Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-23
LEGSNAPPED In TWO.
Mr.. J. II. POWELL SERIOUSLY INJURED
INA mAlN-sTREET ACCIDENT.
ElectrIc-C Car nnd Hook-and- bladder Truck
Coiiide-several Firemen and Passen'
gers Slightly Hurt

Electrician No. 30 and Hook-and-Lad-
der Truck No. 8 collided at the corner OF
Main and Third streets at q few minutes
after IL O'Clock last night, resulting In
considerable damage 10 both snd serious
injury to several passengers and hremen.
The rear part of the truck was literally
smashed to pieces. the front platform OK
the car was STAYED in, and five citizens
were more or less hurt, one to such an
extent that he will lose one of his limbs.
Thoseiniured were:
Powell. John H., right leg go badly crusncu
Just above the ankle that it viii have 20 DO am
Gathrisht, Captain Waiter T.. badly cut and
bruised about tho right side ot the tace' heao'
and chest.
Gibbs, James IT,, fireman, lnger broken,
thumb mashed, leg and face bruised.
Williams. hleck, motor-nan, slightly hurt.
shubridge, George, tilerman, slightly scratched
and bruised.
HOW IT OCCURRED.
This accident, which was one OF the most
shocking that has occurred In Richmond Tor u
long time, was indirectly associated with the
disastrous nre down near the dock. Tue thlru
alarm having been sounded, Steamer NO. oan1
Truck No. left the Laurel-Street engne-nOuse
10 20 over 30 headquarters on Broad street,
while the rest Of the apparatus was AZ the nte.
They passed down Cary street to lhlru, anu @
were crossing Main ea rouie 90 hroad Wheh sne
terrible crash came. The continued ringing
OF bells having aroused the populnce the streets
were crowded with people going down toNIl;
The electric cars were packed and iammcd' anu
many who wanted 90 ride could not.
IL was one ~ these well 1lled with anxious
passengers and a. many others as could stand
on both platforms that came In collision with
the truck. Tho situation was exciting TO an
alarming degree. People VINO were ON the
street and saw tho two rapidly-moying objects
coming together shared almost equally win
those whose lives were in danger the anxiety
and fear OF the Iitk moment
THE CRASH
Tho men by whom the truck wns manned fully
realized the peril Of their positions, and serious
injury and dcG'h stared those on the front OF
car In the faro. To tho loOkers-On was pre-
sented tho heari-rendlng spectacle VI seeing a
number OF human beings practically between
heavy car and tho piece Of apparatus.
There was not much time for thinking, Tor IN
the twinkling of an eye after tho danger became
apparent the crash came. The sound could De
heard for squares away, and strong men shrieked
from agony while ladies swoonod and cried from
fright.
Many Of the passengers suffered slight shock;
but none Of those In the ear were hurt, and al
OF those on tho outside escaped uniniured eN-
cept Mr. Powell and Motor-man Williams. The
latter was but slightly scratched.
MR.. PowELL's INJURIES.
just how Mr. Powell was hurt no one seems "a
know. lie wes standing directly against tho
railing oi the platform 70 one side OF the motor
man, and ~ IS the prevailing idea that when the
front was smashed I'm his foot was caught by one
Of the braces Of tho truck and the bones
snapped as though heavy weigh, had been
brought down suddenly upon them. Thort
were scores Of people on the scene Of the acct
dent within few seconds time and the broken
parts Of the truck were moved 70 one side ana oil
Of the injured borno into Cabells drugstore
only n few feet away.
Nossengers and telephone me ssngea were sent
for physicians, ana they arrived quickly and In
goOdly numbers. The first % answer the sum
mons was DR.. Hoge, and soon after him came
Drs. Ross, Johnston, Brock, Trcvilian, Isaiah
White, Hugh Taylor, Crenshaw, Mercer, ant
perhaps others.
CARING FOR TIE ISJURED.
