davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
TOLD BY EYE WITNESS
MR.. JOSEPH E. RALPH DEPICTS
THE NARROWING SCENE.

Mr.. Joseph E. Ralph, assistant director
of the bureau of engraving and printing.
and one of the first men to be on the scene
after the accident, gave a graphic descrip-
ton of the happenings Immediately after
the wreck. He was visiting DR. Firskhorn
and said that about $40 Pm, a man on
horseback went to the house seeking the
doctor, of whom he asked that he go to
the scene of the wreck. where his serv-
ices were required. Mr.. Ralph, who had
driven there. Immediately went to work
On his way he picked up DR.. Ferguson and
before reaching their destination they met
District Attorney Baker. who was walk
ing down the tracks on his way to the city
Questioned by Mr.. Ralph. Mr.. Baker re-
piled he was all right, although his face
was bloody and there were other evil
dencest of injury. Mr.. Baker he added.
had said he was seated beside General
Agent Johnson of the United States Ex-
press Company, but that he believed the
latter had disappeared under the wreckage
and was killed. -
Mr.. Ralph dwelt especially upon the sac
rifices made by those living in Terra Gotta.
He said that while few of those who make
that village their home are weN-to-do, they
deprived themselves of what little neces-
saries they possessed and offered them to
the wounded. They appeared on the scene
with water, sheets, blankets clothing and
anything else that could have been utilized
In making the victims rest easier. Many
colored people, said Mr.. Ralph, broke down
doors so that they could be used in the
shape Of stretchers, with which they
ried the wounded to places under cover.
He added that in one room in an unpre-
tentious house the housewife was tenderly
nursing nine or ten sufferers who had
been placed under her roof.
Another thing Mr.. Ralph commended
was the order that was maintained
throughout. especially in view of the lack
of organization that prevailed. The wom-
en- of the neighborhood proved to be valued
assistants to the fremen. who did some
heroic rescue work, especially before the
arrival of the police. Another who did
much, he said, was Father Marks of ST.
Anthony's Catholic Church.
In speaking of the wreck itself, Mr.. Ralph
said that having been a railroad man, he
could not see how the heavier train was
allowed to go down such a heavy grade
and at such a rate of speed. especially
since it was not running schedule time.
The engineer, If he knew his business, he
said, must have been aware of the presence
of the local ahead of him. He added that
the result of the wreck should be a lesson
in coach building, as they were divided
and broken into splinters like crushed
strawberry boxes. Another thing he made
reference to was the presence of a coal
car between the two engines He said
he could not understand why il should
have been there and that the dust from 1t
retarded by many minutes, the help offer
ed the victims, and also made things more
annoying by getting into the wounds and
beginning faces.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
WORST IN LOCAL HISTORY.
Terra Gotta Collision Has Never Beer
Exceeded

The Terra Gotta collision is the worst
railroad disaster in local history. and in
point of destruction of life exceeds the
Ford Theater collapse of 1893, in which
twenty-five were killed. Recollections are
revived by this catastrophe of the railroad
accident at the Baltimore and Ohio "Y',,
in 1887, although only one life was lost
them So. ,.-,~s.
On August IL. 1887, at 500 o'clock am.
an alarm from box 81 which was then on
the government printing Office. was received
for wreck which occurred on Metropoli-
tan branch of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
way at the 'Y" on 1 street between Della
ware avenue and 1st street west. The ac-
cident was caused by the engineer losing
control Of the throttle Of the engine. The
engine went down the track at full speed
and at / street 1t ran into the ~" turning
the engine and two passenger cars over.
The engineer was caught under the engine
and scalded to death. The engine struck
the brick tower house at that point and
knocked it down. covering the boy operator
with debris. He was afterward rescued
by the firemen. Quite number of men,
women and children were rescued from the
overturned cars by the members Of the
fire department. The injured were taken
to the different hospitals for treatment.
The engineer was the only person who was
killed outright.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
DEATHS CAUSED
BY THE WRECK
Mention of Those Whose Lives
Were Sacrificed.
DANGER SIGNALS H0ISTED
Statement by the Dying Brakeman Of
the Train.
COACH SMASHED TO sPLINTERS
Several of the Injured Passed Away
Today-Sad Find at the
Morgue.
,OACH SMASHED TO SPLINTERS

