The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-20
SIGNAL SAVED
MANY LIVES
IN S. R. WRECK
Northbound Engineer
WarnedaS SOOnaS Other
Train Entered Track.
Twenty Injured, But All
Have Good Chance
of Recovery.

Railroad men believe today that It
was the perfect working OF an automatic
signal, which flashed a red light and
warned Engineer James J. Goodwin, Of
no shbound Southern train No. 30, that
a southbound train was on his track,
which prevented large casualty list in
the head-on collision between two South
ern -ailway trains at the mouth Of the
new terminal tunnel last night.
The cause of the wreck, IN which
twenty persons were more Or less seri-
ously injured. is alleged by the police
10 have been carelessness or oversight
by a track hand There are four
switches at the place where The acct
dent happened, at the mouth OF the
New Jersey avenue tunnel, between D
and + streets southwest. At present
these switches are supposed 10 be spiked
to the ties, in that manner making 1t
impossible for either north or south
bound trains TO take the wrong track.
Signal Flashed Red.
Track hands were working at the
switches all Of yesterday, ond for some
reason, It is said. the switches were not
srikz. down after the men completed
the Job. Northbound sousheIn tram
from Danville Va. was just emerging
fIom the tunnel when Engineer Good
win saw a red light on mis- track. Al
most before he had an opportunity to
put on the brakes. southbound Southern
train. No. 20. came in on the track. II
taking the wrong switch the sOuthbOund
train had set the automatic signal
Tie next instant the TWO trains came
together. The crews OF both engines
were caught in the crash. Passengers
on the two trains We're thrown into a
panic, the cries OF the injured driving
many women historical.
superintendent Martin, Of the Union
Station, made public a statement today
about the wreck. which he called an
accident for which the company is not
responsible"
Mr. Martin says a man other than an
employe of the railroads or terminal
tempered with the switch, which is about
800 feet in the tunnel He does not
allege, however, that the tampering was
malicious. Fifteen men viii be ex-
amineds by Mr. Martin before his in
NestigatiOn is completed Detectives OF
the Southern Railroad and the Union
Station are looking for the man who
tempered with the switch.
Injured VIII Recover.
The injured were all reported in a
favorable condition this morning. and
It is thought all viii recover. Follow
ing is the list of injured:
James J. Goodwin. Alexandria, en-
Wayne T. Carr. PIG South Payne
street, Alexandra, fireman OF train 2lc.
JCmes 5. Saunders. Of FL Prince street
alexandria, engineer Of train 215.
Rufus J.. Mitchell. "a South Payne
street. Alexandra, fireman Of train 2l5.
Miss Mary z. COhill, Casanova, Va
Miss Elizabeth COWhiu, Of Casanova
Mrs. r. y. Burgess, 90 A street south
east wife of conductor Of train 2l5.
R H Poindexter. Clifton station Va.
mail clerk on train 40.
3. F. Wright. AIindus. Va, mail clerk
on same train.
Ashby L. Malone, HarrisonburE. Va
Luther X. Armstrong, 256 n street
northwest.
s, William [. Miller. 1201 King street,
Alexandria
i. Z. Blake.
Nellie Collins.
David Bailey. OF sls D street south
west.
Nellie Ramsay, eolored, % Majors
court northwest.
Alexander johnson. coIored. Culpeper
Va
DR.. John W. Morse. oolored. 1901 L
street northwest