The drugstore az once presented the scene o.
| n hurriedly-impr proYlsed hospital. DIR. L. Wllbel
Cheif, the manager, and his assistants were az
kind aud attentive as IL IL possible FOR people Il
| be- They played the dual parts Of quick apotne
| carries and tender nurses, and Mossrs. Gibbs
Williams, and Shubridge wore able 20 take care
| Of themselves and needed very little attention
| Proper unaments were applied where the ski
had been torn or bruised. and Mr.. Glbbs's broker
| finger was dressed. lIs and Air. Shubridgo re
| mained at the store until after midnight bu
| Motor-man Williams left perhaps with his car
| soon after the acridont.
| that tho surgeons and physicians had TO pa!
most attention. The former, who bore his ereA
| suffering with remarkable courage and torti
| tude was mado AZ comfortable as possible ol
| the store-aoor, with pillow under his head, am
| morphine was given him by hyperdermlc inlec
tion 10 alleviate his pain and relieve the menta
| strain.
Captain Gathrlght sat in chair with his hea
| resting upon a pillow, and after hs wounds ha
| been dressed by DR.. Ross and others Toy
| stitches were taken near the right corner Of hi
mouth. Before midnight he was walking abou
| tho store and talking about tho occurrence an
his narrow escapos He will bo all right In feV
! days.
WILL PROBABLY AMPUTATE.
The ambulance was phonei for and arrive,
| lust before . o'clock with stretcher, on Whlc
| Mr.. Powell was placed and taken TO his nome OF
| Grace street His mind was entirely clear an,
| a. he was being bOrno out Of tho store took ON
| Ger W. c. wilkinson by the hand and asks
him please % look for his walking
| cane, which he had not seen since n
was hurt and which he prizes very highly
| Singular coincidence Ia that about i've years aB
| Mr. Powell lost this Same cane at the Theatre
| and Il was Onicer Wilkinson who found IT, Th
| physicians, after taking hr. Powell nome
| decided not TO further interfere with IN
| limb Inst night than 20 dress u pro
| perly, and will determine tho matter d
| amputaton this morning, after seeing th
effect Of the reaction. There Is little doubt tha
! AS soon a. ne Is strong enough 20 bear it IN
| limb will be cut OIL. IIe was somewhat weak
| ened probably by lOss of blood, but the doctor
bound the leg before there had been any cor
| siderable dow.
Captain Gathrlght was taken home in a car
riage. -
PRETTY WE'LL DEMOLISHED.
When the collision occurred the hose
carriage and engine had crossed NAL
street and the horses o. the true
Wero near the north side, having cleare
both car tracks. The hcadughtstruck the fram
work OF the truck not far from the rear AK
and WAS driven between the bars VII
such force that it remained there. IN
piece Of apparatus wHs upturned ana the Ga
thrown several feet on the track, bni not u
nfred except the front platform. When IN
tillerman saw that the two were about
come together he switched tho back OF 70
truck down MGin street In the hope OF ayertin
tho collision, but the distance Was not sufiicion
Mr. Gibbs was sitting the truck Just In from
| Of where the car struck II and endeavored
lump, but was caught Ia some way and could ~
extricato himself. The bruises received by u
| Others who were not much hurt, we're causod
their being thrown 70 the street.
| IL ls not at all clear who was az faul
| There must have been some carele-
ness, but II was incident 20 the great exclt
ment which the nre had caused.
! motor-man was being urged by those aroun
him 10 run faster. ~ they Wero In grei
uneaslness and wanted 20 reach tho pa
OF the city I'm which the hre w
raging. The nremen were equally as an
ious 10 get 20 headquarters on Bro
street. Both sounded the usual alarm
bur 1t seems that neither heard that OF tho othe
and when they found themselves In such clo
proximity one could nos stop AMI tho other cou
| not get out Of the way.
There was a Wide difference Of opinion amor
| persons In sight and on the car as 70 the rate
speed at which both were moving Ihe gener
|, idea was that while neighor was travelling ye
| rapidly for such m Occssion, both were ru
Ming with a good deal OF celebrity.
s.s.-1-s--1<l.@<-.4-.-----.
Insure against accidents in the Fidelity ~
| Caaualtv Company. SAmlel II. PulllAm q "