The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-08
LIVE CYCLONE ON GRANT STREET.
Man Run Over by Cars and Seven
Vehicles Demolished.

Man Run Over by Cars and Seven
Vehicles Demolished.
Great excitement was caused among the resi-
dents along the Grant street bridge last evening
shortly before o clock by q collision in which
one man was run over by . fright train and
frightfuily mangled, and q runaway in which
two maddeDed horses collided with and
smashed six hight bussies driven by persons
who were out enjoying the pit assnt evening.
At the hour mentioned Frank Liediesy, \
teamster, came driving toward the city from
one Of the brick yards at the head of the bay,
and failing to notice the approaching west
bound freight train which crosses the road di-
rectly at the eastern terminus of the Grant
street bridge, attempted to drive across the
track. The train ehot from under the small
bluffs, and the man, seeing the impending
danger. lost his presence of mind In the terror
OF the moment. and the heavy
engine struck the wagon with q
crash. Another beat of time and the
demolished, half of the WAGON was strewn along
the track and the driver. who had been thrown
fifty feet into the air and was then caught and
ru. over by the engine, was lying with man
gied leg and bleeding from many wounds by the
side of the crimson rails
As soon as the engineer could reverse his en-
CINE and bring it to q stop. the train was backed
down to find out the extent of the damage it
ha accomp ished.
injury, but which had become mad 'ened with
Fl sht, tore down fhe long two-mile stretch of
bridge ct break-neck galop, wi h Tia front
wheels, all that was left OF the unwieldy wagon
dangling at their heels. TIE bridge was
crowded with pleasure parties in light rigs of
all kinds, and at sight OF the wild-eyed, foaming
horses dashing towards them, with the
pieces OF the heavy vehicle dartiny
first to the one side of the drive and then to the
other, filed all with terror. The buggies were
driven close to the high guard at the side of the
bridge and in this way all but half-dozen or SO
escaped injury. One buggy, driven by a boy
and containing Mrs. Springer, who keeps q
candy store on the bridge. was the first to be
struck. The buggy did not suffer par.
ticul rly, bat the boy, who held the
reins lost his head and the horse ran away. and
continued in the wake of the wood wagon
team until the end of the bridge was reached.
when the animal stopped voluntarily, aud the
occupants. other than being terribly frightened,
were not hurt, alighted. The two horses that
caused the train of events continued until they
reached the stock transfer depot, where they
were captured.
fhe path OF the live cyclone was strewn with
Erecksge. At different places along the bridge
fwere pieces of bugyies, but a haifhour af er the
accident one could not see the full extent of the
damage, as the owners of most of the smashed
up rigs had taken them to blacksmith shops for
repairs.
AS far as known only the one person named
was seriously hurt. All who saw the series of
runawsys expected to find the bridge lined
with mangled bodies, and for time the reports
as to the loss of life were many and sensational
1t was ascertained, however, that with the ex-
ception of two small boys, who mi.
raculously escaped. no one in anv
way suffered injury The two urchins
were seen to go down under the pounding hoofs
OF the foaming horses, but after the dust had
cleared away, and the noise of the team began
to diminish as they disappeared in the distance
and the shades of evening the boys were no.
ticed TO painfully pull themselves together and
start off for home. Later in the evening they
were playing around. none the worse for their
thrill experience.
When the train backed down the injured
teamster, now insensible. was taken aboard and
brought TO the city. where he was afterwards
conveyed to Providence hospital The physi-
clans in charge ordered the man into the surpf-
cal room, and, finding the right leg fesrfully
mangled, no attempt was made to save it, ana IL
was amputated above the knee. The
man was otherwise bruised, also. but
the extent of his injuries is not known.
After the train had pulled away from
the scene Of the accident, the two urchins who
had such narrow escape from death under the
horses, began hunting. boy-iike, for relics
along the track and found gold ring belon ginp
to the teamstef. also piece of his watch chain
that had been torn in two during the trying
moment.
Liediesy, although only so years old. is mar
ried, and there are seven children in the family