Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20
TWOCARS LEAVETRACK
RAILROAD TRAIN WAS ON TRES
TIE AT THE TIME.

The trucks of two cars of the Chesapeake
and Ohio train due to arrive here yesterday
afternoon at 4:15 o'clock left the tracks
| just after the train emerged from the tun-
| mel at South Capitol street and Virginia
avenue, and, it is stated, more than 300
passengers narrowly escaped injury or
death. Those who were in the two cars de-
rallied were somewhat excited when they
realized that the accident had occurred
on trestle about twenty-five feet above
the grade Of the street. They soon realized,
however, that the danger was over, for the
engineer promptly stopped the train. The
passengers then deserted the derailed cars
as quickly as possible and crowded into the
coaches that had remained upon the tracks.
Some of them were badly shaken up. but
nobody received severe injury. 1t is said
that the passengers who were In the
coaches not affected by the accident were
not aware that anything out of the ordinary
had happened until the train was stopped
The train departed from New York at
1885 o'clock yesterday morning, and was
scheduled to reach here at 4:15 o'clock. and
depart for the west thirty minutes later.
On the train was party of about 800 per-
sons who were on their way to Manassas.
Va. to take part in the dedication exercises
| on the battlefelds scheduled to occur there
this afternoon, the veterans and their fam
| lilies representing the 9Th. 10th and 18th
New York Volunteer Regiments. In one
car the excursionsts were singing. We're
Going Home Tomorrow" at the time of the
| accident. The singing was interrupted
Through Train to the West.
The train was made up in New York, and
| was a through one from the metropolis to
the west, being known as the Fast Flying
I Virginian" 1t was composed of an engine
and eight coaches. only the second and
third coaches leaving the tracks.
1t is stated that the accident was caused
by a new switch failing to work properly.
When the trucks left the tracks and bump
ed along over the trestle it was feared
that the cars would be precipitated to the
street but the slow speed at which the
train was running enabled the engineer to
stop the engine before anything serious
resulted. 1t is believed that the cars
| were prevented from leaving the trestle
by striking against heavy steel girders that
| formed part of the bracing.
Many of those. who were riding in the
two cars that left the tracks hurried to
the front car and were brought into the
station shortly after the accident occurred,
but those who went to the rear cars were
delayed more than an hour. Most of the
excursionists went to Manassa last night
but few of them remained and finished
their journey this morning: One of those
who remained here last night was the Rev.
J. Wesley Hill of Brooklyn, who was
scheduled to deliver an Grafton on the
battlefield today. Among the others were
Col. F. P. Sillers Gen. McAleer, Mr.. and
croft Col. c. ]. Mahoney, Mr.. and Mrs.
Benjamin T. Bailey. Col E. A Double. Mr..
and Mrs William Wentz, Mr.. G. w. Smith
and Miss Smith.
Passengers on the train told Of the
damage caused to the two cars last night,
but the railroad officials stated this morn
ing that the most serious damage was
caused by the wrecking crew. 1t is said
that several passengers in particular had
narrow escapes, and that two of them re-
ceived injuries. A gas fixture fell and
struck Miss Ruth Hill, daughter of the
clergyman, and her brother had his hand
slightly burned while assisting his sister.