Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-07-31
Parents Aud Child Meet Death
Ia Rail Collision.

A family of three was wiped out last
Saturday evening when an auto driven by
the father apparently into the side of a
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad train at Der
wood. this county. Samuel T. Norris. his
wife. Mamie. and their 4-year-old daugh-
ter. Alice. were killed, and another woman
and child were hurt, but are expected to
live.
Norris. who was 43 years old. was a
farm hand and lived at Travilah. He and
his daughter were instantly killed. and his
wife died while being taken to the Mont
eomery County General Hospital. She was
81 years old. The others injured were Mrs.
Lottie Whalen. 81, and her 1-year-old daugh-
ter nef 4.
Mrs. Vhalen is Mrs. Norris sister and
had been visiting other relatives at Der
wood. just before the crash.
The light car collided with the Hagers-
town local train. Although a Waterman
is stationed at the crossing. which is equip
ped with gates. he goes off duty at 4:30
O'Clock. There were no witnesses to the
crash. although number of persons had
seen the party shortly before it was struck
by the train.
G. M. Richerts was engineer and N. E.
Reese was conductor of the train, which is
scheduled to reach Derwood at 6 O'Clock.
The impact of the crash crushed the car
into mass of shapeless wreckaee and
flung it some distance along the track.
According to Policeman W. H. Merson,
who investigated the accident, the car
driven by Norris apparently struck the
side of the train. which was not thought
to be going very fast. II had not stopped
at the Derwood station. Officer Merson
said that evidence of bystanders showed
that the bells at the crossing were ringing
as the train approached.
The condition of the Whalen child is
described as being critical. though it is
thought that the hurts incurred by her
mother are not serious. The child was
suffering from a possible fractured jew, a
deep laceration of the arm. shock and
bruises. Her mother is suffering from con-
tusions and shock.
The bodies Of members Of the small
family wiped out by the tragedy were taken
to an undertaking establishment in Rock
vile. Norris was the nephew OF John
Carter, of Derwood, and Mrs. Whalen was the
wife of Carters stepson. Henning Whalen.
The Norris family had been to Rockville to
obtain week END provisions and had stop
ped at Derwood to visit Mr.. Carter. and
Mrs. Whalen had decided to ride over to
the Norris home at Traviah, with her baby
daughter. for visit. s........
The wreckaee Of the death car was car
ried along the track for about 40 feet
before it dropped from the train. 1t was
found between the tracks and a siding at
the station there.
A -four mill close to the track at the
crossing cuts off the view along the track
and the track bends about 500 yards from
the scene Of the accident. Police expressed
the opinion that the car struck the tender
of tina train, the locomotive having cleared
the crossing before the impact. They did
not see the train. however, as 1t had left
Derwood before they arrived. The train
did stop. however. after the accident, and
the engineer and conductor gave theiI
names to bystanders.
The engine Of the automobile was knocked
entirely out Of the chassis, and the whole
left side of the car vas crushed in. The
wreckage was lying in a pool Of blood.
1t was said that no skid marks appeared
in the tracks Of the automobile. and thu
theory was advanced that Mr.. Norris did no
see the train until 1t reared from behint
the mill into his view. None Of the trait
: crew or passengers was reported injured.