B. F. Legge. brakeman of the wrecked
train. died at Providence Hospital today.
lie was injured internally and suffered
agony till he lapsed into Inconsistencies.
Before his strength failed he managed to
gasp out the following story of the wreck:
when we passed Kensington the danger
signals were hoisted and we were told to
move along cautiously. When we hit Ia
koma the signals were still out, and we
left the station slowly and proceeded to
Terra Gotta. our next stop. The signals
were out at Terra Gotta. and We took
aboard few passengers and started to
pull out for Washington. when the train
following us hit the back coach and
smashed it to splinters."
DR.. Belt and Two Sons Killed.
The bodies of DR.. f. Oliver Belt, the eye
specialist and his two young sons, Edward
NJ Belt and Sinclair Belt, were removed to
the family residence, SIG Connecticut ave-
nue., this afternoon from Gawler's under
taking establishment, where they were
taken after the wreck. According to earlier
reports Dr. Belt and his elder son Edward
were killed, but at a late hour last evening
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
ENGINE BLOWS UP.
Three Men Seriously Injured by
Bursting Boiler.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch TO The Star.
CAMDEN, N. j., December 3l.-This city
shook as with an earthquake at o'clock
this morning when one Of the heaviest type
of freight locomotives in use by the West
Jersey and Seashore railroad blew up. In
juring its crew of three men. A wreck re-
suited that tied up traffic, and the noise of
the accident awoke the greater part of the
sleeping city. The explosion occurred as
the locomotive was passing Sewall, N. J., a
Camden suburb.
The engineer, fireman and brakeman of
the train were all In the engine cab when
the explosion occurred and are so badly in
jured that their deaths may result. The
bursting boiler wrecked the freight train
attached to the engine, threw the engine
and cars across the tracks and completely
| tied up traffic until after s O'Clock this
morning
The injured are:
Daniel C. Hand, aged thirty-seyen years,
engineer. living with his wife and family
at No. 414 West Perry street, Cape May.
/ John H Lake, aged twenty-three years,
fireman, of Pleasantville: single
Albert Johnston, aged thirty-eight years.
brakeman, married, living on Broadway
Cape May.
Johnston is the most seriously hurt He
is scalded from head to foot and has sew
eral bones broken, besides possible internal
injuries. His death may occur at any mo-
ment. the physicians say. Hand and Lake
are badly scalded, cut, bruised and burned.
The freight train to which the engine was
attached left Camden at 3 o'clock this
morning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
MAJ. SYLVESTER THERE

Maj. Richard Sylvester, who passed over
the scene of the wreck on a train bound for
Washington a few hours prior to the
tragedy, and who worked until late at night
with the members of his command aiding
the injured removing dead and maintaining
order, said today:
II expect 1 was the first. individual to
learn that wreck had occurred at Terra
Gotta. which news was telephoned me q
short while after I had passed over the
same track on Baltimore and Ohio train.
The news was brief and said four or five
persons had been killed OF had persisted,
It was prudential that the word came to me
SO quickly, as it no doubt resulted in a
prompt rescue work for the wounded
without knowing the full extent of the
affair, I figured on 1t being horrible at
best, and dispatched the full reserve and all
other forces of policemen who could be
spared from the tenth precinct, Capt. Ell
lott commanding personally. He had q
long drive, but was on the ground as
promptly as horsefiesh could move him and
his men. followed by sending the. wagon
and men from No. precinct and mounted
men from and 10. called up>rthe chief of
the fire department to lend assistance as he
might determine and then called for ply
stcians, who went out on train from the
StdClOn, TIE police surgeons being among
the number. The hospital ambulances 1
called for on learning that the wounded
would be brought to the Baltimore and Ohio
station, also one district ambulance and
eight of my patrol wagons to do ambulance
service.
"At the depot Instructions were given to
remove women and children who had been
injured to the hospitals first, which was
done. then proceeded to the scene of the
wreck with the coroner. who Viewed the
bodies of the killed, when they were
brought into the city. Though long dts
lance from the city. there was strong
body OF police On the ground early, but q
shortage Of railroad men. The police and
firemen did heroic duty at rescue in q field
that looked more like a battlefield than
anything else. / had ordered that sheets
and blankets be taken from the station for
covering the dead and wounded, and was
careful to have detained all persons who
might be in any way to blame for the de-
plorable affair A strong guard was on the
ground throughout the night. with instruc-
tons to allow no one to carry away prop
erty which might be found in the wreckage
All property in the way of clothing and
other articles was brought In on the same
train with the bodies" ifss.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
Need of Relief Fund.

