davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Confusion Everywhere.

Tn every quarter there WAS confusion.
Now and then the staggering ngure of
an injured man. reeiuE aimiessly in the
gloom. rose above the masses OF the
ruin and fell after a few steps. once a
woman, her clothing hanging in tatters.
stumbled out OF the darkness TO a party
ot The rassue.s.
Finally. torches and lanterns were pro
cured Beneath their hickerIng light
the relief party jourue, ed with hurried
feet up and down the track. finding the
dead and leaving them undis,urLed un-
III the wouned could be care Tor. Bodies
in every conceivable state Of undress
and horribly grotesque posture We're
found. Living men and women were dis
covered uinioned 10 the earth By tons
of splintered ears.
At one place the rails were on an en-
Laukmeut. and at the foot of this en-
tankment lay a dozen bodies. and above
shem and around them. the light OF the
lanterns showed the crimson of the car
seats and the stain of human blood on
The timbers. Il was more like butchery
and carnage than q mere accident
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Relief Train S Freight.

Policemen and hremen. hardened 20
such ghIs. sobred like ch.,-s-an- Those
whose duty IL WAS to view The faces
closely and 90 make every eft0r, at
iIeutiacatGon We're nervous wrecks be-
fore the work was half done.
The bodies were collected in cue place
Then, inside "a RIMS of red-aariug torches
whose h.ful glare threw at the bes-
only q sshustly Hight over the scene.
reyegeut hands took up the work OF
Httins the babies from the ground into
the cars of the train waiting 10 lake
them To- the moTEus- The bodies We're
wrapped I'm sheets. the faces covered
HIJu uaudkerchtefs
Many hsd 90 identified by their
clothing In some instances even Ihis
failed. CHe woman was Identified by
Her diamond rIus~. I'm other cases ali
means Of identification had been DE-
stToyet. IN Two cases it was impossible
To Ieil whether the manglcd remains
were of men oF women.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31

THOMAS A. KELLEY. forty-five
years old kensingt0n, Md.
LOUIS ". BALDWIN, fOrty-fiye
years old, 81 > street northwest
a b. LOWE, thirty-siX years old, Mt
Pleasant.
NORMAN ROGERS, thirty-hve, Mar
ton Ind.
THOMAS ELMER METZ. of German
town, Nd, about thirty years old.
PROF. THEODORE / KING. Of
Kensington. Md
Mrs. ELIZABETH REID. thirty-flve
years old. Of POI A street southeast. en-
ployed as stenographer in the Depart
ment OF Justice.
MRS. F. a MARTH. of 9l7 X street
mort vest.
COMMODORE p. PERRY BROWN.
seventv-eight years old Of the Govern
ment Printing Office. residing at 1927
Eighth street northwest.
ANNIE KUNLO, Of IS P street north
west.
LUCY BELLE MULLICAN. of Deer
wood. Md.
EDWARD l. GARRETT. si5 o street
north Invest
FRANCIS KUNLO eighteen months
old. OF IS = street northwest.
The only body intact remaining uniden-
tined at the morgue is that of a woman
dressed In a pale green waist. black
silk skirt and black shoes. She has dark
hair.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
DEATH TIDINGS
FIND WOMAN
ACTING NURSE
Mrs. Belt, at Home With
Crippled Lad, Hears
Others Are
Dead.

Although tile wreck brought so-row
10 many Washington homes. perhaps the
saddest OF the deaths that occurred were
those of Dr. Il. %. Belt and his two
sons, Edward and Sinclair.
AIRS Belt was last u-ght nursing the
youngest son. E0ryeIle. three years old.
who has a broken leg. when she heard OF
tIe wreck She knew that her husband
and little boys We're on the train. and
il was with growing horror that she
waited in vain Tor their coming.
When at last they did not return
home, DR. Morton Griffith started 5ut
TO search f5F them. a searcE Of the
hospitals failed % reveal them. and lie
ct last turned To the mOTgue.
lie found one oI the boys and the
father there. The little fellow body
was badly maHEIed. and all that could
be found OF Jle father was the upper
part of his trunk. Little Sinclair Belt
was later found I'm "a hospital where
lac died
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Brakeman Finds Infant.

