The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-09
THREE HURT, FORTY
BADLY SHAKEN UP
IN TROLLEY | CRASH
Washington Virginia Line
Work Train Bumps Into
Passenger Car.

Speeding toward washington about
$3.50 o'clock this morning, a heavy work
train on the Falls Church branch Of the
Washington-Virginia Railway Company
crashed into the rear end of a car filled
with passengers at Clark's Station, Va,
injuring three men, and severely shak-
Ing up the other forty passengers.
That persons on the rear platform OF
the car filled with passengers were not
killed or fatally injured was probably
due to the fact that the forward car
had just started ahead from the sta
ton, and had gained sufficient momen-
tum to break the force Of the impact.
The injured are George Bowbeer,
twenty-six years old, a steamfltter, of
Ballston. Va; back wrenched and
sprained. and head cut.
William g. Restorff, thirty-six years
old. an employe of the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing, living at Claren-
don. Va; injury to hip and laceration
OF scalp.
Benjamin Thomas colored, of ReIee,
Va, lacerated scalp.
Injured Brought Here.
The three men were brought to WASH
ington on another car. They were met
at the electric line station, at Twelfth
street and Pennsylvania avenue, with
an ambulance, and taken to the Emer-
gency Hospital, where It was found
Bowbeer was the only one badly hurt
His injuries are not considered serious,
but he will probably have to remain at
the hospital several days.
Restroff and Thomas left the hospital
after having their injuries dressed
Bowbeer was knocked through the rear
door of the car and was uncop scious
for about half an hour.
According to officials of the COM
pany, the accident was caused by Ear
nest Cook. motccman on tho work
train, losing control of the car. There
is down grade at Clark's Station. and
the train, filled with crushed stone used
for ballasting the tracks, gained speed
at every revolution of the wheels. The
brakes refused to work, and Cook was
unable t., check the car.
Struck With Terrific Force.
The work train struck the passenger
car with terrific force, and had 1t been
.stant,ihg still at the time the rear car
would probably have telescoped it. All
of the passengers, most Of them Gov
work in Washington. were thrown from
their seats. Several women became bys-
terical, and there was rush for the
doors following the sn'ashup.
The three men who were injured were
standing on the rea. platform. They
were hurled through the door and
against the woodwork. the platform be-
ing demolished.
Clerks Station. the scene Of the
wreck: y ABOUT a mile from the south
n IQrt6 Tl,4
ear had just left the station, and hal
gone less than ATTY feet when the work
train crashed into 1t. The snashup
care almost without warning. While
the work train was seen approaching,
1T was believed the motcrman had tile
car under control and intended stop
ping at the station.
Tried To Jump Ahead.
s When 1t was seen that he did not stop,
aud that the train was coming ahead
at rapid rate of speed, those standing
on the rear platform shouted a warning
to the motorman of the passenger car.
Looking behind, he saw the other car
coming, and put on full speed ahead.
Those on the platform, however, did not
have an opportunity to jump, while the
men and women inside the car had al
most no warning Of the impending dam
ger.
At the Ballston offices of the COMPANY
1t was said the heavy load on the work
train made 1t impossible for Motorma n
Cook to control it on the down grade.
Motorman Cook and two employees
car were shaken up and bruised. but
lot badly hurt. Their INJURIES did
not necessitate hospital treatment.
.both cars We're badly smashed and
about half an hour. A minute or two
after the accident car out of WASH
ington arrived at CIark's station. The
passengers on the wrecked car were
run back to Washington. Before the
tracks were cleared traffic was re-
stunned by running cars in both d.
rections as far as Clark's station and
transferring the passengers.
Went Through Car Door.
ut happened SO quick that l really
do not know what did take place, =
said George Bowbeer. when seen at
the Emergency Hospital. Some one
shouted to look out. and the next
thing / knew Il was going through
the door in the car. I didn't know
anything after that until woke I'D
on another car on which they were
bringing me into. the city.
~ do know one thing, though. If
NE car ] was on had not started
ahead most of us would have been
'Filled. That was the only thing that
with stone and would have made
kndling wood out of our car"
Several serious accidents have oc-
CURED during the last few years on the
electric lines In Alexandria county now
controlled by the Washington-V Virginia
company. About three years ago there
was head-on collision near Rosslyn.
In which two persons lost their lives.