The Washington herald., 1907-11-21
TUNNEL WRECK EXPLAINED
Supt. Martin Thinks Workman In
advertantly Turned Switch.
Victims of Southern Railway Accl-
dent Recovering RapidIy-Try
to Fix Responsibility.

The officials OF the new terminal sta
ton have as yet been unable to fix the
responsibility for the collision between
two trains of the Southern Railroad near
the southern end of the terminal tunnel
on Tuesday evening, I'm which about
twenty people were injured. They main
tain. however. that the switches at the
northen end OF the terminal were tam
pered with by an unauthorized person. so
that the south-bound train was started
out on the wrong track and directly in
the path OF the incoming express
G. w. Martin. superintendent OF the
Washington Terminal Company, who
started an investigation Immediately fol-
lowing the wreck. yesterday examined a
number of the railroad employees who
were in the vicinity Of the tunnel al the
time He said last night that his investl-
cation was incomplete.
Notwithstanding that, have not fin
ished the examination Of the railroad
men, he said Il am quite sure that
some unauthorized person in passing
through the train yards must have tam
pered with the switch that sent the train
through the tunnel on the wrong track.
Il do not believe, however. that the
switch was thrown with any malicious
intent. Because OF the unfinished state OF
the construction about the terminal. sew
eral hundred employees OF the different
contractors are about the yards at all
hours II Is quite probable that one OF
this number might have thrown the
switch lever"
The switch which caused the Char
! louisville local TO be guided on the north
bound track is located about 500 feet back
from the north end OF the tunnel. Al
this point the tracks are fitted with cleo
trio and pneumatic switches. but they
have not been completed. and are al
present operated by hand A number OF
workmen were in that portion OF the
tunnel during the afternoon, and II is
thought that one of them must have
thrown the switch while examining OF
tampering with the mechanism.
The railroad officials say that that Dor
| ton OF the tunnel where the switches are
| located is In total darkness. and that Il
would be impossible for the engineer OF a
train 20 tell to what tracks his engine
was being switched. as none are familiar
with the new route For that feason
\ Engineer Mitchell. Of the south-bound
train, was unable to tell that he had been
| switched 70 the north-bound track. and
accordingly allowed his train 70 continue
/ through the tunnel Because Of several
| curves none Of the trains are able to
go at full speed while in the tunnel and
/ this reason alone prevented a more dis
/ astrous wreck
Notwithstanding that the greater Dor
/ ton of those who We're injured are still
confined to the hospital none are reported
| as being In n serious condition. and all
are said to be recovering rapidly Favor
| able reports were received last night con-
cerning the condition OF Rufus H. Mitchell
the engineer Of the south-bound train
whose Injuries were probably the most
serious Of any. Yesterday afternoon four
Of the injured who were removed to the
Providence Hospital were able to go tc
| their homes.