Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-02-01
AN AWFUL ACCIDENT.
A SAINT PAUL CABLE CAR ACTS
BADLY AND CAUSES TROUBLE.
Some of the Alarmed Passengers Jump
off and Escape Injury--MelvilIe
Saunders Killed - A List
of Casualties.

SAINT PAUL, January 2S.-Fcr months
the topic of conversation has been as to
when the Saint Anthony hill line of ca
BILE cars would be opened, the horse cars
being inadequate to supply the rapidly
increasing population in that part of the
city. Shows have covered the tracks and
minor accidents have caused repeated
postponments, but yesterday the cars
began to run with some regularity. A
serious accident signalized the occasion.
The line turns into Shelby avenue at an
angle and from this curve to the top of the
hill the grade is steep. Some days ago
an experienced civil engineer pointed out
in published interview the danger OF
locating curve at the bottom of so long
and so steep an incline, but an officer Of
the road declared it perfectly safe. In the
afternoon a grip and passenger car heav-
lily loaded, started down the hill The
passenger car was in charge of conductor
North and grip-man johnson. The grip
had been inspected before it left the end
About midway down the hill the grip
failed to hold the cable and the train
rushed down to the curve at the speed of
20 miles an hour. The grip car did not
leave the track, but the passenger coach
was turned over and dragged some dis
tance. Many of the passengers jumped
off, but a majority of those in the closed
car could not do so and all of the 20 OF
THE SAD RESULTS.
The only fatality SO far known is that
of Merville L. Sanders, assistant treas
urer of the Northwestern Fuel Company,
who was standing on the rear platform of
the passenger car, and was thrown
against tree He was horribly crushed,
and died soon after being taken home.
The most seriously hurt is Louis Rob-
erts, who had his left hand torn off at the
wrist; his mother is in California. Frank
E. North was badly cut about the face
and hands with broken glass, and is per-
haps hurt internally. George H. Watson
is seriously hurt in both legs below the
knee. G. A. Bakers hands and legs were
cut and bruised Miss Ida Kersten is
seriously cut about the face. Mrs.
Charles Steele received internal injuries
and cuts. Rev. Burrows of Selby avenue
is very seriously hurt about the chest, and
received severe scalp wound. Mr..
Seney is cut with broken glass and badly
shocked. A. Bertram of West Seventh
street, is cut about the head, and his skull
is fractured. Henry E. Smith suffers
from serious scalp wound. A. t. Smith
and son were burned by the car stove
falling on them. Milton G. Brown, real
estate dealer, had his right arm hurt.
Andrew Mason was badly cut on the
head. and his hands were burned. Miss
Linda Thorson and Mrs. Don Seaman,
beth of Milwaukee, were in the car. Miss
Thorson was thrown against the stove and
wedged there by the body of a heavy
man. She is seriously burned Mrs.
Seaman escaped with bad cut on the
face Miss Thorson is a sister of Mrs.
John Johnson, the wife of the cashier
and vice president Of the Fire & Marine
Insurance Company of Milwaukee. Mrs.
Seaman is also sister of Mrs. Johnson.
F. j. Meyers, superintendent of the Kel-
logg printing office had his right knee
shattered