Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-02
CABLE LINE DISASTER.
A Dangerous Curve and Incline
on the st. Paul Gable Rail-
way
Causes an Accident, Resulting in the
Loss of One Life and Shocking
Injuries.
The Company Warned of the Danger
The Line Just Opened-The Grip
Fails to Grip.

IL
cars would be opened, the horse cars being
quite inadeauate to supply the rapidly in
creasing population in that part OF the city.
SHOWS have covered the tracks, and minor
accidents have caused repeated postpone
ments, but yesterday the cars first began 70
run with some regularity, and the pubic
was allowed to make use OF them, and
most serious accident signalized the occa-
sion. A bout half way up the Third street
hill the line turns into Selby avenue at an
obtuse angle and from this curve to the
top of the hill the grade Is sleeper, prob
ably one foot in four. Some days ago an
experienced civil engineer pointed out in
published interview the danger of locating
a curve at the bottom of so long and steep
an incline, but the officers OF the road de-
clared it perfectly safe.
At 1870 yesterday afternoon grip and
passenger car, both heavily loaded with
passengers, started down the hill 1t was
In charge of Conductor North and Grip
man Johnson The grip had been inspected
before it left the end of the line and seemed
in perfect order. But about midway down
the hill the grip failed to hold the thread,
and the train rushed down to the curve,
reaching which it had attained speech OF
twenty miles an hour. The grip car did not
leave the track, but the passenger coach
whipped off, turned over and was dragged
some distance. Many of the passengers
jumped off, but the majority of those in the
closed car could not do so and all OF them,
twenty or more, were more less hurt.
Gr1pman johnson says: 1--WE were about
half way down Selby avenue hill, when the
cars began to slide The grip slipped-no
it didn't either, they just ran away. ]
don't know just why. At the corner they
rolled over 1 did my best to stop the cars
and threw my weight on the grip. But
could not hold the cars. At the curve onto
Third street the cars went off and rolled
but had been under the instruction of an
experienced gripman for some days.
When he found the grip slipping he called
to the conductor, but that person was toe
busy collecting fares to help him.
The only fatality so far known is that Of
Mervile L. Saum ers, assistant treasurer
of the Northwestern Fuel Company, who
was standing on the rear platform of the
passenger car and with another man was
thrown against tree when the flew
the track. He was horribly crushed and
died soon after being taken home. He
leaves family. The hospitable residents
OF the neighbornood threw open their
houses to the injured and police and phy-
sicians were on the ground in a few
minutes. Those most seriously hurt
were as follows: Louis Robert of
Dayton avenue, a lad, had his left
hand torn off at the wrist, the arm being
badly mangled. His mother is in Califor-
mia. He is a nephew of Chief of Police
Clark. Conductor Frank E. North, badly
cut about face and hands with broken
glass, and perhaps hurt internally. George
II. Watson, Marshall avenue, seriously
hurt in both legs below the knee. &. A.
Baker, hand and legs cut and bruised.
Miss Ada Kersten, Dayton avenue, severe
ly cut about the face. Mrs Charles Steele
North Washington street, internal injuries
and cuts; badly hurt. Burt barrow, Selby
avenue, is very seriously hurt about the
chest, and severe scalp wound. Mr..
Seney, corner of Peyton and Virginia
avenues, cut with broken glass and badly
shocked. A. Bertram, West Tenth street,
cut about the head and skull fractured.
Henry K. Smith, Inglehart street, severe
scalp wound from broken glass. A. T.
Smith and son, burned by the car stove
falling on them. Milton Il. Brown, real
estate dealer, right arm hurt Andrew
Nelson, badly hurt on head and hands
burned.
Miss Linda Thorsen and Mrs. Don Sea
man, both of Milwaukee, Wis, were in the
car. MISS Thorsen was thrown against
the stove and wedged there by the body of
heavy man. She is severely burned
about the limbs and body. Mrs Seaman
escaped with a bad cut GU the face. Both
ladies were taken to Ryan. Miss Thorsen
is sister OF Mrs. johnson, wife of the
cashier and vice-president of the Fire and
Marine Insurance Company, of Milwaukee,
Mrs. Seaman is also a sister of Mrs. John
son, and wife of j. ID. Seaman, u prominent
gentleman of Milwaukee. They came to
st. Paul last week to visit the carnival. Z.
j. Meist. superintendent of Kellogg's
printing office, right knee shattered.