The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-26
ELECTRIC CARS COLLIDE
Passenger Laden Trains Meet
Head-0n Near Four Mile Run.
A Serious Accident on the Tracks of
the Washington. Alexandria and
Mount Vernon RniIway-Mupy Per-
sons Injured-Au VIII Recover.

the Washington. Alexandria and
Mount Vernon RniIway-Many Per
sons Iniured-Au VIII Recover.
A head-on collision between north and
south-bound trains of the Washington
Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railroad
occurred yesterday morning at 6:5C
o'clock about halfway between Addison
Heights and Four-Mile Run. As a result
one man is expected to die. another is Sc
riously injured and thirty or more persons
are more or less slightly injured. In fact,
almost every passenger on both trains
carries bruises or scratches or suffers
from shock.
The cars were badly wrecked. The
motors of both trains were completely dis
abled. and every window in the four cars
comprising the two trains was broken.
The seats in one of the cars were wrench
ed and twisted from their fastenings.
Those seriously injured are:
William Jones, of Philadelphia, about
forty-two years old. who has been living
In Washington. and is employed at Fort
Washington; badly bruised about the head,
body, and limbs, internal injuries proba-
BILE, no bones broken, suffering intensely
from shock. Taken to the Alexandria In
Urinary.
W Imam SIMPSON, lofty years Olu, u
bricklayer. of SO Franklin Street, Alex
andria; spine badly wrenched. numerous
bruises and injured internally. Taken to
his home.
Mr.. Hurst, Of 400 South Alfred Street,
Alexandria. employed at night in WASH
ington; badly cut about the head and leg
severely bruised. Taken to his home.
Others less seriously injured are:
Edwin \. Riley. of 100 South Lee Street,
Alexandria. employed in Washington,
right hand badly mashed and suffering
from shock: James Wood, of Alexandria,
a painter left wrist severely wrenched;
Andrew Atcheson, of Alexandria, a ma
chinist In the Navy Yard, bruised about
the face and head, and nose badly hurt;
Harry Smith. of Fayette Street, AleXan-
dria, shoulder bruised and head cut; Sid
ney Smith. 1l25 Prince Street, Alexandria,
body bruised and face slightly cut by
glass; Edward Campbell, 100 South Fay
cite Street, Alexandria, bruised about
head and shoulder and cut by glass; Ber-
nard Rudd, of Washington, knee cut and
hand injured by broken glass; Sylvester
Breen. Alexandria, thigh injured; Ernest
Dreifus. l20 South Payne Street, Alexan-
dria, face and hands cut by broken glass;
John Mcfarland, 1G1S King Street. Alex
andria. face and hands cut by broken
glass; William Hall, 1903 King Street
Alexandria. head and body bruised and
face cut: Frank Church, King Street,
Alexandria. back injured; Frederick Roat,
West End Alexandria, face cut by broken
glass and bruised about the body; Thomas
Spinks, Duke Street. Alexandria. face cut
by glass and body badly bruised: Will
liam Wood. Alexandria, bruised about the
body and head; Robert B. Robinson
Alexandra, President of the John Hay
Industrial School, legs bruised.
With the exception of Jones. Simpson,
and Hurst, all of the injured after re-
ceiving the proper medical attention were
able TO take care Of themselves.
Jones was a passenger on the south
bound train with a party of others employ
ed at Fort Washington. At the AleXan-
dria Infirmary. where he was taken after
the accident, the matron In charge stated
that his condition was very serious; that
he was in a high state of nervous excite
ment. and suffering severely. No one was
permitted to see him. The matron stated
that the man was mashed from head 10
foot, and that 1t is doubtful If he will
live
1t was supposed at first that Simpsons
back was broken, but examination dis
closed that he was suffering from severe
wrench of the spine. No bones were
broken. His back is badly bruised, swol-
len. and blistered where~he was struck
by a piece of flying iron. Simpson was on
the north-bound train, as was Mr.. Hurst,
whose injuries, while severe, are not so
serious Hurst was badly cut about the
eyes by broken glass.
The northbound train left Alexandria
for Washington on schedule time. at 6:25
o clock The train carried passengers to
the estimated number of $50. who were
going TO their labors in Washington.
The train consisted of motor car No.
and trailer No. III. 1t was in charge of
Walter Batey. motorman; Ed Davis,
trolleyman, and Benjamin Whaley. con-
ductor.
The scuthbound train left Washington
at 6:3N O'Clock. 1t consisted of motor car
No and trailer No. lo6, and was in
charge of Edward Atwell, motorman; w.
a. Smoot, trolleyman, and j. A. Brawner,
conductor. The train was also well filled
with passengers.
About midway between Addison
Heights and Four Mile Run is siding.
The northbound train has the right OF
way, and it is the rule of the road that
the southbOund train, which is due at
the siding several minutes before the
northbound train, Shall wait there for the
northbound train to pass. When the
southbound train Is unable to make the
siding on schedule time IL is the rule of
the road that il shall wait at the pre-
ceding siding.
A heavy fog enveloped the road during
the morning, and objects fifty feet ahead
were indistinguisha5ie. The northbound
train passed the siding where 1t expected
to meet the SOuthbound train before ii
was noticed that the southbound tain
was not in waiting. The motorman, ex-
pecting that the other train would wait
at the next siding, urged his train TO
greater speed. The southbound train.
however had pushed forward, expecting
to make the siding in time, and was
under great headway for the purpose of
making up lost time.
The fog being heavy, the two trains
were within fifty feet of each other be-
fore the motorTnen realized the danger
il is believed that each endeavored to re-
verse the lever, before making the effort
TO extricate themselves from the vesti-
bules OF their respective motor cars. Both
leaped almost at the moment of impact,