Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-22
ACCIDENT ON ELECTRIC ROAD

A Soldier Killed and Another Seri
ousIy Injured - Other Passenger
Bruised.
An accident occurred to south-bouno
car on the electric railway at Royal and
South streets at twenty minutes to one
o'clock yesterday afternoon which re-
suited in the death, several hours later,
of Private Silas Woliver OF the Forty
seventh company of coast artillery,
stationed at Fort Hunt, and the serious
injury OF Corporal Thomas ii. Appieoy
of the same company Two other SOL
diers, named Colt and Knight,
who were with them escaped with
slight bruises. Mrs. Eta Henderson,
of Washington, who was passenger on
the car, had one of her hands cut while
in the act OF saving her little child from
injury.
The accident occurred at the point
where the track of the Southern crosses
that of the electric road in the extreme
southeastern section of the city. A few
feet west of the electric railway track
and an equal distant south of the South
ern track an upright post supports a
heavy timber which swings at right
angle on ring hinge, the timber being
held up by an iron rod passing from its
end to the top of the upright. This de-
vice serves the purpose ola combination
gate and signal, and ordinarily hangs
across the Southern track, in which
position it is locked. When Southern
train is about to cross the tracks of the
electric road Southern trainman un-
locks the gate and swings it across
the tracks of the electric road, in
which position it remains until the
train has passed, when it is
swung back and again locked.
From some unexplained reason the
gate proved to be unlocked yesterday.
Some suppose it had been tempered
with, while others suggest it may not
have been locked after having been used
recently.
Car No. 317 left the Royal street
station for Mount Vernon at 1882 p. IN.
in charge of Motorman Henry F. Burke
and Conductor William J. Vernon. The
car carried about twenty passengers. The
four soldiers, who were returning to
the tort, occupied seats in the forward
part of the car on the west side. AS the
car approached the crossing the motor
man noticed a COW on the track some
distance beyond and reduced his speed
and got the motor well under control.
The gate at the crossing was in its usual
position, but just as the trolley car
reached the Southern track it swung
around, the end crashing through the
second window behind the motor cab,
carrying away three windows and the
dividing woodwork. Motorman Burke
at once applied the emergency brakes,
bringing the car to a standstill. The
beam had entered the car at the window
by a seat occupied by Woliver and
Appleby, striking them on their heads
with full force. Cole and Knight
we're sitting in the seat behind
the other two and had an oppor
tunity to dodge. Mrs. Henderson
was in the seat Immediately behind the
soldiers, She had on her lap her little
When the crash came
Mrs. Henderson threw up her hand to
protect the baby's head, and her action
probably saved the childPs life. She |
was struck on the back of the hand by |
The beam and received several bad cuts |
and bruises, but the child was uninjured.
Woliver and Appleby were removed
1t once TO the Alexandria Hospital where |
it was found that they were suffering |
from fractured skulls. The former died
shortly before 4 o'clock in the afternoon
While Applebyis badly wounded, tits be-
ieved that he will recover.
The vibration caused by the passing |
car is supposed to have set the gate in
motion, Woliver is said to have been
native of Jonesyille, Lee county, where
il is believed his parents reside, though |
efforts TO communicate with them have
been unsuccessful, When questioned by |
the hospital authorities Appleby stated
that he was Virginian, but declined to
give any further account .of himself.
He is about thirty years of age, and the
deal man was several years younger.
Woliyer's body was removed to the
undertaking establishment OF William
Demsine & Son ant prepared for burial
DIR. Purvis, the Coroner, summoned
jury today tor the purpose of holding an
inouest, In the absence OF materlaI
witnesses the inquest was postponed