The Washington herald., 1907-07-04
ONE VICTIM IS DEAD
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

fore the fatal trip, made the following
statement TO a Washington Herald re-
porter:
Il am aware Of the tendency on every
ones part to begin an immediate criticism
of the railroad company, and we may
deserve II, but there are two sides 10
every case. We have been operating our
lines for twelve years, most Of which
time l have been the superintendent. 1
have done my best under all circum-
stances with the material IN hand
Pleads Difficulties of Single Track.
I'VE have had no collisions. but we can
not operate an exact time schedule on a
single-track road; neither can we give
our patrons that service which they de-
sire. I have investigated the cause Of
the wreck, and have found the reason
for It was the forgetfulness Of the motor
man and conductor on the car that pre-
ceded the rail car They forgot their or
ders. l instructed them 10 notify Mock
that the rail car was coming. so that he
might allow it to pass him. After seeing
the rail car on It's way, I heard nothing
more Of It until I was told OF the acci
dent.
Crack and Morgan have both told me
they forgot to give the orders. While
was on the scene Of the accident l
heard numerous persons asking that /
be arrested. They were not victims or
authorities. but onlookers. I explained
that l would not run away, but would
he at my Office all day. The conductor
/ and motorman have been in the employ
.I / n ha Fpr an ~
even a reprimand against them. I am
/ extremely sorry that the thing had to
happen and more sorry that so much un-
| favorable criticism has been excited"
MOtoTmHn Cracks Statement.
supplementing this. Motorman Crack
made the following statement:
MY orders were 10 tell Mock 20 look
out for the freight l was well past
him before 1 remembered, but even then
did not think that there would be an
accident. I notified the cars 1 met after
ward TO watch out but until I was told
Of the accident my mistake did not dawn
on me. To say that I am sorry for il
doesn't do any good. but tell you I
feel bad"
Conductor Morgan made practically
the same statement Both were al work
all the rest of the day
II was TO MOtorman Mock Of the
wrecked car that the sympathy Of every
one concerned went Sticking to HIS car
when every hope ~ averting the accident
had fed. he was crushed between the
heavy iron rails and the seats. and was
found lying under a heavy load of iron
With both legs broken his collarb0ue
fractured. and bleeding from the mouth
and nose. he tried 10 smile 1T his rescuers
and 90 talk u them unit he was told
that he must lie quiet AS ne lay near
the car passer-hv asked:
'Is THIS man dead2'
He turned, and answered.
NO, I'm a long way from dead. VIII
some one get me a drink Of water
please?"
Hushes Down Grade.
Leaving Spruce station. below Claren-
don. the track runs through heav-
iy wooded country, and just before Fort
Myer Heights is reached there IS a long
steep grade Of more than ten degrees.
Down this the doomed car rushed at a
high speed and round the sharp curve.
/ There are no whistles on the cars. so that
the curve was no sooner turned than the
numbering freight car was seen only
twenty-five yards away.
Mock shouted a loud warning, but the
passengers were too thickly crowded 10
move The m0t0rman tugged at the
brake. not looking at the rapidly dimiu-
| Iishing distance between him and death.
AT first the car responded a little; then.
with a hopeless rattle Of iron the brake
chain snapped under the strain. Il was
here. within fifteen yards Cf the monster
freight. that the mOtuTman might have
saved himself by jumping. bat he turned
10 the motor and applied the reverse cur
rent. but it was TOO late.
The impact was terrific and In a second
the worst had come. The passenger car.
a himsy wooden structure. was motion
less on the track. a carrier of suffering
and sorrow. The iron rails on the work
car had prOtruded ten feet into the pas
| seuger car, crushing everybody within
their reach. The persons I'm the front
seats were the worst hurt, while others
farther back in the car were struck hy
| flying splinters and then trampled on in
the wild stampede that followed.
Others Hurled Through window.
A number Of others were hurled from
the windows into the roadside The en-
tire front Of the car had been demolished.
the rear trucks derailed, the center Of
the car splintered, the windows shattered
The pass ugers who were unlnjured were
paralyzed with fright, and the injured ST.
lent. For a moment not a sound could be
heard. then Of a sudden an uprOar began
/ Wounded men groaned the uninjured
wept and prayed, tralnmen shouted orders
and the work of rescue was begun.
People poured from the houses on the
roadside carrying linen and towels and
water, men put their shoulders 10 the iron
and pulled the motorman from beneath.
while those less injured we're carried 10
/ q grassy field to await ,he coming Of
the ambulances and wagons
Every one seemed TO be hurt and bleed
/ ing, and almost every one seemed TO real
| ize that he had been face to face with
death. Soon a farmers wagon came
rushing TO the rescue. followed by others.
and In d short time a sad procession Of
/ wagons. automobiles, and ambulances
wended its way toward the Georgetown
! I University Hospital
brakeman Hero, Also.
Sitting ten yards from the scene Of the
/ accident, Wilbur Lovelcss was found with
his head in HIS hands. He was the brake
man Of the freight train and he, too, had
remained at his post on the rear Of the
car while the speeding passenger car ap-
preached him. With the impact he was
torn from his position. but his ankles
/ caught in the rails and were almost sew
cred from his legs. He told his rescuers
that his "fect stung" him. He tried to
rise. but fell back fainting. He was
! taken 70 the hospital I'm an automobila.