Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-12
Three Persons Hurt on City
and Suburban Line.
DOUBLE COLLISION OCCURS
Third Car Runs Afou1 Of Two Pre-
viously Damaged
PASSENGERS BADLY SCARED
Fourth Car Stopped by Passenger
Barely In Time to Avoid
Worse Disaster.

Three persons were injured and score
or more badly shaken up in collision
in which three cars Of the City and Sub
urban railway figured, at 18th street
and Rhode Island avenue northeast. about
s26 O'Clock this morning. The accident
is ascribed, in part, to the prevalence
Of a heavy fog.
l.. Lindsay, motorman OF one OF the cars,
was removed to the Casualty Hospital,
suffering from lacerated wounds Of the
neck and slight injuries about the body.
Charles Kelly. residing near Woodbridge.
d. c.. received cuts on one Of his hands
and was treated by a physician near the
scene Of the accident. An unidentified
woman, said to be employed In the gov
eminent service, who jumped from one
of the cars. was injured by flying glass
1t was stated at the hospital that Lind
says condition is improved. and that he
will be able to leave that institution
shortly. About thirty school children and
a number of government employees COM
ing into the city were badly shaken up
by the force Of the collision.
Car No. 4O6. in charge of Motorman c.
d. Sober and Conductor r. ID. Burdett,
left. Berwyn bound for the city. By the
time 1t reached 18th street and Rhode
Island avenue northeast all OF the seats
were occupied and many persons were
standing in the aisle. The car stopped
at 18th street to allow passengers to get
aboard. While they were doing so, the
second car, No. 415, in charge Of Motor
man G. c. Grub and Conductor ID. s..
Garner, came along, and before the mo-
torman could apply the brakes the car
crashed into the rear end of the first car.
Second Crash Comes.
While the crews Of the two cars were
preparing to remedy the matter, the third
car, No. All. in charge Of Motorman l..
Lindsay and Conductor G. Winters. sud
denly doomed up out Of the fog and
crashed into the two disabled cars.
In the first collision the front Of car
No. AS was slightly damaged, but there
were no resultant injuries to crew or pas
sengers reported. The third car was
travelling at such a rate of speed, 1t is
stated, that the entire front was broken
and the flying glass hit Motorman Lind
say. Charles Kelly, who was injured by
the glass. is said to have been on the
third car. while the unidentified woman
jumped from the second car as the third
crashed into 1t. and, as stated, was struck
by flying glass.
The presence of mind of Hugh Higgins.
young man residing in Brookland, who
ran back and signaled the fourth car,
which was approaching. saved 1t from
running into the others. Mr.. Higgins was
on the first car. As soon as the second
one ran into the first one he jumped of
and went back to the second one. He was
standing on the ground when the third
car crashed into the other two. Knowing
that another car was due within a few
minutes. Mr.. Higgins ran back about 100
feet and boarded the car while II was in
motion. He informed the motorman of
the accident and the car was stopped
about twenty feet from the rear Of the
third car.
The accident occurred on a heavy grade
which continues from a point about one
square beyond the scene of the accident
to the railroad bridge over Rhode Island
avenue. 1t is stated the motormen have
dificulty in stopping the cars on the grade
unless they are equipped with airbrakes.
Prevalence of Heavy Fog.
At the time Of the collision a dense fog
hung over the car tracks. and it is stated
the motorman could not distinguish OBJ
jects any considerable distance away. Ac-
cordins to one Of the employees Of the
company the cars were running on two
minute schedule when the accident oc-
Cured. None Of the cars left the track
and the injured motorman was taken to
the lexington car barn on car No. 4O6
from where he was removed to the hos
pital.
Several OF the SCHOOL CnnuTcIl WHO were
on the cars at the time were SO badly
frightened as result of the collision.
many being thrown against the sides OF
the car, that they returned to their
homes.
The railway repair wagon and some Of
the officials were summoned to the scene
and the damaged cars were run into the
lexington barn. Many of the passengers
walked to the lexington terminal, from
which point extra cars were run and they
were brought into the city. F. r. Eddy,
executive officer of the District electric
railway committee. when asked whether
or not it was the duty of one of the
crew to 60 back and flag an approaching
car in case of a collision, explained that
there is no law covering the matter. He
added, however, that the law stipulates
that cars in motion must not approach
within 100 feet Of each other.
The accident this morning recalls one
which occurred several years ago. on a
foggy morning. when one Of the Berwyn
cars In taking curve at 4th and T
streets northeast jumped the track and
the motorman was killed.