Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-08
Alexander Dunn, Sc, and
Alexander Gregory Hurled to
Death by Limited.
TAK0MA PARK Is SCENE
OF VETERANS HEROISM
Tries to Grab Child From Flyers
Path-Carnegie Medal Pro-
posed by Friends.

Alexander Dunn. 66-year -old cross
ing Waterman of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. gave his life early to-
Alexander Gregory, years old, from
death under the wheels of the Capitol
limited at Takoma Park.
Both were struck by the engine at
the Chestnut street crossing as 1t
Numbered through Takoma Park at
so miles an hour. The bodies were
tossed nearly 100 feet into a rav.ne
paralleling the tracks. Friends Of
Dunn, who lived at Gaithersburg,
Md, already have suggested for him
the Carnegie medal for heroism.
The Gregory lad the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. w. Z. Gregory, Il Cleveland
avenue, Takoma Park. was on his
way to the Takoma Public School.
where he was in the fifth grade. A
bundle Of laundry under his arm was
strewn for yards along the east track.
Warned Boy to Wait.
Dunn had been on duty but a few
hours, patrolling the crossing in the
midst of snow storm, when he saw
the Gregory boy walking south on
Chestnut street Motioning him to
wait. Dunn saw the lad stop on the
north side of the crossing while local
No. 81, from Washington to Cumber-
land pulled slowly west. Witnesses
then saw Dunn frantically wave 10
the youth 10 remain where he was,
but the youngster, apparently intent
on getting to school. started across
the tracks around the end OF the local
and directly into the path OF the speed
ing Capitol Limited.
AS he walked onto the eaSbound
track. Dunn. throwing caution to the
wind and knowing a horrible death
faced him If he made a false move.
reached for the lad and grasped his
coat to pull him across the track.
Just as the speeding express struck
the pair and tossed them, ufeless, to
the side.
The accident occurred In a thtckly
settled section of Takorna Park. not
more than a mile and a half from
the Lanlond crossing, where three
persons were killed in an automobile
train collision a little more than a
year ago. The Chestnut street cross
ing IS about 400 yards west of the
Takoma Park station and is al the
top of a slight incline from both
north and south. AT the point where
the accident occurred the tracks are
either direction
Uncle Near Scene.
Clinton knight of 502 Carroll
avenue and Paul kilmer Of s13
Carroll avenue. Takoma Park,
were near the crossing and arrived
at the spot n few moments later.
Only a few minutes after the acct
dent Lieut.. f. Z. Harmon. Army Air
Service uncle of the dead boy. drove
north on Chestnut street in his au-
tomobile toward the crossing his own
children had crossed shortly before.
For a few moments Lieut.. Harmon
feared one of his children had been
killed. He aided the police in. pre-
pairing the bodies for transfer to the
patrol wagon and notified the mother
of the dead youth.
Mrs. Gregory was Frustrated by the
tragedy and was under care of
physician. The Gregorys have anoth-
haired girl of 8. The father is dis
tribution clerk in the claims division
of the Veterans Bureau.
That the action of the Gregory boy
in walking into he path OF the Capt.
toll Limited was inadvertent and that
the Waterman voluntarily gave his
life in an unsuccessful attempt TO
save life was the unanimous verdict
of those who gathered at the scene.
Dunn, who had a clean record of moro
than 35 years of service with the rail-
road, was regarded by parents Of chill
dren living in the neighborhood as one
of the most careful of crossing watch
men. He had been a Watchman at
the Chestnut street crossing for four
years.
c. w. Selby, supervisor Of the
Metropolitan Branch Of the road. over
which virtually all the westbound
traffic of the Baltimore and Ohio trav-
=. 9 -. . 4