Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-02
CLOSED DESKS AT limo CARS NOR LIGHT
Department Employees Quit Electric Service Cut off nv
Tasks Until Tuesday. Powerhouse Accident
LONG REST WELCOMED SUBURBANITES HARD HIT
First Short Working Day the Hours without Food On
Summer Maryland Lines
DEPART FOR COOLER SCENES RESORT SEEKERS Baked
Made in plodes-SeveraI worknaen Sieh&
Contemplation Of Outing. ly Burned by
Electric Service Cut off by
P0Werh0use Accident,
SUBURBANITES HARD HIT
Children for Hours Without Food on
Maryland Lines.
RESORT SEEKERS ARE Baked
Generator At Benning Plant Ex-
plodes-Several workmen Slight
ly Burned by Accident.

~ SA~SA4CAS.
Thousands of Washington citizens on
their way home by street cars last night
were forced to walk or find other means
OF conveyance and electric lights and
elevators in hundreds OF homes and hotels
ceased to operate when a short circuit
IN the main feed wires of the big Ben
ming plant of the Potomac Electric Power
Company caused a strain on the genera.
tor which exploded 1t.
From 6:1o o'clock until after 8 O'Clock
the cars of the Washington Railway and
Electric system throughout the District
stood useless on their tracks. Every car
on the Washington. Baltimore and An
napolis electric line within the District
and those OF the Washington, Alex
andria and Mount Vernon road were also
Out out of commission.
Service Resumed in City.
The cars of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company were able to
operate again within the city between
and O'Clock. Ii was nearly midnight
before the suburban lines extending be-
yond lexington were working success
fully.
The short circuit in the main feed
wires, 1t was explained today by L. E.
sinclair, acting general manager OF the
Potomac Electric Power Company, was
caused by a cable breaking down in a
manhole on Benning road about 300 feet
from Benning bridge. This cable
connected with all four main feeders
At the instant the cable broke down
and the short circuit occurred there was
an explosion. This blew out q number
OF the covers OF the manholes and part
OF the street near the seat OF trouble.
Two or three cable splicers. seeking
the cause Of the trouble, were burned
about the face said Mr. Sinclair. None
was seriously hurt, and all continued -.
work.
"Kickback" Causes Trouble.
At the powerhouse the 'kickback' re-
sulting from the short circuit in the four
large feeders leading from the power
house to supply light to the city and
power to the street cars forced a big
generator from its bearings and made II
useless. There was q roar and ripping
sound as the generator was forced from
its base and thousands Of electrical sparks
few.
The employees Of the power company
set to work to repair the damage imme-
dlately and prepared for use another
large generator or turbine to take The
place of the one which had been dis
placed and injured.
Mr.. Sinclair said today that all the cars
In the city supplied with power by the
Potomac company were in motion and
that the lights would be supplied to the
city tonight as usual.
I'VE will have everything in good shape
this evening"" said Mr. Sinclair. II do
not anticipate any more trouble like that
Of last night"
Substations Help Out.
While the services Of the big Be=ning
plant were lost to the city Washington
had to depend upon substat:nnsiof small
capacity for its street uehts 4 This re-
serve power was sufficient to PAUSE only
faint reddish light IN giei3sA on some
OF the streets and others WERE lett with
out light at all.
Not until long after the cars -on the
main lines We're running were the street
accustomed brilliancy. Gas lights alone
were serviceabie.
Thousands who were seeking to get
into the suburbs and away from the OPP
pressive heat Of the city were unable to
do SO. The Capital Traction system. IN
operation as usual, was unable to Ill
needs OF the moment.
The larger hotels have their own power
plants. Many guests OF the smaller hotels,
rely on gas or candle light in their rooms.
Many made the weary climb to the NTH.
sixth, seventh or eighth story OF apart.
ment houses
Long Wait for Suburbanites.
One Of the most serious effects Of the
Benning blowout" was the arrangement
OF the suburban lines extending beyond
lexington on the City and Suburban
system. After the resumption Of trafnc
in the city, the cars for the District line.
Riverdale. Berwyn and Laurel began to
move slowly toward Maryland. There
was an insufnciency OF power. however.
beyond the lexington transformer sta
ton.
For nearly three hours moro this serv-
Ice was tn partial collapse. Several hun
dred passengers were marooned in Eek
inston. Many walked out along the line.
Some returned to the city to take the
steam trains. Cars were switched back
from Sd and T streets to carry pas
sereers to Union station.
About IL o'clock enough current was
available to permit the start Of the cars
at long Roadway. Passengers were as
sembled into fewer cars to lessen the
delays BY ~ o'clock virtually all pas
sengers thus held up In lexington heo
started homeward.
Among the passengers caught on the
route homeward were many children.
who had been without food for hours.
Some Of them cried with hunger and
heat which then prevailed.
Residents along the route organised
relief parties with food for the little
folks.
vision Of the City and Suburban line the
tte-up was the most severe. It lasted
practically six hours.
Automobiles Used as AdJuncts.
The Washington, Alexandra and Mount
Vernon Railway Company established
temporary automobile service from the
virginia side OF the Highway bridge ana
brought many patrons into town In that
vay. Many were Obliged to walk across
he bridge and UP into the city.
The company finally pressed four sight
seeing automobiles into service ana car
led it's patrons into the city as fast -
possible.
The washington. Baltimore and An
,apolis trains scheduled to leave the
Treasury corner at $50 and 7:S0 o'clock
we're unable to get away. Incoming trains
we're halted at Chesapeake Junction.
The Western Union and Postal Tele-
were handiCaUped by