Mrs B. r Bladen. of BTOOkIaud. tells
of the finding OF male infant as fol-
lows.
Mrs. Homer Fisher and / were walk
ing past the wreck when we saw the
brakeman in one of the wrecked cars
with an infant IN his arms. II proved
TO be the nine-month-old son Of Mr
and Mrs. 7. r Chase. Of EVaTt street.
South BTOoklaud. We took the infant
20 Mrs. Fishers house and bathed the
blood from the cOutusions on its face
and body. The child's grandfather had
heard OF its wherca bouts IN the mean
time and called and took # home.
understand the mother was among those
killed. The baby We found, was not
much injured"
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
FINDS HIS CHILD.
WIFE MISSING
Pathetic Case Among III
jured at Freedman'S
Hospital.

All the injured who were taken to
Freedman's Hospital are doing well
Mrs. Don N Carr, OF Kensington,
Md, was not as seriously injured as
early reports stated, although she sus-
tanned a compound fracture of the
Ieg. She has several bruises about the
head and face. Mr.. Carr has beer. with
his wife ever she was removed to the
hospital IL was reported that Mr.. Carr
was dead. lie was not on the wrecked
train.
one of the twO hitherto unidentified
children at Freedman Hospital is
girl OF four years named Church III. Her
mother has not yet been found. and
her father does not know whether the
mother was among the killed The
other child is a boy of 0bOut thirteen
months. His name is Raymond Sturgeon
and residence given as 1927 5 street
northwest.
J. J. Mercklin, of 40S NJ street north
west. is also patient at Freedman's 8.
In the early accounts his name was
given as Macklin.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31

OF the victims was placed on board the
train for Washington. Coroner hewitt
visited t1e wreck and viewed the bodies
before they were taken in charge by
Al0gguemaster Schouen berger.
An inquest was already scheduled for
IT o'clock this morning, and br. hewitt
said he would hold tAe wreck inquest
Immediately after the other had been
concluded The same jury will bc sworn
In gain. and the inquest Will only be
over one OF the bodies. The findings Of
the jury over the first body will apply
20 all of the victims
Commissioners MacflTland and West
went 10 Terra Gotta last night and spent
several hours invests eating the wreck.
Both District officials expressed them
selves as deeply grityed over the great
loss of life. Chief Belt of the fire de
paTtment, and several Of his men were
dispatched 20 he scene. and assisted in
the rescue work. The wreck did not
catch fire
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
f Daughter S Agony.

4 scene lndescri5aDlr in ITS pathOs oC-
CURED when the body OF Mrs. NJ 5.
Furman, o. Norta Tacoma, was dragged
from the debris by Policeman Greene
before the eyes Of ner daughter. Miss
Elizabeth Purmau, who was also on
the train and seriously injured.
While the tody Of her mother was be-
ing taken out, she lay on the ground
only few yards away unable 10 reach
her because Of neT own injuries
My God, Ny mother was killed. es-
claimed the woman. as she saw the life
less form. Let me go TO her"
Her condition was such that il was
necessary for the police 10 hurry her 10
the hospital. while Hrs Purman's body
Wa laid with the other dead.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Gathers Lost Parts.

