Evening star., 1901-02-07
Collision Between Truck and Street
Car on Connecticut Avenue.
TRAINMEN PLACED UNDER ARREST
Two of the Injured Men Conveyed
to Emergency Hospital.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED D

While responding to an alarm of fire
turned in from box So about 8 O clock this
morning truck B was struck by one of the
big yellow ears of the Metropolitan Rail-
way Company at Connecticut avenue and
NJ street. Three firemen who were riding
on the truck were injured and the appartus
was badly damaged The street car was
also damaged Explanations of the affair
were promptly made by the fremen, in
which they placed the blame on the mo-
torman, while the men who were in charge
of the car refused to make statements
Foreman Z. j. Donohue, forty-one years
old. living at 1115 22d street northwest, was
injured about the right arm leg and back.
He is at his home under the care of Dr.
Mayfield, and it is expected that he will be
able to return to duty in couple of weeks
Private Charles A. Keefe, thirty-two
years old. who with his wife and one child,
lives at No. 1884 North Capitol street. and
Private John j. Ryan, twenty-five, years
old, unmarried, who lives at 1923 10th
street northwest. are under treatment at
the Emergency Hospital. Both men are
dangerously hurt, and it is feared that
Keefe will not recover. His injuries con-
sist of a broken shoulder, serious injury to
the back and internal hurts. Both of Ry-
ans legs were broken below the knee and
he was considerably bruised about the
body. The doctors think he will recover
Keefe was at one time connected with the
police force ard is brother of Jack
Keefe. the base ball player
District Commissioner Macfarland was
the first officia! to call on the injured men,
He was very much distressed over the af-
fair and gave orders for a thorough 1nNeS-
tisatiOn Chief Paris was also early
to no truc house and lOSDital. and
said the accident was undoubtedly due to
the rule requiring the cars to stop on the
far side of crossings.
NotOrman and Conductor Arrested.
Motorman John Larne and Conductor
Thomas Davis who were in charge of the
car, were taken to the third precinct sta
ton to be held until the extent of the
fIemen's injuries can be definitely deter
mined In the event OF the death Of one
or more of the victims, the motorman and
conductor Will be required TO appear at
the inquest.
The fire for which the alarm was turned
in occurred in the house of j. E. Williams,
No. 1927 NJ street, and was caused by a
suppoSed defective f1ue. Damage to the
house and contents amounted to not more
than 500 When the accident occurred
which disabled truck B. one of the firemen
summoned truck company to respond to
the alarm.
The NJ street crossing on Connecticut
avenue is regarded by the firemen as a
dangerous place, because truck 3 usually
crosses the electric road at this point in
responding to alarms turned in from boxes
east of Connecticut avenue. For this rea-
son the driver almost invariably slows
down, and such was the case this morning,
according TO statements made by the tire
men and some OF the witnesses OF the ac-
cident. Several passengers in the street
car were thrown from their seats when
the collision occurred. but 50 far as has
been reported they We're not badly hurt
Soon after the accident happened a num-
Der of people congregated on the street.
and everybody was. willing to assist in re-
moving the disabled firemen to places where
they could be given medical treatment.
Although two of the three victims were
seriously injured. they were not rendered
unconscious. Keefe and Donohue were
taken to the house of DIR. J. r. Bromwell
No. 1i4I Connecticut avenue, and Ryan
taken to cigar store on NJ street
where he was also seen by physician
The third precinct patrol wagon was sum
moned and after keefe and Ryan had
been removed to the Emergency Hospital
the vehicle returned and Foreman Donohue
was taken TO his home. Relatives of the
men >taken to the hospital were notified of
the accident, and they went at once to the
institution to ascertain The result of the
injuries.
Dan Williams Was Driving.
Driver Dan Williams colored, was ham
ding the reins this morning, as he had
done during a number of years. Foreman
Donohue was standing on the turntable be-
side the driver. and the other members were
at their usual places on the truck, with
Assistant Foreman George II. Reynolds at
the wheel in the rear. Foreman Donohue
began ringing the bell when the truck
lett the house and had not stopped sound
ing il when the truck neared the railway
crossing and he saw the car coming forth
as he says, going AT a high rate of speed
1 ne horses were also making good time
but were not moving as rapidly as they
had been before they approached Connecti-
cut avenue.
We can't avoid a collision" Foreman
Donohue said to the driver; pull up Con-
necticut avenue, quick
The foreman clung to the truck as the
driver made an effort to turn north on Con-
necticut avenue. The truck was on the
track in instant and the street car
struck it just behind the horses. Dan Will
Iiams, the driver, was thrown from his seat
and he fell between the horses, while Fore
man Donohue was pinned against the truck
and the car. His first thought was to save
the driver, for he feared the horses would
run away, and that the heavy truck might
pass over him. The foreman was soon on
the ground, but he was so stunned that he
could hardly stand. His fire hat undoubted-
" saved him from more serious injury for
it was badly smashed by coming in con-
tact with the truck when the wearer of 1t
was thrown violently against the ladder.
from the truck, and part of the latter's
clothing was torn from his body.
Keefe was on the running board just be-
hiEd the foreman, and it is believed he was
struck by the car Behind him stood
Ryan, who was injured when the side lad
der was splintered. He was also thrown to
the ground. and the rear wheels of the
truck touched his legs, but it is believed
tLey did not pass over them. Neither of
the two men seriously hurt was able to
stand. What became of the motorman the
firemen are unable to say, but they express
the belief that he jumped from his car
when he realized that an accident was un-
avoidable, or just after the two heavy We
hicles came together. Besides receiving
several scratches about his legs he was
not injured
1t is stated that a pedestrian who saw
the danger waived to the notorman to
stop, but that the latter thinking he want
ed to get on the car, intended to stop on
the far side of the crossing.
Statements by Chief and Foreman.
Foreman Donohue said he had been go
ing over the Connecticut avenue crossing in
the service of the fire department for six
teen VaarS and this nonrnipp'c affair