Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-12
Automobile Is Overturned.

Automobile Is Overturned.
The automobile had Just moved
across the first rail Of the track when
a southbound car. crowded with pas
sengers. on the way to Washington
from Great Falls. was full upon it.
The automobile was dragged thirty
five yards and overturned.
There Is a conflict of testimony re-
garding the speed at which the rail-
way car was moving. Residents in
the neiEhborhood declare 1t was going
at high speed. Some OF the passengers
say it was moving slowly. The car had
no searchlight and carried only run
ming lights.
Al the moment Of impact Motorman
Charles Crue of the railway car was
knocked forward and then collapsed.
falling into the car. He pulled himself
together in an instant. seized the lever
and regained control, according TO pas
SengerS.
The automobile as 1t was dragged
along, crumpled up and was twisted into
a mass of wreckage. Castor. who was
sitting in the tonneau OF the automobile,
was catapulted twenty feet across the
roadway Williams and Hillary were
both tossed out Mitchell stuck to the
wheel and Kitchen also kept his place
in the car.
In the railroad car the passengers were
shaken up by the impact. Terror ensued
and women and children screamed loudly
In their fright.
Went to Aid Injured.
When Motorman Crue brought his car
| to a stop, the automobile. upside down.
was right in front Of his across the
tracks. The crew Of the railway car.
man passengers and residents in the VI
cinity gathered about the automobile
and went to the aid of the injured.
/ Kitchen, with a great hole in his side,
was extricated from the debris of the
/ car. Castor. with his wrists spcained
and badly crushed. was picked up in
sensible at the spot where he had been
| hurled. Hillary. his head cut and his
| leg lacerated. and Williams. insensible,
/ but with only minor bruises, We're dis
covered in the roadway.
| The Whereabouts of Mitchell was for a
moment I'm doubt Suspecting that he
might be under the car, which was not
evident in the darkness. some of the
party of rescue went for a Jack. As they
were applying 1t TO the heavy automobile,
| some one in the crowd struck a match.
| In an instant, a flame shot up in the
\ air twenty feet. The gasoline tank,
which had been damaged in the collision,
and which was afterward found with cap
off and q big hole in the side, exploded.
| The car took fire.
! oS Tire ISHI VI lHc idIcS VIE manu-
Of Mitchell could be seen obtruding from
under the car. The rest of him was not
visible. Some one said they saw his hand
move. Another declared that he was
| heard to grOan.
1 The flames attracted the attention of
Crandal Mackey, commemorative attor-
ney for Alexandria county who was out
automobiling at the time. He hurried to
the spot and took charge of the efforts
at rescue.
Whistles Blow Alarm.
An alarm Of fire was sent in and the
whistle at the brewery was used to Sig
nal help. While waiting for the ar
rival of fire apparatus. the party got
buckets Of water and threw on the burn
ing automobile, but without SURPRISING
the flames.
/ A bucket Of water was thrown on the
man under the automobile by Mr..
Mackey. Then two buckets of sand were
brought and heaped about the PROSTATE
form.
Finally the iremen arrived. They
turned the hose on the burning automo-
bile and kept a stream playing on the
body under 1t. The blaze was extin-
guished without the railway car catching
| fire.
The debris was then cleared away and
the body OF Mr.. Mitchell extricated. With
arms outstretched, the body was lying
right IN the middle of the roadway be-
tween the tracks His clothing had been
burned almost completely off. The face
was swollen and disfgured.
The identity Of the victim was not
known at the time. Mr.. Mackey. an
Intimate friend of Mr.. Mitchell. was un-
liable to recognize him. Among the
icharred remnants Of the clothing. how
lever was found Scottish Rite member
ship card, which identified the owner as
Mr. Mitchell. There were also found
photographs Of the two young daughters
of Mr. Mitchell and receipted bills. The
body was taken up In canvas and re-
moved TO the platform near the track.
Inquest Not Necessary.
Coroner s. T. Ashton OF Alexandria
county was notified by phone and au-
lthorized the transfer of the body to the
undertaking establishment of J. F. Birch S
Sons. at 1904 NJ street. Georgetown. On
the explanation of the conditions Of the
laccident given by Commonwealth At
ltorney Mackey, the coroner indicated his
intention to give q certificate OF acci-