As an example OF how frightfuliy
mutilated and crushed several OF the
bodies We're, the policeman and others
who were placing them In the cars 10
be brought TO the city. on several occa-
sions. failed To get all OF the. severed
members. After all had been loaded on
the train and everything was in readi-
ness for the gruesome journey TO the
city a spectator picked up the crushed
hand OF a woman on which vas a goIu
band ring and carefully put il or the
floor OF the car. As the same by
stander stepped back he stopped for 4
second time and picked up a man
foot encased in sock and shoe.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
WIFE DEAD,
ONE IN PARTY OF 10

Samuel Compiler. of 7S1 Third street
northwest, found the mapgled remains
of his wife in the moTgue. She mad
been one Of a party of ten on the train
The other nine he'd escaped either with
out a scratch Or with slight injuries.
In vain, Compiler had searched the
wards OF every hospital in the city,
when he turned toward the moTgue,
He asked 10 be allowed to lock at tho
dead, and was led 20 the room where
piles of mangled bodies were. One of
the mutilated cOTpses was that of his
wife.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Bodies in Bits.

Bodies were dismembered, crushed 10
Talp, decapirated, denuded of every yes
uge OF clothing. mutilated in sickeninE
manner
The wounded and the manned called
continually for help Some begged for
water. and many prayed TO the passing
parties 90 release them from the prison
ins weight Of the steel and timbers. In
juries Of every kind were found. broken
limbs, bleeding ht ads, and mangIei
bodies.
And through and atove 1t all, was tie
pitiful chorus Of those crying Tor
their loved ones Husbands grOaned In
anguish for their wives. Mothers wrung
their hands in anguish. beseeChing all
to help them fnd their children. Daugh-
teTs wcpt shrilly for their mothers,
wives cried aloud calling their husbands
by name. Here and there frantic won-
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Police at the Scene
Aided in the Rescue

tIai0r Sylvester went in medfateIy TO
the scene of tie wreck ami personally
suueTluIeuded the work of the police i'm
r.seu.nE tho victims. As soon as 70
body was dragged from the debris a
policemen was placed in charge 90 keep
of ihe Ehoul-. Sixteen policemen from
the Tenth precinct, officers from many
other stations. ana nearly every man
from the Central Office were sent 10
Terra Gotta Crowds Of curious per
sons swarmed aboUt the wceckage and
tae maugled bodies, but IL is believed
taat the timely arrival of the police pre-
vented rhe pilferins OF bodies which
usually occurs under circumstances Of
Iuls kind
Nearly all OF the bodies had TO be
dug or dragged from the wreckage. and
81 was after u o'clock before the last
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
red in heaps and lied in bundles.

One of the most gruesOme Incidents
occurred just as the relief train was
leaving Terra Gotta. Two baggage cars
were literally filled With bodies. when
Just as the train pulled out man dis
covered an arm. severed below the ell
bow. lying beside the track. Picking II
NJ. he tossed Il into the Gag. the limb
falling on one of the bodies The hand,
which was a womans. fell palm down.
and on one Of the fingers was hand
some diamond ring
In the baggage cars were several
bundles OF dismembered parts of bodies.
In one was part of a head that had been
severed at the ears as clean as though
II had been cut with surgeons knife
one little baby was found with its scalp
and the skin from its face torn away.
Not bone was crushed. and those who
viewed The body were at "a loss TO eN-
plain in what manner the skin had been
peeled away.
Pathetic Scenes on Relief Train.
The rescue work was, Of necessity.
slow. There were not enough people on
the scene 10 respond to all the calls for
help. Bodies had 10 be examined and
crude help given to the injured by the
ftfuI glare of torches, the weak glim-
mer of lanterns. and che reflection Of
the glow from the terra Gotta works
near by.
An idea OF the difficulties under which
the rescuers worked may be realized
from the statement that two hours
elapsed after the wreck before the relief
train, carrying the wounded, started
back To Washington. On this train the
scenes were pathetic, even 20 heart
rending. Men, too weak 20 walk, walled
for permission TO go back 10 the wreck
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Robbed by Rescuer.

a man, who WAS wedEed under one
Of the cars. was rescued by a man.
who. he says robbed hirl while render
ing him assistance. Another man. who
was painfully but not dangerously in
Jured, made his way 20 the Soldiers'
Home as soon as hc had liberated him
self. At the home he asked for "a
doctor. The physician. as soon as the
man told him the nature of the wreck.
said he guessed there were people al
the train who needed attention more
than re. and diving for his medicine
case told the man TO take care OF him
self and started for the wreck on q run
The Washington times., 1906-12-31

