Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21
Engineer Jumps When His
Locomotive is Derailed.
HIS BODY BADLY CRUSHED
Fireman More Fortunate, Escaping
With Slight Injuries.
ACCIDENT ON B. AND 0. ROAD
Broken Rail Causes Wreck In City
Suburbs, Resulting Fatally
to Charles Burch.

AS the Chicago express OF the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad was speeding from
Washington shortly after III O'Clock last
pisht. engine 2121. which was drawing the
train. jumped the track. and Charles
Burch, the engineer. who leaped from the
cab. was killed.
Howard Cramblitt, fireman. also jump
ed. He was slightly injured about the
head and arms.
Scores of passengers we're pitched for
ward in their seats by the sudden stop
ping OF the train, and a panic followed
when the noise of the escaping steam
from the derailed engine was heard.
Caused by Broken Rail.
The accident, which is said to have
, been caused by a broken rail, occurred in
the yards of the Washington Terminal
Company. a short distance north of Flor
ida avenue northeast.
Burch. the dead engineer was fifty
years old and resided in Martinsburg. W.
Va The fireman lives in Baltimore.
Burch was disemboweled. his left arm
was twisted and torn almost from his
body, one shoe was pulled off his foot
and his body presented the appearance
OF almost every bone having been broken
Railroad employees declared that life
was not extinct when they reached the
horribly mangled body, but when DR..
f. NJ. Parlett. one Of the surgeons for
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
train. reached him, he pronounced life
extinct.
Dead When Policeman Arrives.
Policeman W. l.. Rhine OF the eighth
precinct was one of the first to reach the
wreck. his attention having been attract
ed to the yard of the Washington Ter
minal Company By hearing the engine,
tender and mail car cross the tracks, and
later by the noise of the escaping steam.
When he arrived, he states. the en-
gineer was dead.
Railroad employees had carried the
body across the tracks TO the east of
the yard. hoping something could be
done to save Burch's life, but the case
was hopeless. Coroner hewitt directed
that the body be taken to the morgue.
1t Is likely that he will hold an in
quest there at II o'clock tomorrow
morning.
the Baltimore and Ohio road, 1t was
said last night. had turned over some
months ago at the same spot where the
accident occurred last night. Several of
the railroad employees recalled the prior
accident. Had the engine been running
last night at a high rate of speed 1t
would undoubtedly have demolished the
tower and gone over an embankment.
AS 1t was. the engine stopped within
about twenty feet Of the tower.
Messages Sent for Aid.
Messages asking for aid were sent in
all directions, the appearance Of the
engine. tender and forward cars Of the
train making 1T appear as If there had
been a wholesale slaughter OF human
lives. Freedmens Hospital and the
Casualty Hospital hurried ambulances
TO the bridge, near Florida avenue and
2d street, while Nos. 8 and 9 police
precincts each sent a patrol wagon
with a number Of policemen ready for
emergency work.
The heavy express train left Union
station at IL O'Clock. on schedule time
and there was no reason for Engineer
Burch to make unusual speed. John
Michaels of Baltimore was the train
baggasemaster, Sanford Montgomery was
conductor and James Rebel was express
messenger.
When the engine reached a point a
short distance south of the tower is sud-
denly left the track and careened- The en-
gineer and fireman. In the excitement os
the moment, elected to take their chances
Of escaping injury by jumping.
Burch jumped to the left. while the
fireman went to the right. The engine and
tender went IN the direction in which the
engineer jumped He fell and was caught
by the trucks OF the mail car, and was
dragged short distance.
Fireman Slightly Stunned.
Fireman Cramblitt jumped to the right
side OF the engine, and when he reached
me ground was able 20 see that the big
vehicle, tender and mail car were head
ed away from him He was slightly stun
ned by the force of the contact with the
ground, but recovered almost instantly
and his first thought was of his engineer
Where's Burch?'' he asked
His question was soon answered. and
the distressed man was almost on the
verge OF a breakdown when he realized
the fate of his engineer. Passengers and
members OF the trains crew hurried TO
where the mangled body of the engineer
rested in front OF the truck and offered
assistance. but there was nothing thar
they could do, the weight OF the neay.-
train having been pushed against him
with force enough 10 kill him almost in
stantly.
The ringing OF the ambulance and pa
!. troll wagon bells attracted pedestrians and
occupants OF vehicles as they rushed
through the streets. and by the time
, they reached the wreck number of au-
tomobiles were on hand.
Lieut.. Judge was IN charge OF the police
from the eighth precinct. while Acting
Lieut.. Ellsworth led the members OF No.
o squad TO the scene and cleared the
tracks of ali who were not needed there.
The railroad company had a corps Of
workmen hand long before midnight
AS soon the passenger coaches and
the baggage car were sent back 10 tine
station the worknen started upon the
work of repairing the tracks and get
ting everything in readiness for the
wrscking crew that was sent for.
Many Passengers Asleep
IL is stated that many OF the passenger.
were IN their berths asleep and some o1
them scarcely knew that anything seriou.
occurred until they heard others discus.
the affair. Another engine was sent Il
take the place of ill-fated 2121 after {
yard engine had backed the train to tn,
station.
There was nothing else for them Il
- said old railroad n