Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-25
JUMP FOR YOUR LIVES"
A Chicago Street Car Plunges Into the
River-Passengers Paralyzed.

CHICAGO, September 2i.-"Jump for
your lives. We're going into the river"
The driver Of a Lincoln avenue car,
No. rs, or the North Chicago Street Rail
road Company threw open the front
door of his car at l2:45 this morning,
and with a face As white as snow,
shouted these appalling words to the
pasSengerS-a dozen or more IN num-
bcr.
The passengers made a wild rush for
the doors. just as the last man Sprang
from the step the car and horses went
over the brink and plunged into the
river.
When within 80 feet OF the brink the
driver throw himself bodily against the
brake, and the chain snapped. The ear
could not be- stopped. Then 1t was he
threw open the front door and yelled
to the passengers. Quick TO realize the
situation the conductor joined in The
cry, and sprang into the ear shouting TO
the passengers to jump and shaking the
sleeping ones.
As the car tottcred on the bank it
was seen that one man still remained
inside. He had been asleep and awoke
as the vehicle rocked on the
verge. A cry OF horror went
up from the people who had
gathered around and his escape from
death appeared impossible. As the ear
began to slide into the stream he made
desperate leap and gained the rear
platform just in time 10 jump 10 the
street as the car tOpplcd over.
The last man out was George j. Mae
Adec. He was much excited, but man
aged to say: II was asleep in the car
when felt strange motion, and awoke
suddenly to find myself sliding toward
the end OF the ear. ! cant tell how |
managed to escape a dreadful death. /
Just jumped and found myself in a big
crowd without hardly knowing how
got there"
When the ear and horses were prccipi-
tated into the river the horses were ear
ried to the bottom with the ear and
came up moment later diScngagcd
from the harness and from each other.
One swan up stream toward La Sale
street. and the other swan east. A tug
in passing attempted to rescue one OF
the animals, but il took fright at the
boat and swan away. After swimming
desperately for some time both horses
tired and went to the bottom.
j. j. McCann, switchman, and
Daniel Riley, seeing the accident
from across the river, jumped into a
boat and rowed to where the car went
down. McCann dvested himself
Of his clothing and plunged into
the chilly water. The abut-
mont threw a shadow over the sub
merged car and no person was visible.
McCann then dived through the car.
feeling carefully for any passenger that
might have been caught inside. He
found no one and returned again 10 the
boat.
II was rlmored during the excitement
that two passengers, John lIartsough
and Dan. a ncwsboy, had been drowned,
but so far this has not been verified.
An exciting episode Of the accident
was the summoning Of brigade Of fire
engines and hook and ladder trucks.
The fire fighters did everything they
could to save the horses, but, being
without proper appliances, they were
forced to abandon the task. The car
had turned end over end as IL went OF
the approach, and stands on end IN the
river. only about four feet OF the front
end projecting above the water.