St. Paul daily globe., 1891-09-07
CLASHED IN COLLISION
An East Seventh Grip Car
Dashes Into a Whirling
Hose Cart.
A Narrow Escape as the Re-
suit Of Questionable
Handling.
To-Day Opens Up a Week
Pregnant With Local
Events.
Many Meetings Called To-
gether by the Annual
State Fair.

A scene Of great excitement took
place last evening at 8:45 OH East Sev-
enth street and Cedar, zpwiDg to a col
lision between cable car and hose cart
No. s. of fire department headquarters.
An alarm had been turned in for fire
on the West side, and the hose cart left
the engine house followed by the en-
CINE and the chief in his buggy. They
proceeded up Eighth to Cedar street,
and on coming to Seventh street the
driver or the hose cart saw to his hor-
ror cable car coming full upon him.
The car was proceeding up to Wabasha
street, and was under the control of tie
grip. Driver McGrath, of the hose cart,
pulled his horses, to head them up Sew
enth street TO avert a collision, but the
grip car struck his front wheel with ter
rlllc force. The men OH the apparatus
were hurled in all directions, while the
horses were thrown down by the
shock. The men by a miracle
escaped Injuries, but the apparatus
ana one OF the horses did not fare so
well. The horse was struck on his back
and right flank by the grip car and re-
celVed terrible wounds, the flesh on the
Hank being torn open for the space of
half a square foot. The cart was
wrenched in many places, and axle
bars ana pole chains shattered. The in
Jured horse was taken back to head
quarters, and Dr. Berkman, the veter-
mary surgeon, called to stitch up the
wounds. The hose cart will have to be
sent TO the repair shops to be put in
working order.
Chief jackson was seen last evening
and asked his opinion OH the matter.
lie first called up Driver McGrath, who
said:
When we left the house had the horses
under control. as our orders are to that effect
whlie crossing the tracks. Our gong was
sounding continuously. When | reached
seventh street saw the car was upon us. |
pulled the horses sharp round the corner to
nead them up Seventh street. the same way
the car was going, but the grip struck our
wheel, throwing the men all off the appara-
tus and hurting the horses to the ground
Chief jackson, in speaking of the
accident, said:
Il have inquired carefully into the facts
ana Will say my men are not to blame |
pellve that the gIipman deliberately ran into
the cart. | questioned the gripman and he
said he did not hear the gong. and was not
aware the engines were coming along.
Capt. Strapp, of No. s engine company. was
on this very cable car, and he heard the
alarm on the market house bell as the car
approached Robert street. On near.
in order to catch his engine,
knowing 1t would come up Cedar. Now. the
gripman must have heard the bell ringing.
In addition TO this, Sergeant Sexton and
Othcer DAVIS tell me that they ran down
seventh street to stop this cable car, but the
g1pman went ahead. A half dozen citi-
zens also tell me that they were on Seventh
street and heard the apparatus coming down
Cedar street, and ran to warn the grIpmau.
but he took no notice. This is most serious
matter, and l do not intend to let
the matter rest. 1t is fortunate that
the damage was not worse, OF that some of
my men were not injured or killed. The
cable cars have on anumber of occasions de-
lloerately run into the apparatus of the de-
partment and some months ago. when one
OF my assistant engineers was thrown
out OF his buggy and severely injured,
the gripman who caused the damage
SIMPLY turned round and laughed at him.
Our drivers are very careful in passing over
the tracks. but. if gripman will take no
notice of warning gong and refuse to stop.
collision is inevitable. l have not preyi-
ously taken any steps when these collisions
have occurred, but this time l intend to
make an example,"
The fire to which the department. was
called when the accident occurred was
on the West side, frame house belong
ing to the Langevin estate. situated on
Prescott street and unoccupied. being
damaged to the extent of $50.