Commissioner Macfarland said today that
1t might be that a temporary emergency
relief fund would be needed for some Of the
wounded victims or some of the widows
and orphans of those who were killed, and
that he would be glad to know Of such
cases. and he will also receive subscriptions
from any who desire to make them, which
will be returned II no necessity arises for
their use. II need appears for any con-
siderable amount of money for these pur-
poses Commissioner Macfariand would sug-
gest the appointment OF citizens COM
mittee to raise a fund, as has heea done In
similar emergencies In the past
Commissioner M&cfariand. who has super
vision of the coroners ONCE, viii attend
the inquest "Wednesday.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
Stabbed Her Husband.

Margaret and John Scribener awoke
about O'Clock Sunday morning, Decem-
Der %, and dispute was started, caused.
1t Is said, by jealousy. John accused his
wife of accepting the attentions of other
men, and Margaret replied that he was
calling on other women. Margaret ter
minated the quarrel by stabbing her hus-
band in the back.
IT didn't know it until she showed me
planned John afterward. Then she rubbed
some coal oil on it,
Margaret was charged with assault on
her husband in the Police Court this morn
ing, and Judge Mullowny ordered sep
aration in the family for sixty days. Mar
garet's address will be the District Jail.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31

of the wreck, had taken notes on the spot
and would begin an Investigation at once.
Detective Parham declared the sight at
the scene of the wreck was one of the worst
he had ever witnessed. 49, -.
Some of the bodies" he said. were lit
orally ground into mincemeat and had to
be shoveled from the dirt alongside the
tracks In some of the collins were placed
parts of the remains of several victims
Human flesh and wreckage was strewn
for long distance"
Shock Described.
A young man with his head swathed in
bandages and his garments covered with
blood was hurried through the depot by
friends. Giving brief description OF the
shock of the wreck, he said:
First there was an awful crash. The car
I was in seemed to rise in the air; the
tights went out and we were in darkness.
Then came the screams and groans as the
cars and the people in them seemed to be
ground into the earth. i did not lose con-
sciouness, although l pitched forward and
landed on my head. The next thing l
knew 1 was outside of the train in bewil-
dered condition.
Many of the persons who gathered at the
depot are said to have fingered about the
place until after daylight this morning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
CRASH ON SOUTHERN.
Two Danville Men Killed Near Chat
ham; Two Others Injured

DANVILLE, Va, December 31.-Two per-
sons met instant death and two more were
seriously injured in a big freight wreck
on the Southern, railway at Chatham sew
enteen miles north of here. about O'Clock
yesterday afternoon.
The dead are: ------.
Grover Franklin of Danvilie.
Archie Wyatt of Danville.
The injured are:
Stansberry Mays of this county.
Phil White of SDanvile.
All the victims were young white men and
boys.
The wreck swas one of the biggest freight
accidents that has occurred in this section
for some time and viii result in a heavy
financial loss, besides serious delay to traf-
f1c. The wrecked train was No. 49, q south
bound through freight. and at the time Of
the accident was running at rate of speed
hour. Just south OF Chatham, where tie
switch and main line connect, is a sharp
curve. and upon reaching this point eight
Of the: freight cars, heavily laden, jumped
the track and were piled up in a copgested
heap. The engine and number Of cars
did not leave the track. The train con-
sisted of over thirty cars, and was in charge
Of Conductor Z: Miller and Engineer C.
The canse OF the wreck has not been de-
termfned, but it was probably due to a
brok en- fange on a wheel of one of the cars.
The two persons killed were taken from
the mass of debris They had been mashed
to death, and one was frightfu1ly mangled
Death was instantaneous.
White sustained only slight injuries.
Mays has an injury to the skull and was
brought to the General Hospital here to-
night to undergo an operation. His condi-
ton is considered serious. All of the VIC
TINS were well connected. Franklin was
the son of d. P. Franklin, a tobacconist
of Danville, and Wyatt the son of cloth
Ter. White is the son Of a former deputy
sheriff Of this city, who now lives in Tus-
cumbia. Ala, Mays is thesso of a farmer.
Archie Wyatt was scarcely eighteen years
of age, and is said to have run away from
home several days ago to .see more OF the
world"
Wrecking crews were hurried to the
scene from Danville and Monroe The track
was torn up for considerable distance
and the heavy iron rails were snapped to
pieces as IL they had been brittle glass.
All the victims OF the wreck are alleged
to have been beating their way on the
train.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31

