Evening star., 1902-02-01
STREET CARS IN COLLISION
ACCIDENT LAST NIGHT ON BRIGHT.
WOOD ELECTRIC ROAD.
Special Smashes Into Rear End
dead" Car-Both Filled With
Passengers.

Considerable damage was done last night
by a rear-end collision on the Brightwood
electric road near Savannah street and sew
eral persons were injured. Mr. Watson B.
Mundelle. forty years old, employed as a
clerk in the War Department, was injured
about the spine, while S. F. Frye motor
man on the rear car, received internal in
juries. The former was taken to his home,
No. 1901 4th street northwest by Policeman
Wright and DIR. Stone, and the latter was
taken to Garfield Hospital.
Both cars were badly damaged and about
seventy-fve passengers had to wait until
another car reached the scene of the ac-
cident to take them out BrightWood ave-
nue.. A dead car that had lost its trolley
stopped on the track, and in the darkness
the motorman on the special car, which was
only short distance behind, did not dis
cover the obstruction until it was too late
to stop. When he discovered the dead car
he shut off the current and applied the
brakes but because of the icy condition of
the tracks the brakes did not work success
fully.
Car 754 in charge of Motorman Ernest
Lovelace and Conductor Wesley V. Parden
left the Florida avenue loop about o'clock
with their car well filled with passengers
and near Savannah street the trolley slip
ped off the wire
Shortly after this car left the ways the
special car, 301. in charge of Motorman S.
". b.
| north with party of young people who
| We're going to attend a dance at Takoma
Park.
On the Down Grade.
After passing Rock Creek Church road
the special car made fairly good speed on
the down grade. Brightwood road was not
! lighted we'll enough for Motorman Frye
! to see the dead car until he got close
| to it, and when he did discern the danger
| it was impossible for him to avoid the col
| lision. The smashing of the woodwork of
! the two cars and the crashing of the glass
| in them followed. The passengers became
| greatly excited and for a few minutes it
was believed a large number of the party
had been seriously injured. Those who
| composed the party were somewhat re-
l1eVed when they were assured that nobody
had been killed.
DR.. Stone. who lives at Brightwood. was
+. summoned to the scene of the accident
and the. passengers assisted him in the
care of the injured until they could be re-
| moved. Fannie Barnes, colored, who was
| a passenger on the forward car was slight
| ly- cut about the head by fragments of
| glass. and was conveyed to Garfield Hos
| pttal. The police of the tenth precinct re-
| sponded to call for assistance and rem
| dered valuable aid.
! Motorman Frye's injury was apparently
| serious. Today his condition appears to be
| somewhat better Mr.. Mundelle was so
| badly hurt that he will probably have to
remain In bed several days.
ExOnerate the MOtOrman.
Drs. Chamberlain, McKenney and other
employees of the plant culture bureau of
the Agricultural Department, who, as
| stated. were on the rear car at the time of
the collision, on their way to attend re-
| ception at Takoma Park stated to an
Evening Star reporter today that Motor
man S. o. Frye-on their car was not to
blame In any way for the collision but on
the other hand did everything in his power
to avert it. They are inclined to think that
his prompt action in applying the brakes
when he saw that collision was imminent
undoubtedly saved many. lives.
The members of the party consisting of
/ employees of the Agricultural Department.
have collected sum of money, which viii
be presented to Motorman Frye for his
diligence In preventing more serious
catastrophe. The sum subscribed. amount
/ ing to SO. win be presented to the motor
! man by DR.. McKenney. representing the
clerks.