Evening star., 1950-01-01
Disasters Dot y. {. History
Wreck the B. O. 1906 and Covein Of Ambassador Theoer
Roof in 1872 Were Sod Events for District Residents

Roof in 1922 y
Looking back over the half CEN
tufy and its tragic accidents we
cannot help but recall the great
railroad disaster on the Metro
politan Branch Of the Baltimore
g. Ohio Railroad. which occurred
at Terra Gotta Station, a short
distance south Of Takoma Park on
the evening Of December 80, 1906,
just one day before that year was
saying adieu.
Christmas had been celebrated,
and the stockings had been hung
by the chimney with care, and
Santa Claus had made the homes
OF Washington happy by his much
appreciated annual visit, and the
old elf had returned to his far
frozen North. New Year Day was
fast approaching. and every one
was looking forward to a grand
occasion when friends visited
friends, when old acquaintances
were renewed and new friendships
made. It was q glorious season of
the year.
Many residents had been spend
ing q few days outside the city
with their relations and friends,
and were returning home in antic-
ipation Of enjoying the first day
Of the new year with their fam
lilies. On that Sunday evening, all
trains into Washington were well
filled with passengers and this
was only too true of the Baltimore
g. Ohio local on the Metropolitan
Branch. travelling between Fred
erick, Md, and the District. due
in Washington at 7 o'clock. This
was train No. sc. which had
stopped at Terra Gotta, a short
distance south Of Takoma, where
it had been tagged to take on
passengers, at $50 o'clock. It was
about to move when the accident
occurred that snuffed out the lives
Of 50 many fine men and women
and injured scores of others, and
brought a very unhappy New Year
Day to the people Of Washington.
First News at 10 PM.
Forty-four years ago, Terra
Gotta station was in quite rural
section of the District. and news
did not travel nearly as fast as it
does today. and it was not until
10 o'clock that night that The
Star issued its first extra edition,
the first public announcement made
in the city Of the wreck, which
briefly said:
twenty-five to 80 killed and
from so to 100 injured is the story
of a wreck on the B. & o. at $50
this evening at Terra Gotta Sta
tion, District of Columbia.
"An empty passenger train at
that hour crashed into the rear
of the Frederick accommodation,
due in this city at 7 o'clock,
smashing the rear three cars into
kindling wood and killing and
manning the occupants.
Many of the killed are fright
fully .mutilated. Nineteen dead
bodies have been counted already,
although not identified. -
cat 8 o'clock two trains with
injured had already started for
Washington"
A later extra, issued at HAS
p M, mentioned among the injured
Cornelius Eckhardt of Kensing-
ton, Md, an auditor of The Star.
and gave his injuries as critical
with severe injuries about the
head and body. He was taken to
the Garfield Hospital where he
recovered and lived for a number
of years afterward.
On the following day. December
81. The Star gave a more complete
account Of the accident, together
with a list of the dead and in
jured.
Worst Wreck in Years
Rushing out of a bank Of fog,
into the glare of the clay fur
naces at Terra Gotta" said The
Star. "the biggest engine in the
Baltimore g. Ohio service last
night. at $50 o'clock. tore through
the length of a local just pulling
out Of the station. Between so and
60 persons were killed and over
go injured"
It was the worst railroad wreck
that ever occurred in the. District
Of Columbia IN the past half CEN
tury, where so many persons were
killed and injured.
Accounts differ as to how the
accident occurred. The local train
was No. 66. from Frederick, Md.
1t had stopped at Terra Gotta, we
are told, discharging and taking
on passengers. 1T was Just be-
ginning to move when the roar
of the oncoming death and the
sinister glare Of the great head
light cut through the fog behind
1t" the account read. THE engi-
neer Of the local knew his train
was doomed, but he threw open
the throttle and tried to get on
headwey to lessen the shock of
the collision. It was too late.
While the wheels Of the local were
still spinning on the wet rails,
vainly trying to move. like a man
in a dream. the big empty train,
rushing down the grade behind,
tore through the slow-moving To-
Cal like an ak splitting a sapling.
The empty train was what is
known as q deadhead equipment
train, made up Of empty Pullman
and passenger coaches, and drawn