Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-24

the ''Y'' which is formed by the tracks at
the intersection of Maryland avenue and
9th street which is used the main line
of the Southern railroad and the empty
cars were being taken from the depot to
the yards along the river. The accident
was caused mainly, it is said by the drv
erS leaving the track, the heavy wheels
plowing up the granite blocks and earth in
great masses, and the engine itself forging
ahead stuck its nose through the curb and
fully two feet deep in the sidewalk The
momentum of the cars behind pushed the
rear of the engine around and finally caus-
ed 1t to completely turn over
All this time Engineer Beckett had stuck
to his post and had tried every means to
shut off the steam and reverse the whirling
drivers. The other members of the train
crew, stated, escaped by jumping. En-
gineer Beckett was caught by the heavy
boiler as the engine went over, and in ad-
dItion to being terribly scalded by the es-
Gaping steam, had every bone in his head
crushed, nearly every rib broken, and his
right leg frightfully mangled.
About ten years ago an engine lett the
track at this point, and in addition to
ploughing through the street and sidewalk.
entered the yard of 400 Maryland avenue
and progressed nearly to the house En-
CINE No 50S1 failed to reach the yard, but
Notwithstanding it gave a distinct fright to
Mr.. William NJ Eppley, a boarder in the
house. who was talking through the win
dow TO Mr.. Thomas c. jerome. Mr.. Jerome
was sitting on the lawn with his back to
the approaching danger. and did not hear
or see anything until Mr. Eppey yelled to
him to get out of the engines path, but the
locomotive had by this time spent its force.
and al that moment toppled over.
The First Witness.
Fireman Charles Bellingham was the first
witness to give testimony before the coron-
er today. He said he had been a fireman
two weeks. He said he had only been on
Beckett and had worked with him about
two weeks He sair he had only been on
engine JOS7 one day. having been a sub
stitute fireman up 10 the time he had been
assigned to fire for Beckett. Witness said
he went on duty at O'Clock am. yes
terday, and was on the engine when it
turned over. He did not know how many
cars were attached to the engine, and said
he had no idea what caused the engine to
leave the rails.
The engine he said, going at the rate
Of six seven miles an hour at the time
of the accident. Witness said he had never
heard of the curve being dangerous. He
said the first impression he had of some
thing being wrong was when the engine
lurchcd and he saw the big machine going
on to the sidewalk, then he jumped off
quickly as he could.
Witness not willing to say that
Beckett could get out of the cab easily.
He said Beckett was a large man and
not especially active. Witness said he did
not say anything to Beckett about jump
ing. He thought Beckett's age and in
activity prevented him from getting out the
cab
Thomas C. Jerome's Testimony.
Thomas c. Jerome. messenger for the
Southern Express Company. said he was
walking out in the yard at the premises
COS Maryland avenue, with his back to the
tracks.
L looked around and saw the engine and