The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08

The jury Of inquest convened by Coroner
Carr, at No. station yesterday decided
that Fireman Martin INLAND died at Gar
. field Hospital Friday afternoon as the re-
suit of injuries sustained in a collision be-
tween car No. 25 of the Metropolitan Rail-
way. and No. hose carriage. at the cor.
ner of Ninth and R Streets. on the after
noon Of July 2. The jury further decided
that the collision was an unavoidable ac-
cident, for which they could hold no one
responsible.
The inquest was a long drawn gu; af-
fair, in which sixteen witnesses testified.
The railway company was represented by
Attorney George p. Hoover. The Fire De-
partment was not represented, except by
witnesses.
Previous to the inquest the jury viewed
the body of INLAND at Gawler's undertake
ing establishment The arrangements for
the funeral have not been completed.
1t developed after the inquest that de-
spite the fact that INLAND suffered frac-
ture Of the skull and of three ribs. he
walked about at Garfield Hospital two
hours prior TO his death.
inc SOrOnef's Enquiry.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified to
performing an autopsy on the body Of
INLAND at Garfield Hospital Friday after
noon. The body was apparently that of
delicate man. There were slight bruises
on both knees, one arm. and the right
hip. There was also wound over the
right eye and one near the ear. They were
the external injuries. When the skull
was opened a fracture was revealed as
was blood clot indicating hemorrhage.
An examination of the body showed that
though there were no bruises on the chest,
the fourth rib was featured near the neart.
The fifth and sixth ribs were also frac-
tured and had pierced the lung. Hemor-
rhage had followed. An examination of
the lungs showed that tuberculosis existed
in advanced stage. The death,
however, in the opinion of DR.. Glazebrook,
was due to the injuries sustained in the
accident.
J. H. Stewart, colored. of 1872 Twelfth
Street, was walking south in Ninth Street,
near French Street, when the accident
occurred. An electric car was moving
south at about twelve miles an hour. Wit
ness heard the bells of a fire engine and
then saw a hose carriage dash out of r
Street. going east. There was collision
and men were hurled into the air. Stew
art could no; say whether the motorman
tried to stop his car. In the opinion of
Stewart neither the motorman Of the car
nor the driver of the hose carriage could
have avoided the collision. In answer to
a question Stewart said the motorman was
sounding his gong.
Looked for nm Accident.
Mrs Garry Schneider, whose home is
at Ninth and Streets, was standing on
her doorstep when the collision occurred.
She ran to her door at the approach Of
the engines. She had seen many narrow
escapes from collisions at the crossing
and generally watched when the engines
crossed Ninth Street, expecting some time
TO see an accident. She saw the hose car
riage coming east in r Street. but did not
see the car until the crash. Mrs. Schnei- |
der was sure the car struck the hose car |
rage about its centre. The horses had |
cleared the track when the collision oc-
Cured
Mrs Schneider was followed by her
daughter. Miss Lille Schneider, who cor
roborated her mothers evidence. In her !
opinion the car was moving at an unus al
rate of speed and the collision, under the
was unavoidable. In an
swer to question Miss Schneider admit Ell
she no judge of speed. Witness heard
the gong of the car and the bell OF the /
hose carriage. In answer to another ques-
ton Miss Schneider said she based her |
opinion as to the speed of the car on |
what her mother had said, and the fact |
that the gong was ringing.
George Smith, colored. of 627 Pomeroy
Street, was in Ninth Street near X Street
at the time of the accident. He saw 10th
ing of the hose carriage until he heard the
crash as the car and hose carriage came |
together. Smith had noticed the car COM
ing south. He did not hear the gong ring
ing In his opinion the car was moving at
a moderate rate of speed.
George w. Hare. colored, Of 2o2i Bright
wood Avenue, threw no additional light on
the matter. though he told clear story. he
was riding his bicycle in R Street when the
hose carriage and engine left the engine
house. He watched the hose carriage 60
ing east until it struck the car. Hall did
not see the car until 1t crossed the build
ing line. The hose carriage was then on
the track. The motorman of the car had
HE hand on the brake when the crash
came. In the opinion OF Hall the car was
moving at rapid rate of speed.
Foreman WaEner's story.
Foreman Frank J. Wagner, OF No.
IRE company next took the stand He
was riding on the hose carriage, en- route
10 fire. Driver Kensinger was seated on
the right side OF the box, and Foreman
Wagner was seated on the left side When
he hose carriage was within about thirty
Get of the car tracks the electric car
appeared. going south. The car was about
100 feet distant from the point where the
lose carriage would cross the tracks The |
lorses were moving at a lope or at about |
welye miles an hour. The car was NOV |
ng at much greater speed
Attorney Hoover asked Wagner IL he
meant to say that the car moved 100 feet
While the hose carriage was covering but .
v feet, thus making the speed of the car .
bout SO miles an hour Witness answered .
hat be could not state exactly the speed
u the hose carriage or of the car He
hought he had time TO cross the tracks
efore the car would strike the hose car
iage and ordered the driver to urge the .
orses TO make sure of avoiding COL
sion.
Driver Kensinger corroborated Foreman
wagner In detail. except that he could b
OF state the speed OF the car. Kensjnger | n
ppeared bewildered when testifying and g
eemed to suffer considerable pain from his ,
lsht arr, which he carried in sling as |
ne result OF the collision. In answer 10 a
uestlon hensinger could not say what he
hought as to his chances of crossing tho =
RACKS In front of the car He did NO, L
tempt to avoid collision bu, con,i,,,as |
cross Ninth Street e
Daniel Jones. colored boy was n, III. q
orner OF Ninth and Streets whom ~
oilsion occurred. He saw the approach
the car and hose carriage, and fearing Il
smash-up, waved his hands at the motor.
IAN oil the car as warning The car
!. oek inc reel while moving at good q :.
kZ a. Z