The Washington times., 1919-08-02
CAR SSPEED
IS BLAME FOR
CAR WRECK
Brakes Set Too Suddenly When
Slowing Down for Curve,
Company PFobers Find.

The brakes and equipment Of the
car OF the Warrington Railway and
Electric Company which overturned
at Second and r streets northeast
were in proper working order.
This was the statement today By
s. R. Bowen. treasurer OF the COM
pany. following report made By the
company's investigators.
Following an examination OF the
wrecked car yesterday. officials o.
the company found that the wheels o.
the front truck OF the car we're lock-
ed.
According to Mr.. Bowen this eoulj
have been done by a too sudden ap-
obtained by officials investigator the
accident place the speed OF the car
from eighteen to twenty-five niles
and hour upon reaching the curve.
Tee Much Speed.
The theory advanced by the Of
ficials OF the company today IL that
the car was speeding upon reaching
the curve and in an effort to slacken
the speed OF the heavy car the mo-
torman applied the brakes too sud
denly causing the wheels to become
locked causing the derailment Of the
car.
The brakes, both hand and air, were
inspected on July %. Mr.. Bowen said.
At that inspection they were found
to be IN proper working order.
The car when turned into the barn
on Thursday night was examined
again, and at that examination the
brakes were found to be In proper
working order
In speaking OF the report that the
crew had to stop the car on Rhode
Island avenue. officials Of the COM
pany said that the overhead trolley
left the trolley wire at that point,
but the car crew oply had to return
the trolley pole to the overhead wire.
Putnam on scene.
A c. Putnam, OF the Public Utili-
ties Commission, was on the scene
1f the accident early this mornlng
his Investigation
Several Of the persons injured in
the accident were able to report for
work at the various Government de-
partments this morning the police
learned.
Crew SIN Held.
Benjamin Maddox, thirtynine years
old, 211S Fourth street northeast. con-
ductor Of the wrecked car, and John
Riley, 302 V street, motorman, are
held at the Eighth precinct police
station for Investigation. Neither
would make q statement this morn
ing.
A short time following the accident,
the Eighth precinct police station
was the scene OF great activity when
passengers arrived to claim Valuables
a.. l.. ~.
the accident.
Conservative estimates given by
Captain Doyle showed that the mem
bers OF his command had gathered
nearly forty hats, twenty-five umbrel-
las, and scores OF pocketbooks.
The Identification Of the property
had its pathetic side as women war
workers, cut and bruised, Identified
their property.
she Lest So1.
One young woman told Captain
Doyle that her pocketbook containing
Sol had been lost in the street car.
II was not recovered.
While thirty-seVen persons are
known to have been injured, several
more probably were injured In the
accident. but refused hospital treat
ment. Members OF the Eighth pre-
ctnct found upon investigating that
several persons had been taken to
nearby houses suffering from shock
While six persons were reported as
seriously injured, hospital physicians
1t the various institutions where they
were taken, thid this morning their
INJURIES are not expected to prove
"a tai.
Miss Edmunds Better.
Miss Ruby Edmunds, 1904 Jackson
treet northeast, who is suffering from
possible fracture Of the skull was
reported to be resting easily this
morning, and her recovery Is ex-
,ected.
Misses Ruby and Ella Bemis, 1857
Mills avenue northeast. and Private
John George Kinsinger. of the Dis
riot Fire Department. living at 80 o
street, who were taken to Sibley
were said to be out OF daL-
ger.
While statements made by pas
,engers of the car differ as to the
speed il had maintained when Il
cached the curve. the concensus %
opinion places the speed between
welve and eighteen miles and hour.
-nH-aH