DI- woe speeding their feet. rushed Wild
IT, ana fTuItiessiy up and down the death
place. seeking their relatives and
friends
Then. aheu the injured had been cared
for and sent 10 hospitals the work of
collecting the dead bodies and IDENTIFY
ing them began T. .s au awful thing
10 see tEir,y-ciEht humans forms
stretched cold iu deaJf. and iJ is all
rHc more awful when the a. res are dis-
torted by terror uusueIEa5ia and sur
tcTiuE indeSCTiba bic Ia WIS awful last
night, ia the fog and the Ta.n, there by
tEe railroad tracks that had been liter
ally bsthed in blood.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31

and hunt for their loved ones. Women.
hysterical with pain and shock. cried
FOR relief
Police Hurried to the Scene.
Major Sylvester heard of the wreck a
short time after il occurred and or
dered ambulances and police reserves
10 the scene. The fire department was
also called out, in case there should be
added 70 the terrors Of the collision the
horrors or holocaust.
Before any outsiders reached the
wreck, the people of Terra Gotta had
carried at least twenty Of the victims
either into houses or TO spots somewhat
removed from the rails. The relief
train was made up in Washington at 8
o O'Clock. and took to the scene Of the
accident DR.. Lewis J. Battle. DR. Burch,
the police surgeon, and DTS. Allen Wal
her, NJ. II. Prospect, Lewis Walker and
DR.. Monroe.
Reached the City After Midnight.
II returned TO the Washington station
at about $40 o'clock. Stretchers were
pressed into service. and again and
again the helpers made their trips from
the train 20 the waiting ambulauees.
carrying some who We're wounded fatal
ly ana some who viii get well. The
train carrying the dead did not get
into Washington until after midnight.
All attention was first given to the liv-
ing with the intention of savin, as
many lives as possible.
For the first two or three hours after
the crash, the corpses lay be .6e the
track After the injured had been
sent 10 hospitals, the work Of iden inca-
tion began. This was slow and diMcult
labor.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
MRS. SHREWBRIDGE
NOT WRECK VICTIM
Enormously Reported She
and Her Infant Were on
Train.

Through mistake. the names Of Mrs.
5. W Shrewbridge and her infant. OF
50l Fifteenth street southeast. We're pub
lished as being among the victims of
last nights disastrous wreck. at Terra
Gotta. u. t.. Inquiry al that address
this morning. however, elected the in
formation that Mrs. Shrewbridge was
not on the wrecked train but was co -
fined to her bed at the time of the acc.-
dent.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31

the police precincts the station the bodies were re-
moved to the District morgue where inquest will be held this after
Half dozen rough ofn had been sent TO the wreck
and several of these two bodies placed In cases bodies
laid rough sherS and covered with sheet in many in
they badly muaed that the parts were gath
cred in heaps and tied in bundles
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
THOMAS FRACTURE
WORSE BY NEGLECT

Harvey Thomas. of IS L street north
east, received a fracture Of the left leg.
il was after 10 O'Clock before lie was
removed TO a hospital. and the physi-
clans found thar because of thf delay
tore the limb could be set. Mrs. Taomas
was painfully injured on both feet Their
son escaped injury. In the party was
Mrs. Thomas sister. from Frederick
Nd She vas painfully bruised.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31

There are mangled portions Of four
OF five bodies that will probably never
be identified
The body OF Mrs. Brown, wife Of
Commodore Brown, was Identified this
afternoon by means OF a ring on her
finger bearing the inscription -. a. B.'
The body of a colored child was ideu-
titled as that of Magdelaine Wright.
on the finger OF an unidentified woman
was found ii ring in which was en-
EraVed the following letters; Fl r. {.
L Z. H., Dec %, o.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31

year-old girl whose legs half way be
low the thighs were crushed. The front
Of her head had been carried away. and
above her waist not a yesJige OF cloth
ing. remained She lay mus until the
train which was To carry the remains
back TO town arrived, about 1880, hrinsr
ms sheets 10 hide the ghastly sights
from the curious
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Scene Reggars Description.

