The Washington times., 1903-10-19

for miles, and the report went out that
the entire train had gone down. The
police and fire departments were noti-
fed, and Major Sylvester took personal
control for the former and Chief Belt
foT%the latter
The reserves for the First. Fourth
Fifth. and Sixth police precincts were
called out, and Captains Pearson and
Gessford and Lieutenant Mathews, of
the Fourth precinct, were soon person
ally on the scene. As there was no
danger Of fire, Truck was the only
company sent TO the bridge. Owing 20
the late hour crowds were not excessive,
and little difficulty was experienced in
handling them.
This morning, however. the police had
their hands fun. Sergeant Kramer, OF
the Fourth precinct, was still on duty.
and established a Gordon at the north
end of the bridge, keeping back the
merely curious. The scene at the wreck
was well worth an attempt TO pass the
lines. On the bridge still stood the
wrecked express car, while, protruding
from the water were the twisted timbers
and the rear end of the empty express
car.
on either side were the railroad tugs
and a pile driver, the latter rugged as a
derrick for the hoisting of the debris.
and later to drive the piles for the
temporary structure 20 be thrown up by
the railroad companies for the passage
Of trains. Just behind was the Vigilant.
prepared to drag for the body Of Ecl1art
and the unknown tramps.
Bridge Repairers Hampered.
Between the sheer end of the bridge
and the pier of the draw lay a float,
on which worked employees of the rail-
read engaged in removing the smaller
pieces OF the debris The rest of the
water was covered from sight by row.
boats, some the property of the rail-
road companies. the others belonging to
the curious. Despite the vigilance of
the police. so many had obtained &C
! cess to the bridge that the labors of
the railroad men were considerably
/ hampered.
Among those who have not yet gone 70
| bed, though on duty all night. is Frank
/ Taylor, the engineer in charge of the
draw. To a reporter for The Times Mr..
/ Taylor said he would not leave the
bridge until the recovery OF the body OF
/ Eckhart. his partner.
Taylor said that as soon as he heard
the crash he ran upon the roof Of his
| boiler room and called out for Eckhart
/ several times. but received no reply. He
/ then felt confident that he had perished
In the wreck. a fact that was attested
| by the subsequent finding Of his hat, as
il appeared from beneath the wreck. by
| Policeman Frank Hughes.
Taylor says that the draw was last
/ opened yesterday afternoon at 3:45
/ O'Clock. The draw was then turned by
hand. no steam having been used since
! Thursday last. At that time there was
no indication Of unusual weakness.
| Besides Fireman Woods, who had
been sent 10 the hospital, the only other
injury was TO Bicycle Policeman Harry
Evans. Of the Fifth precinct, who was
| hurrying TO the wreck on his wheel
when he was run over by the carriage
of Sergeant Kracher, Of the Fourth pre-
| cinct. His wheel was wrecked and he
was so badly bruised about the head
and body that he had to be sent to the
! Emergency Hospital.
| One narrow escape was that of Ceci
] Taylor, the express messenger. He was
4 thrown about twenty feet. landing be
! hind the safe. He escaped injury ir
some miraculous manner.