the brakeman of a
train that arrived early during the evening,
after seeing that his empty coaches were
side tracked, hastily locked the switch,
care.essly emitting the usual method to
assure himself that the switch was closed.
The incoming passenger train, 1t Is de-
clared, pulled up to the junction at the
rate of only four miles an hour. AS soon as
the engine turned off the main track every
effort was made to bring the train to an
instant standstill. The momentum, how
ever, was such that 1t struck the end Of
the empty train. The coming together was
sufficient to halt the train Conductor Gil
bert, who was a heavy man. weighing $50
pounds, was on a platform prepared to
alight at the earliest possible moment. The
sudden stopping threw him of. He prob
bly, struck on his head. The passengers for
the most part were in the aisles or stand
ing, making ready to disembark, for ar
rival at the junction had been announced
by the brakemen. Mr. w. A. Beerbower,
superintendent of the road. was on the
Platform of the car directly In the rear OF
that on which Conductor Gilbert had been
located. He reports that he was not even
Jared. = 4
Shock Was slight.
1.-The shock was no greater than that fol-
lowing the ordinary couplings of railroad
cars says President Mears. THE fact
that fully 200 passengers left the train
without being aware that anything unusual
had occurred Is evidence that the accident.
II 1t can be SO called, was not Of great mag
nitude. 1t should also be borne in mind
that the equipment-not, even the fender Of
the locomotive-was injured in the slightest
degree
Conductor Gilbert was held In high re-
gard by the officials Of the railway COM
pany, who were deeply affected by his
death. He was formerly employed on the
Southern Pacific railway and had been here
less than year. His remains were taken
to the undertaking establishment Of Mr.. II.
w. Barker and this afternoon were re-
moved to his late residence sS1 18th street
northeast. Funeral arrangements have not
yet been completed
Mrs. Columbus. while suffering consider
! ably, was reported to be In as satisfactory
condition this afternoon as could be ex-
pected Her physician has not determined
the extent OF her injuries. but does not con-
slider them of a fatal character. She Is at
her home. Ala New York avenue.