Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-13
HORRIBLE TROLLHcRASH
Miss Van Meter, Of This City, IS
Among the injured.
CARS MET AT CURVE HEAD ON
Most Of the Dead Are From Baltimore
General Manager Of the Roac1
Is Among the Injured

| General Manager Of the Roac1
Is Among the Injured
Annapolis, Nd, June 1.-TWO cars
OF the Washington, Baltimore and An.
/ napolis Electric Railway Co, while
running at high speed, coIlided near
Camp Parole, two miles from An
napolis, about clock last night, and
were completely wrecked, the accident
causing the death of eight persons
six men, one woman and child.
The child was the three-year-oId
daughter Of William e. Slaughter, gen
eraf manager of the road. "A partfcu-
lar element of the tragedy was given
to tie affair by the fact that the
woman and two of the men were evil
IDENTIFY on their way TO attend the
June BALL at The naval academy, and
they presented, lying dead on the
track, dressed in the attire of the ball
room, az sad suggestion Of the Tight and
| dark in human life. one instant full
of happy anticipation of an evening OF
dancing and joyousness, the next
brought face to lace with eternity,
their pitifui bodies and bloodssained
faces to be gazeG at with compassion
or idle curiosity. according 10 the ma
ture of those who composed the crowd
which quickly assembled.
Among the injured was Miss Louise
Van Meter, daughtrr of OF Mr.. f. w.
Van Meter, of Mar 'nsburg, who mad
a leg broken and was cut about the
face and arms. She was on her WAY
to Annapolis to attend the dance at
the naval academy, where her brother,
Earl W. Vars Meter. is thirdyear
classman.
MIxup In Orders
Tie responsibility for the accident
has not been definitely determined,
but there was, it is stated, a confr-
sion in the orders as TO, where the cars
should pass. The ears were both
specials, the down cars from Baftf-
more and tire other from Annapolis,
which left at 7:45. The accident oc-
CURED about 7.50 It is said that or
ders had BEEN issued for the Baltf-
more car to wait at Best's gates, three
miles from Annapolis, where there 10
IA p6ng siding, but in some way the
orders were not received or under
stood, and tie car continued towards
Annapolis.
Just as curve had been rounded,
. in which the trees obscure the view,
the two cars dashed together, and in
moment were lying on their sides.
| the life dashed out Of eight of the
messengers of the two cars and both
cars hopeless wrecks.
| The accident was described by Mr..
William Hardesty. an eyewitness TO
the collision. He lives near Camp Pa
role. and was at his home looking to-
ward the track when the collision
took place He said that the cars APP
'proached each other at rate OF
Ispeed, but that the rotormen, or one
of them. undoubtedly tried to check
his car, as the witness heard pne
noise of brakes tightening.
i Unconscious Of Peril.
The, cars then ,ame together with a
terrific crash, and so sc'n after the
curve had been rounded that it is
probable that none Of the passengers
Knew OF their danger until the cars
came together. Both cars were turn
ed over on their side and number OF
passengers were caught underneath
but fortunately, none of the injured
were so held that there was any dff
ffculty in releasing them.
Mr.. Hardesty and Mr.. Sears, also
PRESIDENT Of the section. secured axes
ana went to work at once. being soon
Joined by Messrs. Francis T.. and
Charles w. Gould and Mr.. Fraeis Bar
row, agent of the company at Camp
Parole. These five men and Others
who Joined them, promptly did noble
work in releasing and caring for the
the hurt.
The news was quickly telephoned Il
Annapolis and a car promptly run out
II contained Drs. Jas. J. Murphy and
walton Hopkins. of Annapolis. and
corps of employees OF the road anc
Others, who rendered all help possible
Justice John N. Davis. OF Annapolis
Twas also in the party.
The dead were laid out by the side
of the track, with as much care al
POSSIBLE, and every attention wal
given to the wounded. Drs. Murph,
and Hopkins, both young men. work
ed heroically, but there was httl'
that could he done and tn,