All agreed that the scenes were the
most frightful. appalling and Eruesome
they had ever beheId CotHUs wicker
baskets and winding sheets Werc found
on all sides.
II was a dav never 10 be forgotten
and none remained inside the morsue
longer than vas absolutely necessary
Persons vino had uerved themselves for
th, ordeal Of visiting the Charual house
succumbed jo the strain and had 10 be-
assisted 0ut Of the rooms. For hours
steady stream of humanity poured
into the mOrgIe. while outside stood
hundreds of morbidIy curious men and
women who c5ntcnte3 themselves with
watching the dozens OF black wagons
from undertaking establishments and
the anguish-torn visitors
As soon as the bodies were ldenJitled
record was made by MorguemasteT
Schouenherger- Detective EldTler ana
Policeman Russell.
The telephone was kept ringing CON
Stautly les anxious relatives WHO ia
ovfred about the bodies and gave de-
Scr!plions of missing persons known j9
ba ON the train. The effects Of SOME OF
Sutton, al the HarboT precinct. and II
was by means of these that many We
tins were identified.
Peoplc walked on tipt0e and talked In
muffled tones as they walked in and
OUT of the morgue. Sadness and sorrow
was written on every face as men and
women paced the floor with their heads
buried on their chests.
Coroner hewitt said AZ noon that be
would probably hold an inquest tomor-
row or Wednesday morning at il
o'clock.
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Crushed to Pieces.

Lying to one Side Of the largest pile
of dead was the figure of fourteen
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Signals Displayed.

when We left Kensington the dan
ger signals were hoisted and we were
told L. move along cautiously, When
we hit Takoma the signals We're still out
and we left the station slowly and pro-
Cecded 10 Terra Gotta. our next stop.
The signals were out at Terra Gotta and
We took aboard a few passengers
forget the exact nun ber-and started TO
pull out fOT Washington.
All at once and before anyone could
realize il, the train that was following
las hit the back coach and smashed It
70 splinters. / was moving through the
coach at the time and remember moth
ing more until 1 awakened IN the hos
saifal
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Didn't See Lights.

81 did not see my lights ahead of me-
I was m nav post of duty and endeavor-
Ing 10 see the track ahead If the rear
lights OF train No c. were burning,
did nor see them. The fog was too
thick TO see very far ahead OF the en-
CINE"
Frederick Leigh. brakeman on the ill
fated passenger train. died in Provi-
dence Hospital at . o'clock. after suffer-
ing in great agony from two broken
arms. numerous cuts about the head
and body. AID internal injuries.
Before death came 10 his relief Leigh
gave a brief account of his terrible ex-
perience. When first asked about the
wreck he could only gasp. The surgeons
administered stimulants and he revived
sufficiently to make the following state
meut:
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Driver of Rear Train De-
ClareS He Did Not
See Others
Lights.
AT 25-MlLE SPEED
WHEN CRASH CAME
Brakeman On TeIescoPed
Coach, Dying, Says Sig
nails Were Out.

Harry II. Hildebrand, engineer of the
extra. or luI West Ostgnd street Balti-
more. after being taken in custody.
made the statement that he had seen
no Lshts ahead before the collision.
Il was running at the rate of about
twenty-five miles an hour,' Hildebrand
said A heavy fog prevailed at the
time. The Grst I knew of the wreck
was when / felt The engine and cars
-..u-.- r-..Il-r
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Women Calling to lden-
tify Relatives or Friends
Carried Painting From
the Room.
STRONG HEARTED MEN
TURN FROM THE SIGHT
Coroner hewitt VIII Hold
Inquest Tomorrow or
Wednesday Morning
at II O'Clock.

