Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-15
ENGINE TURNED OVER
ACCIDENT NEAR NAVY YARD
TUNNEL.
Much Damage Caused Engineer
Harry Newman Seriously Injured
Believed He Will Recover.

An accident occurred on the Pennsylvania
railroad tracks near the east end Of the
navy yard tunnel last night about 10 o clock
similar to one that occurred on the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad a few days ago,
in which the engine was overturned and
cor siderable damage caused. Engineer
Harry Newman, who was in charge of the
engine drawing the New York train here
last night. was caught beneath the over
turned engine and pinned there for more
than thirty minutes before the crew of
wreckers reached there and succeeded in
lifting the heavy load from him. Although
he was seriously injured about the body
and legs, his condition showed quite an
Improvement this morning and the physi-
clans at the Casualty Hospital said they
thoL ght he would recover
The accident was caused by the engine
rur ming into open switch where a
change in the method of rairoadng had
been made to facilitate the work of rail-
road improvements. Heretofore there had
been double track through the tunnel,
but owing to the nature of the work that
is being done it was found neseccary to re-
move one OF the tracks. This work neces-
STATED the putting in of switch about
one square east of, the tunnel and it was at
this switch the accident occurred
Tne information obtained by the police
was that a train going north had Just
cleared the switch and that the operator
had not been given time to throw the
switch back before the incoming New York
express train reached there and the engine
had left the track. Fortunately for the
trans crew and passengers. the train was
gong at slow rate of speed. the orders
recurring the extra preCaution at that
point ana there no piling of cars and
wholesale injuring CT passengers as there
otherwise might have been. There was
only slight jolt. which was not felt by
many of the passengers but two or three
OF the latter who had left their seats re-
ceived shake-up. There was nothing
along the tracks to indicate to Engineer
Newman that there was danger of any kind
ahead, and IT was not until the latter felt
his engine overturnng that he knew of the
danger.
Too Late to Jump.
1t was then too late for him to Jump and
save himself. but Robert Mattingly. the
fireman, was more fortunate. He was
stationed upon a part of the engine from
where he experienced no difficulty in jump
Ing when he realized what was happening
AS soon as he had recovered from the
ehects of his jump he turned his attention
toward the engineer He saw that the lat
ter was pinned under the overturned en-
CINE and that 1t would require the work
of the wreckers to release him. Then he
hurredly withdrew the fires and put the
not Goals far enough from the engine to
Insure safety. When this had been done
he saw that there was no danger Of the
engineer being scalded to death by escaping
steam and he then remained with the
pinioned man until he was released During
this terrible ordeal the engineer never lost
courage that called forth praise from the
passengers and railroad employees the
place where the accident occurred was not
well lighted and the heavy rains had made
the ground soft and muddy. The work of
the rescu!ng party was, therefore, made dis
agreeable and difficult. During the time
Newman was pinned beneath the engine he
never lost consciousness, but could not
help giving vent to his sufferngs. When
the wreckers had finally lifted the heavy
engine and he was released he was able to
say to his rescuers: Thank God, boys, you
got NE out. as l couldn't have stood it
much longer
He also said he thought he would get
well, although he doubted If his legs and
back would be much more good to him.
The injured man was extremely grateful
for what had been done for him and gave
expression Of his gratitude in a manner
which affected those who were about him.
After he was released he reached the
Casualty Hospital in a short time and the
physicians soon relieved his sufferings.
An Exaggerated Report.
The first report of the affair received at
police headquarters was a greatly exagger-
ated one. 1t was said that there had been
a crash and that several passenger cars
were burning. Believing there was danger
of many lives being lost the police sent
messages for physicians, patrol wagons and
ambulanCeS Lieut.. McCathTan of the fifth
precinct took his reserve force TO the scene
of the wreck, and the ninth precinct patrol
wagon was also sent there with officers.
When near the mouth of the tunnel the
wagon overturned and was damaged X.
II. Shipley, the driver, was slightly injured
about the left shoulder and had to be treat
ed at the Casualty Hospital After the In
jured engineer had been removed from De-
meath the engine the wreckerS proceeded to
clear the track, and it was not until about
midnight that traffic was resumed. rumor
was circulated about the city that Quarter
master General Humphrey, who is station
ed at Fort Myer. had been seriously In
jured. He was a passenger on the train,
but was not injured. The observation car
was slightly damaged and the engine will
have to be sent to the shops to be repaired.
The train that figured in the accident Is
known as the Southwestern Limited and
was in charge of Conductor J b. Miller. 1t
was composed of about dozen cars and
was carrying nearly 80 passengers. The
passengers remained on the cars until the
road was cleared and the train resumed Its
journey south from this city, about two
hours late.