Evening star., 1935-04-12

County Orders Inquest.
Montgomery County officials a few
hours after the crash ordered an in
quest to be held in the Montgomery
County court house Tuesday at II
am. Shortly before noon today the
Interstate Commerce Commission di'
rected G. v. Loveling, an investigator
and T. P. Smith, an engineer. both
connected with the Bureau Of Safety
to determine responsibility.
A short cut across the Maryland
roads led the bus to its doom in Rock
vile. Observers point out that had II
taken the longer route through Wash
tngton and over the Rockville Pike II
would not have had to cross the dan
gerous B. & o. tracks.
Crash Near intersections.
The scene of the accident is barely
within Rockville, not far from where
the Baltimore road intersects with the
Washington highway.
In a driving rain. the bus, loaded
with carefree children. was about half
way across the railroad tracks when
the train, known as the Metropolitan
Special, rounded curve and plowed
into the rear of the vehicle, tearing
away about one-third of the right side.
Two of the bodies of the children were
caught on the cowcatcher OF the To-
comotive and carried several hundred
yards. Another body and the top of
the bus were hurled IS feet, landing
on an embankment on the grounds
Of the ST. Mary's Catholic Church at
Rockville.
Bodies Strewn Along Tracks.
Other bodies. horribly mangled,
were strewn along the road bed for
several hundred yards.
Escape of the others in the bus
was almost miraculous.
When the train struck 1t the bus
was carried several hundred feet, but
through a strange coincidence it did
not overturn. Rescuers found it rest
ing against a high bank near the
grounds of the church.
Only four seats were left in the
bus. The others had been carried
away by the speeding train. The
right rear dual wheels were sheared
of at the hub.
The train went about half mile
beyond the crossing before it stopped.
The crew. after aiding in the rescue
work, brought the train into Wash
ington half an hour late.
As soon as B. & o. officials heard
Of the accident. D. B. Fawcett, 1918
Crittenden street, assistant foreman
of engineers for the railroad, ordered
the train crew sent to Camden Sta
ton in Baltimore for the railroad
investigation.
Firemen Rush to Scene.
Within q few minutes after the
crash fire trucks from Rockville,
Bethesda and Kensington hurried to
aid In the rescue work. Ambulances
and every available physician for miles
around were pressed into service.
Children suffering mainly from shock
were taken to the Rockville home OF
Albert M. Bouic, lawyer and former
States attorney.
Nine of the lifeless bodies were
taken to the undertaking establish
ment of Reuben Pumphrey in Rock
vile. One was brought to Mont
, eomery County General Hospital in
sandy Spring, and two more taken
to Georgetown University Hospital
Two Of four seriously injured chill
dren rushed to Georgetown subse-
quently died.
AS the train crashed into the bus
Line was wedged against the steering
wheel. Miss Funk, who was sitting
behind him, was only slightly injured.
but children In the rear were badly
mangled. Screams and means Of the
dying children could be heard for sew
eral hundred yards.
Miss Funk was dazed temporarily