The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-29
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT.
A Claim for Damages to a Country
mans Horses.
Asked for Injuries in
n Collision with Chemical Engine
No. I-Pctitioner Confused by the
Excessive Speed of tile Apparatus.

| No. I-Pctitioner Confused by the
| Excessive Speed of tile Apparatus.
| AS result of The accident at Eleventh
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue last Thurs
! day, when No. chemical engine coliided
| with team driven by John b. Lewis, of
Surrattsyille, Md, the Commissioners are
in receipt of an application from the attor-
neys of the latter. Messrs. Birney &
! Woodward, for comper saton for the in
| juries sustained by his horses.
| 'On August -, the attorneys say. Mr..
Lewis, who is a countryman, living out
side the city of Washington, was driving
| his team of two horses and wagon on
| the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue
between Tenth and Eleventh Streets when
| he was run into by fire engine. In the
collision both of Mr. Lewis s. horses were
{ injured one of them being Icut badly
| upon the foot and the other suffering
some slight abrasons. -sf
| An alarm of fire had been sounded
| few minutes before the accident, and the
| engine in question was on its way to the
| fire box on Tenth Street, being driven at
| the very high rate of speed usually adopt
| ed in running to fires. So far as we have
| information at present in the premises,
| both MIR. Lewis and the driver of the
| engine did the best they could in the very
| few moments given them to act, to avoid
| collision. MIR. Lewis did not hear the
| alarm or see the engine coming toward
| him until it was too late to get his slow
! moving horses entirely out of the way,
| but he pulled them to the right in the
! expectation that the engine horses would
| be also drawn to the right, and that in
this way they would avoid each other.
.x-iA. tl.-
thinking that his best chance to avoid the
collision which seemed inevitable was
to pull to the left, took this action, and
| while he nearly avoided striking Mr..
Lewis team, and did less damage than a
full collision would have cost, yet injury
was done, such injury being due wholly
to the high rate of speed adopted in driv-
ing the District horses. The loss imposed
upon Mr. Lewis is not very great, and
can, we think, be easily adjusted, II you
will consent to pay it.
I'VE claim for Mr.. Lewis only the &C
| tual loss sustained. and, in view of the
fact that he is a very poor man, depend
ing almost entirely upon this team in
getting his livelihood, we ask your very
early determination If his actual damages
will be allowed by you i..i-
The Acting Chief Engineer of the Fire
Department, William T. Belt, has made
| the following report regarding the acci-
dent: n-'
THE afternoon of the day Of the ac
cident Mr.. Lewis called at headquarters,
and claiming that the collision was due
to negligence on the part of the driver of
| the chemical engine, demanded compensa-
ton to the amount of 500. Believing that
the collision was due to negligence on the
i
fused to recommend that he be allowed
any compensation whatever.
Mr. Lewis claimed that one of the two
horses attached to his team was worth
500. and that the other was worth a Mt
tie less. He also claimed that one OF the
animals, the one which he valued at WV,
was permanently injured.
The department directed Assistant Chief
Engineer Wagner, in charge of the horses
of the department, and DR.. Robinson, the
District veterinarian, to carefully exam
inc the horses belonging; to Mr.. Lewis,
and they reported that the more valua-
BILE one was worth between $40 and 800
and the other between $50 and $50. Mr..
Lewis stated during his call at headquar-
ters that his eyesight was very poor and
that his hearing is not good. Tie was
surprised to hear though he stated that
he has been coming to Washington for
forty years, that the apparatus of the
Fire Department has the right of way
over all other vehicles, and that to teams
and pedestrians the bells and gongs OF
this departments apparatus. upon being
sounded. constitute "A warning to clear
the road.
From reports received by the depart
ment, it is believed that the collision was
an unavoidable one, because MIR. Lewis,
instead of keeping in the direction which
he first turned his horses when he be-
came aware of the rapidly approaching
engine. turned them right into the way of
the apparatus. and that Mr.. Lewis, If
not entirely responsible therefor, was at
least guilty of cOntributory negligence.
This position the department took this
day when A. A. Birney, attorney for Mr..
Lewis, called at headquarters to file
claim for damages. The department
therefore regrets that it cannot recon-
mend that damages be allowed Mr..
Lewis
Commissioner Ross, in passing finally
upon the claim of Mr.. Lewis, refuses
compensation. lie says. that he is inform
ed by the Auditor that damages to an
amount exceeding the sums Of so and
SIS have not been paid by the District
without d judgment in court, and when
so paid are paid out of the contingent
fund i-a
The District Commissioners have direct
ed, under orders dated August q, as fol-
lows:
That the parking in front of the Sixth
precinct stationhouse be raised TO grade,
also the cement lead and fence. and that
the fence be painted; estimated cost S115.
chargeable to appropriation for replacing
and repairing sidewalks around munich
pal buildings.
That catch basins be constructed as fol-
lows, chargeable to the appropriation for
| main and pipe sewers: AT the northeast
corner Of Fourth and Cincinnati Streets,
basin and Is feet of connection, estimated
cost IS: near the northeast corner of
Fourth and Albany Streets, basin and %
feet OF connection, estimated cost $50
That " feet Of 3-inch water main be laid
in alley of square 551, to serve lot 1872; es-
timated cost $li2
That ESQ feet OF 6-inch water main be