The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-01-11
MANY KILLED
In Appalling Railroad Disaster
Near Washington,ssD. G.
COLLISION lOF TRAINS.

At Terra Gotta, and Many Persons Walt.
Ing at the Station to Board the
Train Either Killed or
IDjured While
Waiting.
Another appalling disas6er occurred
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at
Terra Gotta, about three miles from
Washington, d. O., In which thirty.
eight persons were killed outright and
over aixty injured. many Of them 80
seriously that they sill die. The 40
cident was oaused by the collision Of
train No. &c, que at Washington at
6 25 p. M, from Frederick, Md. !.
known as the Frederick Special with
q deadhesd passenger equipment spe
olsl Of eight cars. Over 200 passengers
were aboard the Inflated train. AS
soon as the news of the wreck reached
Washington all ambulances available
with as maay physicians as could be
assembled were sent to the goene.
OF the Injured seven were taken to
Ereedman's hospital, Is to the u nited
States Soldiers Home hospital, and 20
were brought into Washington ON q
special train to be carried to various
hospitalH. Among the Injured was
DISTRICT Attorney Baker Of Washing-
ton, who, despite his injuries, walked
almost two miles to Brookland and
brought the first news of the wreck.
He was completely exhausted and af-
tor medical treatment. Was sent to tn
city.
Describing his experiences Mr.. Ba-
ker said: II vas In the second car
from tho engine coming from my
home In Germantown. l was four
seats from the end Of the car, and just
as the train left Terra Gotta station
the crash came We were carried In
the wreokage for somo distance. do
not know how got out OF the wreok-
age, but Mr.. Darby, Of Washington,
assisted me to the drug store" Frank
p. Bodlitz, o newspaper man Of Fred.
eriok, Md, who was slightly I'M .red,
In describing his experience said:
II WAS In the car next to the
smoker talking with q gentleman and
his wife from Detroit, Mich. We were
oil standing up, the car being crowd
cd. Suddenly we heard an awful
noise and then o crash. Women be-
gan screaming and the next thing l.
anew 1 found nayAeif rOi.iIg down &n
6mbankmenb where somo one picked
me up and found / was not badly
hurt. Is is impossible to describe the
acene. Women and children @ero rum
ming about crying for their parents,
and mothers and fathers were rushing
around trying to find their children.
The dead and injured were at ewn
along the track for distance Of 8
mile"
The dead bodies were found lying
beside the track for a considerable
distance. The wreck occurred at 6:39
p. M. A dense fog was prevailing and
made objects perceptlbla but q few
feet ahead. 1t WGs impo lsible at first
to determine the exact txtent of the
catastrophe. The moment the frat
Of the survivors reached Brookland a
general call was sant out for doctors
and ambulanoes. DR.. II. w. Fris,
chorn, Dr. Storm and Or. j, II, Brooks
II Brookland responded and we're
taken to the soene III automobiles.
One member of the Grew Of the pas.
senger train, who hobbled into drug
store half hour after the acct lent.
said; II can't tell how many have
been killed. 1t ig awful. 1 don'b even
know just how it happened. The
freight engine went through the en-
tire train and 1t seems to me as II
every one was killed In the last ooaoh
and many In tho first"
When the news Of the accident
spread Through Brookland, may citi-
zsns with their wives hastened to the
scene to give their aid and comfort 30
the wounded. Mrs. II. r. Fisher
while responding to the call OF o suff-
erer, almost stumbled over the body
Of o two. year.old child lying near ths
track. The baby was terribly bruis
ed, but was still alive. 1t was said
that the mother Of tho infant had
been killed.
The illfated train runs only on
Sunday for the benefit Of Washing.
tonianB who either have country plac-
es on the line or 60 to visit relatives.
j 1t leaves Frederick at 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon and Is scheduled to reach
Washington at 6;26 O'Clock. o. W..
Galloway, superintendent OF trans.
portatiOn OF the Baltimore and Ohio,
stated that IL WAS impossible yet to
determine the cause Of the wleck.
1t Ia stated that the danger signal
at Takom8 Park, q short distance from
the scene OF tho accident, WAS set
when the train Of empties passed .
The train was going at the rate OF so
miles an hour and Engineer Hide.
brand stated that on account Of the
heavy fog he could not see the signal,
: His train ran into the Frederick train
just as 1t was pulling out OF Terra
Gotta, where 1t had stopped to take
on four or five passengers Two OF
these were among the killed.
Both Engineer Hilbebrand and the
dreman on the train Of the empty
oars were placed under arrest and
brought to Washington In tho charge
OF 0fiicors. One Of the worst features
of the catastrophe was enacted al tht
station OF Terra Gotta. Here o mum
Dor CT q passengers wore waiting tt
take the train into the oity when tht
: collision occurred. or tho large mum
hnr ~, Il.