Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-23
STREET CAR COLLISION
CAUSES SMALL PANIC
Mishap Occurs Near the Scene
of Fatal Accident Last
Friday.

Within two blocks of the scene of last
Fridays fatal street car accident at 9th
and L streets two cars of the Capital Trac-
ton Company were in collision yesterday
afternoon, narrowly escaping serious con-
sequences, creating a small panic and
tying up the street car lines leading from
the American League Base Ball Park
The collision occurred at eth street and
Florida avenue at o:15 o'clock, just as
the crowds were leaving the base ball
park after the game between the Ma
tionals and the Detroit Tigers. That the
collision did not result seriously was
more matter of luck than anything else,
as the cars were crowded to the doors.
A Takoma Park car of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company line had
just rounded the curve at 18th street and
Florida avenue northbound when car
No. TO6 of the Capital Traction Company.
eastbound in Florida avenue. reached the
crossing The switch tender had thrown
the switch to permit the Takoma Park
car to make the turn.
Serious Trouble Averted.
Car No. IA of the Capital Traction
line, westbound. started over the cross
ing at the same time. The eastbound car
took the open switch. it is said started
around the curve and struck the west
bound car about the center of the lat
ter. Motorman kerns. in charge of the
WeStbound car. and Motorman Thompson,
operating the eastboUnd car. jammed on
the brakes and brought the cars to-a stop
in time to prevent a serious collision. al
though the two cars came together with
force sufficient to jar passengers and Gre
ate d stampede for safety.
Inspector George W. Shockey. acting as
starter at the junction point, took charge
of car No. FOG and backed it off the
curve, holding the cars while a brief in
vestigation was made. During the time
required for learning why the cars came
together all traffic on the lines passing
the corner was tied up No one was
hurt on either car. and the cars them
selves We're only slightly damaged. as
the quick action of both motormen in
throwing OH the emergency brakes stop
ped the cars as soon as they bumped.
The police of the eighth precinct reported
the accident as unavoidable. and no fur
Their investigation will be made by the
police officials, it is said. as no serious
results followed the collision.
Secretary Eddy's Report.
Secretary H. C. Eddy of the District
electric railway commission, at the COM
missions meeting this afternoon present
ed his report of last Friday afternoon $
accident, in which j. NJ. Casper was
killed and two others were seriously in
jured. In his report Secretary Eddy says
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company car was being operated in vio-
lation of the commissions rule forbdding
the operation of street cars while pas
sengers are on the running board. Secre-
tary Eddy will not recommend the filing
of an information against the company
for the reason that several charges COW
ering this point have already been filed
In Police Court.
The street railway companies. 1t was
said today. will demand jury trials in the
case pending in the Police Court
August is the date set for the trials
of the street car companies. The COM
panies are charged with allowing passen-
gers to ride on the running boards, Oper-
ating dirty cars, not keeping the proper
schedule and numerous other offenses.
Attorney G. u. Hoover represented the
companies. He entered a plea of not
guilty. with the provision, however, that
the plea might be changed before the
date of trial Seventeen separate cases
are pending at present. and 1t is likely
additional charges will be filed before
these cases finally come to trial.
1t Is said an investigation of last Fri
days accident is under way in the Of
flee of the United States attorney, al
though Assistant United States Attorney
or not this is true. Assistant United
States Attorney r. S. Huidekoper was
equally reticent.