the three bodies were conveyed from the
scene of the wreck to this city by Dr. Nor
ton Griffith, personal friend of DR.. Belt,
who has adjoining offices in the Farragut.
When the news of the wreck reached the
city Dr. Griffith went Immediately to the
scene, and after much hard work managed
to find the bodies of his friend and the lat
ter's two sons At the family home this
Belts condition. it being feared that the
shock would be very severe on her. 1t
was stated that the widow was overcome
by grief.
Had Been at Old Home.
DR.. Belt had been at the old family home
at Frederick. Md, spending the day with
his two boys, the party being the guests
of his brother. Mr.. McGin Belt. After the
story of the accident had reached Frederick
last evening Mr.. Belt came to this city
and, together with DR.. Griffith, arranged
for the funeral. He stated this morning
that the services will be held at the resi-
dence tomorrow at noon. Rev. c. Ernest
Smith, the rector of st. Thomas Episcopal
Church. will off1ciate The bodies will be
sent at 1:20 o'clock to Frederick Later
the interment will be made in ST. Paurs
cemetery, near Point of Rocks, Frederick
county.
DIR. Belt was forty years of age. Gradu-
atirg in medicine from the University Of
Maryland in 1885, he gradually rose in the
ranks of his profession. For three years
after graduation he practiced in Baltimore,
where he was attached to the Presbyterian
Eye and Throat Hospital Later he prac-
uced at his old home at Frederick. Md. and
later came to this city, where eight years
ago he was married to Miss Emily Norvell,
who. with one son, Norvell, the youngest
of three children. survive him.
@ Overcome By Grief. -
When the wreck occurred Mrs. Belt was
at home nursing Norvell three years OF
age, who about three weeks ago sustained
a broken leg Mrs. Belt heard Of the
wreck and, calling up DR.. Griffith over the
telephone. begged him to go and search
for her husband and boys.
DIR. Griffith went at once, and after find
ing the bodies had them removed to the
undertaking establishment, as stated. In
addition to the widow and one child, six
sisters and two brothers survive DR.. Belt,
they being Mrs. Lottie B. Chambers OF
Brunswick, Md; Mrs. Thomas McIlvane Of
Magnolia, Md: Mrs. Ellen c. Reich of
Brunswick Md; Mrs. Lawrence A. White
Of Dickerson Md; Miss s. Virginia Belt
and Miss Julia Belt of Frederick, Nd; DIR.
Alfred NJ. Belt of Baltimore and Mr.. McGill
Belt of Frederick, Md.
The board of lady managers of the Epis-
copal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital OF
this city will meet tomorrow morning at
IL 80 o'clock at the hospital and attend the
funeral in a body. -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31

The British steamer Seminole, Captain
Whyte has arrived at San Francisco from
Calcutta, Captain Whyte reported that the
Seminole on December 8 rescued three ia
panese. part of q crew Of five. from q wa
terlogged Japanese junk OF the coast Of
the storm which wrecked The sFafG
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31

White. Flesh. Pink. Brunette. BY leading drug.
fists mail
Prep'd by NATIONAL TOILET CO.. Paris. Tenn.
Sold by Afiecks Drug Store. Peoples Pharmacy,
J. o. Donneu and other druggists.
M fAml6t,3S
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31

Thomas J. Bowman of Bowman a. Nc
Lure. one of the leading mercantile firms
OF Pendleton county. Is dead at franklin.
Va, after lingering illness.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31

The Sunday Star,
Including the Magazine Section
By Mail. $I.so = Year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
NADINE FACE PJNMNIElR

Soft and velvety. Re-
mains until washed OF.
Purified by q newly dis.
covered process. aasm-
less a. water. Prevents
return Of discolorstions.
Gin green boxes only }
Buy. one 60c. package
and money will be 70
funded IL you are not
enffre1x .asftsAoA T4ntu
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
Mrs. Purman Instantly Killed.

