The Washington times., 1905-08-15
NARROW ESCAPE
FOR ENGINEER
Pinned Under Locomotive
When 1t Jumped Track.
SPENT AN HOUR OF HORROR
Rescued in Nick of Time, After Hav-
ing Undergone Many Moments
Of Torture.
SPENT AN HOUR OF HORROR

Caught under the wreck OF his loco
motive. which had toppied over on him
as it jumped the track, near the tunnel
at Eleventh street and Georgia avenue
southeast; pinned there in frightful
agony for an hour; perfectly conscious
despite his sufferings; listening to the
shouts OF the rescuers who were des-
perately trying TO remove the weight
before It should sink down and crush
him; feeling with every passing moment
that the iron mass was slowly, but
surely sinking toward the point where
it must soon crush his life out. Engi-
neer Harry Newman last night endured
an experience which may yet cause his
death.
Newman had brought Pennsylvania
passenger No. SO from New York into
the city terminate. when an open switch
at the north end of the tunnel near
Eleventh street derailed the train.
Leaning out of the cab 10 watch the
track ahead, he was unable TO save him
self as his fireman, Robert Mattinolv
did. by jumping The train was run
ming into the station at low speed and
Mattingly. seeing the danger. called to
Newman and then jumped The engi-
neer had no time to save himself before
switch and gone over on its side into
the ditch. he under it AS the locomo-
tive tOppled over the coupling broke
which probably saved some OF the cars
from leaving the track and overturn-
inS.
The injured engineer is now at the
Casualty Hospital. badly injured about
the head. chest. and legs, but this fore
noon was resting comfortably, and II
WIS thought he might recover.
Change in Double Track.
The wreck was caused by the change
from double track through the tunnel.
which was made a few days ago, at
which time the switch was put in place
As the locomotive struck the switch and
went over, the coaches stopped with a
grinding crash. Many of the passengers
were thrown from their berths or seats.
and those who were standing were toss
ed violently about the cars.
Fireman Mattingly in jumping, sus-
tanned some injuries about the legs the
right one being caught between two ties
and badly Wrenched- As soon as he had
recovered himself he rushed to the cab
and banked the fires, thus preventing
a cOnfiagatiOn-
The cut in which the wreck took place
is known 10 railroad men as bad place
Al the side Of the track is ditch about
six feet deep and very narrow. Only
about eight men could get into the ditch
at one time, and this made the work
of rescuing the engineer very slow.
Passengers in Confusion.
When 1t was discovered by the passen-
gers that there was a wreck there was
general confusion, and people rushed out
of their hunks in any and every sort of
attire to learn the situation. One of
them with more presence of mind than
the rest sent in hurry call for the
wrecking crew, and within a few min
utes II was on the scene.
The crew, assisted by some of the men
from the coaches. Immediately went to
work TO get the engineer from under his
engine. Only after a derrick had been
rugged and the engine raised could the
suffering man be removed
When at last the engine was lifted
from his he exclaimed. Thank God.
this is a relief" "
Before he was taken out his agony
was pitiful. The heavy iron mass was
pressing on his shoulders and chest; his
legs and head were enJangled in the lev
ers, and he was utterly helpless.
To make matters worse the engine,
which in falling had lodged against the
baQk. began to settle down, inch by
inch into the soft earth. Had his res
cuers been few moments later Engl.
ueer Newman would never have been
taken out alive.