Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-22
BOYS DESIRE TO SEE
TRAINS GO BY IS HELD
CAUSE OF z DEATHS
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treated for shock. He desires only to
be released from the hospital in order
that he may go to the empty home at
32l Sixth street southeast and prepare
for the burial of his family. Other than
that. he has no interest in the future.
Last night, it Is believed that the
family, as was customary, parked at the
crossing. Lemmons Is said to have
gone to a nearby store to purchase ice
cream, but returned when the New
Washington express approached.
Seated in his car. he is believed to have
accidentally placed his foot on the
starter, causing the car to roll forward
on the tracks.
Frantic efforts to start the machine
were futile. Lemons, aided by VIII
liam Garrison, colored Waterman at
the crossing, and several citizens, at
tempted to shove the automobile from
the path of the oncoming train, but
were forced to abandon their task and
leap to safety.
The impact shattered the automobile
and dragged the bodies Of the victims
fully an eighth OF mile. Five electric
switches along the tracks were torn
out, train service was delayed nearly
half an hour and repairmen labored all
night getting the electric signal appar-
atus in service.
r. H. Sansbury, engineer Of the
train, is reported to have applied the
brakes so rapidly as to pull the draft
timbers out of the ninth car sleeper.
1t was necessary for four cars to be
left on the tracks, and many passen-
gers desiring to reach their destina-
lions we're transferred to other trains.
- tS, In
their cars until they could be taken into
Washington.
Tried to Save Boy.
1emmons is said to have attempted
to grasp the hands of his boy and drag
him to safety. That is all he remem-
bered.
Arriving at the scene. Chief H. L.
Leonard of the Prince Georges County
Rescue Squad, attempted to gain some
knowledge OF the affair from the huS-
band. He was told:
my wife and boy had been driving
out to Landover almost every evening
for the past few weeks to park by the
side of the railroad tracks so that the
child could see the trains go by. We
had been parked at the crossing a
little while and planned to stay there
long enough to see just one more train
pass.
Il went over to a nearby store and
bought some ice cream and when
returned I sat In the car. / happened
to put my foot on the starter and the
car rolled ont to the middle Of the
tracks and stalled. I did not know that
it had been in gear. I could not seem
to get it started and jumped out so that
l could try to push it off the track, as
1 knew the train was coming. Some
other people tried to help me.
When the train started bearing down
I reached out and grasped the hands
of my boy to try and pull him out.
Then everything went black"
A coroner's jury was sworn In at the
scene by Justice of the Peace Herbert
J. Moffat of Hyattsville. who will con-
duct an inquest Friday night. Chief
Leonard is foreman of the jury.
The bodies were removed to the
undertaking establishment of F. Gasch
Il Sons, Bladensburg.
There has been only one other fatal
accident at the crossing in recent years.
The victim was deaf woman who failed
to hear the warning signal of an on
coming train.