The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-06
Special to The Washington Herald

Special 10 The Washington Herald
Annapolis. Md, June 5.-Seven people
killed outright .and another injured 20
such an extent that he died after being
taken to the Emergency Hospital in An
napolis is the result OF a terrible wreck
on the new Washington. Baltimore and
Annapolis Electric Railway shortly be
fore s o'clock tonight.
Among the fatally injured is William
Z. Slaughter. general traffic manager Of
the railway company. who was horribly
cut and bruised about the body He is
not expected TO live.
The collision was between two special
cars, one from Baltimore. well filled.
mostly with people coming 10 attend the
farewell bah at the Naval Academy. and
another special from Annapolis
1t occurred at CamD-Paroie station. two
miles outside Of Annapolis.
The cars met head-on while going at
a rate OF about thirty-nve miles an hour.
The inbound car was completely tele-
scoped. and left the rails. Several of the
bodies were horribly mangled.
sixty Passengers Aboard.
The inbound car il Is said. had sixty
passengers aboard. and that more were
not killed It is considered marvellous.
The collision is said to have been due TO
a confusion Of orders. as the railway
company has been running several extra
cars each day on account OF commence
ment festivities at the Naval Academy.
The responsibility for the accident has
not been definitely determined but there
was. it was stated. confusion in the or
ders as TO where the cars should pass.
The cars were both specials. the down
car from Baltimore. and the other from
Annapolis. which left at 7:45 o'clock.
II is said that the orders mad issued
for the Baltimore car TO wait at Bests
Gates. three miles from Annapolis. where
there is a siding, but in some way the
orders were not received or understood.
and the car continued toward Annapolis.
Just as a curve had been rounded. at
which the trees obscure the view the
two cars dashed together, and in a
moment were lying on their sides.
HRrdesty an Eyewitness.
The accident was described by William
Hardesty. an eyewitness OF the collision.
He lives near Camp Parole and was at
his home looking toward the track. when
the collision took place. He said that the
cars approached each other a, a high
rate Of speed. but that the motormen or
one Of them. undoubtedly tried 20 check
his car. as the witness heard the noise
Of the brake Tightening.
The cars then came together with a
terrific crash. and so soon after the curve
had been rounded that it is probably none
OF the passengers knew of their danger.
Both cars were turned over on their sides.
and a number II the passengers were
caught underneath. but, fortunately. none
Of the injured was so held that there
was any difficulty in releasing them
Go to Rescue with Axes.
Mr.. Hardesty and Mr.. Sears. also a resi-
INT of the section, secured axes and
went TO work at once. being soon Joined
by Francis +. and Charles W Gould and
Thomas\ Barrow agent Of the company at
Camp Parole. These FIVE men and others
who joined them did prompt work in re-
leasing and caring for the hurt.
The news was quickly telephoned TO
Annapolis. and car was promptly run
out II contained Drs James J. Murphy
and Walton Hopkins of Annapolis. and a
corps of employees Of the road and others
who rendered all the help possible. Jus
tice John \. Davis. Of Annapolis was
also in this party.
Dcnd Laid Ont by Track.
The dead We're laid out by the side Of
the track with as much care as possible.
and every attention was given To the
wounded. Drs. Murphy and Hopkins.
both young men. worked heroically. but
there was little that could be done and
the wounded were placed in a baggage
car and brought TO the Emergency Hos
pital at Annapolis as soon as possible.
There all the attention possible was paid
them by practically every physician in
the city.
The people in the car acted with the
greatest courage in almost every in
stance.
Fred W. schlens. of Baltimore, who
was with Miss Van Meter. who had her
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