Evening star., 1902-02-27
THREE PERSONS HURT
FREIGHT ENGINE AND STREET
CAR IN COLLISION.
Passengers Narrowly Escape Death
Tracks Slippery and Motorman
Without Supply Of Sand.

Freight engine No. 3S5 Of the Baltimore
AMI Ohio railroad and motor car No. Of the
Anacostia electric street car lines came Into
collision shortly before 9 o'clock this morn
ing at the Monroe street crossing In Ana
costa. The front part of the street car
was totally wrecked and the heavy en-
gine bore evidence Of the collision. There
were several passengers In the motor car
at the time. three Of whom were injured.
Col. JAS o. P. Burnside Of 2109 Pennsyl-
vania avenue northwest who was going
to visit the hospital for the insane. had
a hand lacerated and one knee cut. Miss
Blanche Nugent, a teacher in the Binney
public school, had her left ankle bruised.
and Miss Lucy Tollin, a teacher in the
same building. left arm hurt and made Ill
by the occurrence. They were treated at
drug stores In the neighborhood. Most Of
the passengers jumped from the car when
the collision occurred and one OF them ran
to the rear brake and attempted to set 1t,
but failed to check the movement Of the
car The motorman and the conductor
stated that the slippery condition OF the
tracks and the lack Of sand were RESPONSE
BILE for the collision John Higdon was the
ductor of the car, to which was attached
a trailer The freight engine was In charge
Of F. F. Chadwick. engineer, with ". E.
Howard as fireman.
Agree as to Cause.
The employees Of the two trains agreed in
stating the causes as given above for the
collision. There are no gates at the Mon
roe street crossing, those formerly In use
having been removed several years ago,
and 1t has been the duty OF one OF the
employees of a passing freight to go before
the train and signal the coming of the
cars, giving warning to street cars, We
io1a nd
required by the steam railroad company,
It is stated, that Freight Agent Robinson
at Anacostia also perform that duty when
a train Is about to cross. The street rail-
way on It's part exacts similar watchful-
ness upon the part of the conductor or a
street car, this rule having gone into ef-
feet it is said. after collision at the
crossing a year or so ago The employees
named are understood to have performed
their duty this morning The freight en-
gine was running backward at a mere
drift, 1t is alleged by the crew. and the
bell was being rung, In addition to two
watchmen being at the crossing.
Motorman's Statement.
Motorman Higdon stated that he saw
the engine plainly and witnessed the sig
nal of the men ahead Of it, but was unable
to bring his car to a stop because of the
slippery state of the tracks and the little
amount Of sand at his disposal The front
platform of the street car was tWlaed
into bits, Motorman Higdon reversing his
current to no avail He narrowly escaped
with his life His hands, he said. were
pressing against the freight engine when
he jumped at the last moment. One of
the cylinder cocks of the engine was
twisted and dented. The wrecked street
car lay for a time at the crossing. The
opinion was universal among the specta-
tors that the passengers on the motor car
had had an exceedingly close call from
death or injury Among them were sew
eraI of the Anacostia public school teach
ers who were consequently delayed in
reaching their respective buildings.
The wrecking OUTFIT of the street railway
comnany was called into service and after
the interruption Of traffic for about
hour the line was cleared. Motorman Hig-
don lives on n street northwest and Con-
ductor Moore on Florida avenue northeast.