Evening star., 1934-09-30
DEAF MUTE DRIVER
ESCAPES DEATH AS
TRAIN WRECKS CAR
Nephew of Speaker Cannon,
Lacking One Hand, Is
Thrown 100 Feet.
WARNINGS UNHEEDED,
WITNESSES DECLARE
Crossing Gates Not Operating,
but Red Light Flashing, Bell
Ringing, They Say.

James Mckinley Cannon. AZ, of
Kensington, Md, nephew of the late
Speaker, Uncle Joe" Cannon, and the
late Senator Mckinley of Illinois, was
seriously injured about o'clock last
night, when his automobile was struck
by the crack Baltimore & Ohio Ma
tional Limited at Kensington, Md.
At the Washington Sanitarium, in
Takoma Park, it was said he had suf-
fered a broken shoulder, broken ribs
and internal injuries. as well as cuts
and bruises. Hospital attendants said
he probably would survive, however,
Cannon, who is deaf mute and has
only one hand. was said by witnesses
to have driven onto the crossing,
where no gates we're operating at the
time but where warning red light
signal was flashing and bell was
ringing. There was a terrific crash,
witnesses said, and Cannon was
thrown clear of the wreckage onto the
railroad right of way, more than 100
feet from the point of the collision.
1t was estimated by witnesses that the
car and passenger went as high as is
feet
The crew of the westbound National
Limited saved him from further pos
sible injury when they rushed ahead OF
their train and tagged an eaStbound
express while Cannon was lying close
to its rails.
Cannon, who for many years was
employed at the Capitol and has been
working for about year in the Census
Bureau, was returning home alone
after an afternoon of late marketing
when the accident occurred.
Cannon was removed to the hospital
at Takoma in the ambulance OF the
Kensington Fire Department. X-ray
photographs were being taken about
midnight to determine the exact ex-
tent of his injuries.
The car was virtually demolished.
Struck on the right front, is was
crushed and landed in a crumpled
heap.
Man and Boy Saw Crash.
Among the witnesses to the crash
were Wilbur D. Stubbs and his son
Charles. 13, who were waiting in an
automobile on the other side of the
crossing for the train to pass.
According to the boy and other wit
nesses the red lights of the warning
signals were flashing and the bell was
ringing at the time. The crossing
gates, one of which is broken, were
not supposed to be in operation as the
watchman is on duty only from 6 am.
to 8 pm.
With others the boy and his father
ftIc n ho
the train had passed. Stubbs, a
neighbor of Cannon's, then went to
the Cannon home and with Mrs.
Stubbs took Mrs. Cannon to the hos
pital.
The wreck of the old crossing gate,
which was broken down last July, still
stands on the south side of the tracks.
while the new part, shipped there
some time ago, was lying against a
telegraph pole nearby. Only one gate
has been in operation since three
youths crashed into the south gate
with stolen car, leaped from their
wreck and escaped.
Crossing Fatal to Seven.
The Kensington Chamber of Com
merce, which has fought for years for
elimination of the grade crossing, said
last night that seven persons had been
killed there since 1927 and several
others injured.
w. /. Cleveland, president of the
chamber, said the chamber obtained
legislation several years ago authoriz-
ing elimination of the grade crossing,
the State to pay so per cent and the
railroad to pay so per cent. Interested
citizens obtained an injunction, how
ever. preventing construction of the
crossing. 1t took two years to dissolve
the restraining order, after which the
right of way was acquired at a cost
Of approximately $4,000.
Since acquisition of the right of
way the B. e. o. has pleaded inability
to contribute its share of the expense,
and at the last session of the Legisla-
ture, according to Cleveland, the car
rlers share was cut to 25 per cent.
Since the reduction, the Public
Works Administration has had the
project before it for consideration. but
Of "a projects this was one of several
taken up jointly which the P. w. A.
failed to report favorably. In view of
the unfavorable reactions of the
P. w. A, the Kensington Chamber
has worked intensively to obtain an
overhead bridge at the grade crossing
and last week the county commits
sioners reported they were doing
everything possible to have the prof.
ect passed by the P. w. A.
Three Crossings Eliminated.
Cleveland pointed out that since
authorization of the Kensington grade
crossing elimination project three
other crossings have been done away
with-at Gaithersburg, at Lamond
street and Fern street, Takoma Park.
Cannon came from Danville, ILL.,,
many years ago. His father was a
brother of Uncle Joe" Cannon, ia
nous Speaker of the House, and his
mother was sister of Senator Nc
Kinley of Illinois.
For about II years Cannon was at
tached to the staff on Capitol Hill on
the House side, and was then trans
ferred to the Senate, where he was
index clerk.