The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-08

is another weighty argument for the
stopping of all street cars on the near
side of the street. III the near side rule
had been in effect this accident could
ed that the police regulations governing
the stopping of cars be changed at the
time of the accident at Ninth and r
Streets some months ago, and this acci-
: dent is only another instance Of the ne
cessity for the change"
Motorman Larne. when seen last night
at the Third precinct station, told a re-
porter that he did his utmost to avoid
the collision. He said he had been in the
employ of the railroad twenty-five years
and has never had an accident until that
of yesterday. Mr.. Larne, moreover.
thinks his detention overnight by the
police an unnecessary hardship. as he
said he was ready at any time to appear
at the inquest over the body of the dead
fireman.
81 was in charge of the motor of the
Georgetown car said Mr. Larne. land
was going west along Connecticut Avenue
at about five miles an hour when the ac-
cident took place. | did not see the truck
approaching. and not until the car was
within few feet of the vehicle did no.
tice the danger. Then 1 reversed my mo-
tor, but it was too late to avoid a col
lision. At no time did hear the changing
of the bell on the truck
| Mr.. Larne said he had stopped his car
at De Sales Street for a passenger, and
that he had but half block to run his
car before the accident took place. He
| says. moreover that he was himself
! stunned by being thrown back against the
forward doors of the car. when the col
| lision occurred. and 1t was several min
| utes before he was able to leave the car
! Conductor Thomas Davis was aboard
( the car which collided with the truck
| He was seen last night and said that he
| had Just finished collecting fares in the
car. and gone to the rear platform when
the car and truck came together with
considerable force. He did not hear the
| warning bell changing on the truck nor
| did he notice the approach of the fire ap-
paratus until the collision took place
Mr. Davis was busy preparing report of
the accident last night. presumably for
| the officials of the railroad company
Commissioner mcfarland who has i'm
mediate charge of matters pertaining to
the Fire Department, heard of the acct
dent shortly after II occurred and at
once visited the injured men to see
that everything possible was being
done for them. He called on Dono-
hoe at his home and found him resting
quietly with injuries which did not seem
to be of serious character. The Com
missioner then went to the Emergency
Hospital and saw Ryan and Keefe
Commissioner Mcfarland listened to
the statement of Fireman Ryan relative
to the accident and came away convinced
that it was not the fault of the firemen
that the collision had occurred. The Com
missioner returned to his Office much dis |
tressed over the matter and Immediately I
set about seeing what could be done to I
avert the repetition of such accidents.
After getting all the facts in hand Com
missioner Macfarland called meeting of /
a I'd md ho cub ~ he I,,,t
was considered very carefully. The board .
decided that the first thing TO do was to 1
go to the Capitol and urge before the 4
committees on the District of Columbia /
the passage of the bill recently sent to /
them to regulate the weight. speed and /
size of the cars to be operated on the I
street railways of the city.
The Commissioners went to the Capitol /
a few minutes before ~ O'Clock and had
conferences with both Senator Mcmillan /
and Mr.. Babcock, telling them of the ac-
cident and Of their desire for the passage
of the bill. 1t is understood that the
chairman of each committee promised 10
bring the bills before their committees
and to consider them carefully The Com
missioners rest their action there for the
present, but will consider at future time
what they may do In case the Street Rail-
road bill Is not acted upon by Congress
at this session.
III SpcdhIils Oi tue ltkdf dSptClS Oh tDt
question yesterday afternoon Commits
sioner mcfarland said to a reporter for
The Times that while the present laws
apparently gave the Commissioners full |
control of the speed of railways the ques-
tion of penalty was of such a character
that they are practically helpless to en-
force their regulations. To do so he said
1t would be necessary to send out upon
the lines a large number of policemen
with stop watches to test the speed of
cars. He stated that the policemen are
not available and that the penalty Is so
small when conviction is secured in the
Police Court that it acts as no deterrent
upon the railroad companies.
Mr.. Macfarland explained that drastic
measures might be resorted to, but that
it would result in gripping transit. in
mountaineering the public and loss to the
without possibly accomplish
ing much owing 10 the inefficiency of the
present laws
The Commissioner is Of the opinion that
II the law sent 10 Congress is passed the
board will be clothed with power to stop
the present evil OF running the street
cars at high speed, dangerous TO the life
and limb OF the people of the community.
DR.. William Tindall, who is Secretary
to the Board of District Commissioners, |
was an eye witness to the accident He
was walking south on Connecticut Avenue
1t the time and heard the fire bell on the
.ruek some time before 1t came into sight.
It was so loud, he said. chat 1t could have |
readily been heard three blocks off and
was ringing continuously. As the truck
,rossed Eighteenth Street, going east on |
VI Street, he saw the big yellow car going
north on Connecticut Avenue at a high
speed. He claims he did not see the | .
make any effort to slow up be- =
lore reaching the crossing and it was
ibout in the centre of VI Street when it
ait the truck. The blow was a CHANGING
,ne as the driver of the truck on seeing
hat an accident was unavoidable pulled
lis horses sharply 10 the left in his en-
leavor to turn into Connecticut Avenue
md avoid a collision. 'one of the fire. .
men," said DR.. Tindall was thrown high
II the air, while the other two fell to I
he ground. one of them directly under
he car, and under the fender. so
hat but for the Iromptness with
which the motorman brought the car to I
stop, he would have been crushed be-
leath its wheels. The third man fell !
nder the truck, but had The presence of !
mind to roll from beneath its wheels. |
10 not believe that the accident could | !
ave occurred had the car stopped. or !
ven slowed up. before it reached the !
outh curb of VI Street"
After returning to Truck BIS quarters. !
I the corner OF New Hampshire Avenue !
nd NJ Street. Acting Foreman Reynolds =
lade the following written report which =
e forwarded to Chief Parrisl
While responding TO an alarm of fire
rom box So at sos O'Clock this morning
a nut md W n