UearI ending, nerve Faeklng. and
pitiful We're the scenes at the morgue
today
Thirty-tWO piles Of cOrpses. limbs, and
muiJIated human flesh were to be seen
on slabs and the floor. Some were
recog ognized by clothing or 5ewelry. Tha.
there are several persons who Will
never be identified Is a certainty
Men with nerve s or iron. Jrembied,
wept and wrunE their hands az they
stepped into the room. and saw the
rigid and HfeIess forms streWu about
the floC~,
Women and girls who had come tC
identify relatives or friends. and who
were f1rewaTned as 10 what 10 eN-
pect. shrieI ed, screamed, sobbed, and
tainted a. they eazed on The spectacle
OF horror. and recognized the butchered
and emaciated -oTms of loved ones.
Many Pathetic Scenes.
sIost touching and appealing OF au
the sights ives that Of q baby, perhaps
three years old, which lay upon
iumbIed mass o. bones, flesh. and cloth
iug. with 81 smile upoH his ehsTu.-
like face. his yellow hair besmeared
with blood. ON the right side OF the
face was a riEhtful Iaceratiou extend
ing o. the ear. and ON the small head
was found the tell-taIe. deata-dealtns
fracture Of iho skull This infant has
not been idCTuded
children i'm gay plaid dresses. women
in Iac-s. silk, and saJins. men i'm stylish
and sombrc garb lay side by side with
norzue sheets over them
T11o,7 hines and discovered limbs
we're seen on all sides Even the morEue
attaches quaiIed before the sights. Men
who Eave been associated with death
for years stood i'm silence Wits barred
heads. guiNeriuE IiDs and tear-hcdimmed
The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Special Notices.

ANNUAL STATEMENT Boston and
Nicaragua Mines Co Capital stock,
SlFo,eJf paid ln, $igJ."1" No indebted
ness. Sworn to- and recorded according
10 law OLIVER EAGAN, Secretary. i
OFFICE OF MUTUAL FIRE INsUR-
ANCE COMPANY of the District of Co
lUmbl1s No. so Penn. ave. NV, Wash
iugton Dec. T. 13lG.-POIICy holders are
notified that The Managers have ordered
paid 10 the members a return OF savings
according 70 the value OF each policy
December 81, 1895. Renewals for 19U5 are
payable 10 the company AZ the same
Time at the rate cf one peg ceutum on
the premium notes. SD POLICIES
MUST BIZ PRESENTED that payments
may be entered thereon. Policies expire
on the last Monday IN December (5tst
lnSIauJ. Please attend early and avoid
the crowd l. PIERCE BOTELER.
dell lS,-3.5l Secretary.
A NUMBER OF FRIENDS who are
stockholders In the Metropolis Bldg
Association have requested HARRY E
GLADMAN TO be q candidate for the
office OF secretary Election 10 be held
JAN ID, EgJ1, from to $ p NJ Your
vote ana support are earnestly solicited.
de27-7t
OFFICE OF THE FIREAIEN's INsUR-
ANCE COMPANY or WASHINGTON
AND WN-The stockholders
OF the EIremen's Insurance Company OF
Washington and Georgetown viii meet
a. this oftice on MONDAY. JANUARY
.IH. 1896. Tor the purpose Of eIecting
thirteen directors for the ensuing year.
rolls open II A. NJ and close Y NJ
I. W HOWARD, Secretary. de27-1lt
THE ANNUAL MEETING Of the stock
holders OF the Capital Traction Com
pany for the election Of directors for
the ensuing year viii De held on WE'D
NI-SDAG. JANUARY 9TH IgY1. at the
otIlce of the Company. 5Gth and NJ SITS
;. W. Washington. ,. C. The polls
VIII be open from 10 A NJ until l2
II. d. CHAMPION. Secretary. deI7-i5t