The Washington times., 1903-10-19
Two Young Men, Resi-
dents of Alexandria,
Not Accounted For
at Homes---Thought
to Have Perished.
Train Precipitated Into
Potomac by Collapse
of Draw---Miracu1ous
Escape of Passengers
and Crew.

As the result of an accident to the
draw of the Long Bridge last night at
II 30 o clock, Richard ]. Eckart is known
10 have lost his life. three or four
youths who live in Alexandra are sup
posed to have been drowned and trafic
between Washington and the South
now depends upon an electric railway
and ferrybOat service to Alexandria
Public opinion is much aroused BY the
disaster and the expressions or promi-
nent business men rest the responsible
ity with the railroads using the bridge,
and are harsh in criticism
The northern half OF the draw Of
Long Bridge crashed into the river
while train No. SO OF the Chesapeake
ard Ohio Railroad was crossing tho
bridge. The tender and an empty ex-
press car went into the water.
Story of the Wreck
Train 56. in charge of Conductor J.
L Pettus. of Clifton Forge, Va. drawn
BY Engine No Iz6. Engineer Robert
+, Saunders and Fireman John Woods, the
Former living at Richmond. Va, ami the
latter at Charlottesville, the same State,
was due to leave the Pennsylvania Rail-
road station at 11:l0. but was twelve
minutes late.
Engineer Saunders is known to have
had fears OF the condemned structure
over which he was passing, so much SC
that his usual care and slow speed over
II IS known TO ali connected with the
bridge. even TO the policemen detailed
thereon.
On the bridge at the time Of the acci-
dent were DraG Tender Richard J. Eek
art, Engineer Frank f. Taylor. IN
charge of the dummy engine which op-
crates the draw; Policeman STANCE. OF
the Fourth precinct. detailed on the
bridge; Frank Howard. and George
Hines, the latter friends Of Eclart.
STANCE had a few minutes before been
/ in the shanty of Eckart. and at the
time Of the accident Howard and Hines
were there conversing with Eci-art.
/ Suddenly there was a crash. deafen-
I ing report Of rending timbers, and the
( splash OF water The three men We're
desperately frightened. All rushed out,
finding their way blocked by the regu-
lar express car of the train. while just
beyond, at the forward end OF the car.
was a yawning abyss. beneath which
swirled the dark waters OF the river.
Eckart Disappears.
Eckart Hines. and Howard essayed
to climb over the car 70 the wagon
/ track on the other side, and so TO
safety. Eckhart. who is crippled. was
unable to climb the car. and so went
under Hines and Howard soon reap
/ peared TO render what assistance they
could to the rescuing party.
Eckart has not since been seen alive.
About $50 this morning the hat OF
3. Eckart a black felt, rose from under
I the timbers as the men were working
| TO clear away the wreck II was az
once recognized BY Frank Taylor. his
partner. who took charge Of it and re-
/ mained on the scene 70 assist in the
recovery OF his body.
| About the same time his wife ap-
peared at the Fourth precinct police
station with the report that her hus-
| hand had not returned home at his
usual time. and asking that a search be
made for him. Harbormaster sutton
was at once notified. and repaired 10
! the scene with the Yisilant. and began
dra gging for the body
| At least three other men are supposed
10 be missing. When the train pulled
\ onto the bridge Policeman STANCE no.
\ ticed three or four men riding on the
front platform of the car which went
down. in the place familiarly known 80
the blind baggage"
The Alexandria police report that Da-
bias Benzett and Larry Bright, who
were supposed 10 have gone TO WASH
fugton on the - F. V" have not re-
I turned to their homes in Alexandria
William Otis. who was supposed TO have
gone to Washington at the same timc,
Is at his nome and did not SO 10 Wash
ington last night
Engineers ana other railroad men, and
the police detailed on the Long Bridge,
? declare that never a train pulls out
10 the South but that Il carries several
..hu1ns-" on Sunday night these are
usually youngsters from Alexandria,
who come to the city 10 spend Sunday.
. and beat their way back. II these men
were still ON tho car-and II IS almost
certain that they did not jump of while
on the briGge-their bodies also are at
the bottcrc C the river.
Draw Gives Way.
1t was 90 when train No sos left the
station. Eight minutes later 1t came