Mrs Marilla Secor Purman was employed
as clerk in the patent office and was form
erly from Racine. Wis. She was the wild
ow of Col. D. Gray Purman. who died a few
years ago as the result of wounds received
during the battle of Shiloh. and who was
employed as an examiner In the patent Of
flee.
Miss Elizabeth or Bessie Purman. school
teacher at Brookland. D. c.. was both the
niece and stepdaughter Of Mrs. Purman.
When the crash occurred Mrs. Purman was
killed instantly and her body was found
a considerable distance down the tracks
below the station. Miss Purman was found
lying on the bank on the side of the tracks
In a wounded condition.
Elder o. L. Daley of Newark, N. j., who
was among the killed. had been on a visit
to friends In Takoma Park. He was q
Seventh Day Adventist and was on his
way to this city for brief stay.
Two Friends Pass Away.
OF the three persons conveyed to George
Washington University Hospital last night,
Miss Rosaiie Cross died this morning at
Ills o'clock as result Of her injuries.
Miss Cross. who was twenty-one years of
age. was employed as telephone operator
at the Chesapeake and Potomac telephone
office, on 18th street. and was returning to
this city from a visit to her parents at
Seneca Nd, where she had gone Friday
morning in company with her friend. Miss
Corinne M. Bohrer. who died last night.
Miss Corinne NJ. BOhrer, daughter OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-31
Young Mother Instantly Killed.

Mrs. Mabel Hoskinson Sturgeon, wife Of
Maurice s. Sturgeon and daughter of Geo.
P. Hoskinson Of Georgetown. was instant
ly killed. She was twenty years Of age
and resided with her husband in the Alexis
apartment hous at 1877 street northwest.
With Mrs Sturgeon at the time of the
accident was her thirteen-months-old son,
RAYMOND Sturgeon. who was removed to
Freedmen's Hospital last night, suffering
with lacerated scalp and face. The child
is expected to recover -
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-09
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.


f. H. Campbell to W. R. Liggett.
lots 1872 and 1874 Oakland ave. j. w.
MOTIFS add .---@ ouV
L. Van Dorp and wife to F. J.. Van
Dorp, part OF the w. u of the N
E. "a 2o-l2-l3 .....-.-..--.- 4
d. Grove and wife to M. NJ. Torring-
ton, lots AIS, APO and 422 Garfield
ave. StilIsOn & Bartholomew add /
A Kalstein and wife 20 i. B. Adj
Huntoon addition ................, 3. 700
J. Galletly and husband to T. 4 RAJ
per, the w. y of lots 1903, los and 1O7
Branner St, hlein's add. ..s+s..- 2, 900
L. Lynch and wife to w. S Reeder
lot COZ and the S y of lot 500 Har-
risOn ST., Orchard Place add 400
The Orchard Place Lot Co to H.
kirkner, lots 615 and 61S Topeka
ave. Orchard Place add-..-.-.---.--- $50
The Trustees of the Mt. Olive NJ. r.
church to T. Gaines, lot 42S and the
S. y of lot 70 Buchanan st, Kings
add -----. .-----.--- 5oJ
L. B. Adams to A. Kalstein, lots 14S,
$50 and l52 Quincy St, Fairchild's
add. ..-.... Observation-Disclosures. $500
J. J. Kinney and wife to d. T. Nj
coll, lots II, 10, p and the s. y of
lot Is Topeka ave, Douthitt Place
add .----- ---.---..-.-.-.--.. b,l00
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-09

In the District Court of Shawnee County.
State Of Kansas-N. NJ Pomeroy, Plain
tiff, VS.. Mary Taylor, Hezekiah Tay1ors
Anna Taylor and Mary z. Harold De-
PENDANTS.
By virtue of an order of sale issued to
ne out of said district court in the above
entitled action Twill, on Monday, the
18th day of February, A. D. 1906. at 10
o'clock a m. of said day, at the east
front door of the court house In the city
of Topeka, IN the county Of Shawnee, IN
the state of Kansas, offer at public sale,
and sell to the highest and best bidder,
for cash in hand, all the following de-
scribed real estate, tO-yTit: A part Of the
KaW half-breed Indian lands. in Reserve
No. 3, beginning at a stake which stands
$50 feet south of a post, which post stands
$500 chains easterly from where the
central line of KaW Reserve No 8 strikes
the road leading westerly from Gordon
street; said post being on the south. side
of said road; thence eaSterly 240 feet to a
stake: thence south 80 feet to a stake;
thence westerly to a red oak; thence same
course to a black walnut; thence same
course and parallel with the Union Pa
cific railway 80 feet to a stake; thence
north IS feet to the beginning, lying and
situate in the county Of Shawnee, In the
state of Kansas.
The above described real estate is ia
ken as the property of said defendants and
is directed by said order of sale to be
sold, and will be sold without appraise-
ment to satisfy said order of sale.
A. T.LUCAS,
Sherin of Shawnee County, Kansas.
D T GREGG, Attorney.
By J. A. OSTRAND. Deputy.