Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-01-03
Terrible B. e. o. Wreck.

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Terrible B. e. o. Wreck.
One OF the most horrible wrecks in the
history of the B. & O. railroad occurred
shortly after dark Sunday evening, Dec.
Goth, at the little station of Terra Gotta,
where the Metropolitan branch of that
system crosses the District line about
seven miles from Washington.
The regular evening train from Fred
erick city was struck in rear-end collis-
ion by "deadhead" equipment train
which had been picking up empty cars on
the way south from Cumberland and was
almost demolished, while practically ev-
cry passenger was either killed or injur-
ed.
The Frederick train consisted Of three
coaches. The first of these was smoking
car, in which there were about 20 men
and youths, all white. The second and
third coaches were filed with passengers
picked up along the route from Frederick
to Takoma, the next station north CT the
wreck. Many Of the passengers were
returning to Washington from holidays
spent with their relatives in Frederick
and Montgomery counties, and there
were many women, young girls, children
and babies in these two coaches.
The -ear coach Of the Frederick train
was torn into splnters ard in the next
instant the central, or second coach, was
split open. The smoking car was damag-
ed, but the damage consisted mostly of
broken windows No one was killed in
the smoking car, and those who escaped
from it and was brought to Washington
explained their escape as miracle.
Everyone in the smoker was shaken up,
but most Of the injuries were bruises and
cuts from broken fragments of glass.
The passengers were thrown violently
against the seats ard sides of the car.
The moment after the collision there " as
complete darkness everywhere, except
from the station lamps which shone Only
dimly through the fog.
The debris of the wreck did not ignite,
but was torn and twisted and piled in
indescribable fashion around ard over
the bodies of the dead and injured.
Some of the bodies of the dend were
frightful!y mrtilated by the heavy car
trucks of the demolished passenger coach
es and their wheels.
Out of the chaos Of the wreck the po-
lice and stricken friends of the victims
have identified all but two of the dead
and all of the seriously injured.
The official list of the dead given out
by the Washing ton police on Monday
comprises Al dead in Washington ana at
Drookland or Terra Gotta, not including
the fragments which might ultimately
prove to be forty-second person at the
morgue. This, added to those identified
but not verified by the police because not
brought to Washington, would bring the
list to 81.
1t is still uncertain how many may have
been injured to degree less serious than
those who have been cared for at the hos
pitfalls, but it is believed that the total
number will reach 60 or more.
Messrs Camden Ramsburg, c. T. Fa-
gan and Frank p BoLlitz, of Frederick,
were passengers of the Inflated train.
In the report from the Casualty Hospita
it is stated that Mr.. Ramsblrg suffered
a confusion of the head and Mr.. Pagan q
lacerated wound on the scalp, and that
Mr.. Boblitz had lacerated scalp anc
fractured jaw.
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Proctor whc
were taken to George Washington Hos
pital are reported as doing well. MIR
Proctor suffers great deal from bro
ken leg. Mrs. Proctor was formerly Mis-!
Mamie Leatherman, daughter Of DR.. M
E. Leatherman who is now seriously il
at the home of his father near Lewistown
from which place she and her HUSBAND
were returning to their home in Wash
ington.
1t is expected that an effort will b
made to show that the wreck was due t
the dense fog prevailing at the time ant
not to any negligence on the part OF TN
employees of the road.
Milton w. Phillips, the operator at Ia
koma Park, who is held prisoner, state
that the equipment train ran ast his dan
ger signal at speed of 60 miles. H
. says there was heavy fog, but not SUI
fcient TO hide red light. He declare
that he Immediately notified the operate
/ at University station that the train ha
taken the block without orders, which
: corroborated by the University static
( operator.
C. w. Galloway, general superintenc
D ent of transportation of the road, say
= 1--WE intend to leave no stone unturne
until the responsibility has been fixed