Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-24
HIS LEG TAKEN OFF.
Mr.. poWElL'S INJURED LIMB AMPu.
TATEp AND He MAY RECOVER.
Tho MotorsMan and ruck-Driver Ar
rested and Baiied-Expressions as to
How the Accident Occurred.

who bad his right leg terribly crushed in
the collision that occurred at the corner of
Main and Third streets late Friday night
between Electric-Ca Car No. 20 and Hook-and-
Ladder Truck No. 3, was regarded as very
critical yesterday.
Considering the character Of his wound,
Mr.. Powell rested very well through the
remaining hours Of the night after being
| taken home.
AZ 8 o'clock yesterday morning the In
lured member was amputated by DR.. Hugh
NJ. Taylor. DR.. Hunter Mcclure, the
family physician. was present, but was too
much indIsposed to perform the operation,
and It was at his request that DR.. Taylor
acted
There were grave fears that Mr.. Powell
| would be unable TO stand the amputation,
but, although he did not bear 1t so we'll as
his physicians anticipated his condition
afterwards by no means precluded hope.
Az the time of the operation he was under
the influence of opiates and remained par
italy so during the day, but retained con-
seriousness and was perfectly aware OF his
condition. Later in the afternoon, though
pronounced very i'll man by the doctors,
his life was not despaired of.
ILL, BUT MAX RECOVER.
l n tubIt WullS DelOI6 IDluUlHUb liz lay
| Tor, who was seen at his Office on Fifth
street by DISPATCH reporter. said that
while his patient was in a precarious con-
dition the symptoms were slightly more en-
| couraging than earlier in the day. He said
he did not think MIR. Powell was hurt In
| ternally.
Mr.. Powell Is principal of the Richmond
Seminary, which is located at No. 3 east
Grace street, and resides at this institu-
ton. He is well known in this city and
held in tho highest esteem by all with
whom he is acquainted. Scores of people
inquired at his residence yesterday con-
| corning his condition, and such was the
anxiety of his friends that several rumors
of his death arose.
Mr.. Powell is q man of slight frame and
rather below the medium height. For
these reasons many of his friends are ex-
exceedingly apprehensive lest he shall be
unable to stand the severe strain upon his
system. He is about fifty or ffty-fve years
| old
CAPTAIN oATHRIGHT's CONDITION.
Captain w. Il. Gathright, of the truck
| company, was perhaps the most badly in
| iured man after Mr.. Powell. He received
painful and ugly cuts about the face and
head. One of these is near the forehead
and the other on the right cheek near the
mouth. His wounds were sewed up by
DR.. Ross on the night Of the accident and
he is now doing very well.
Mr.. Henry Landon Cabell, who was on
the car, had his foot slightly hurt.
Major Selden said last night that judging
from the portions Of the car injured and
| the damage done the truck, the latter must
have turned slightly after the front part
passed the car. He thinks the rear wheels
of the truck hit the car transyersely. after IT
had been slightly turned by the tillerman.
This appears 10 be evidenced by the man.
ner in which the lett side OF the cars
| splash-board was battered. and is borne
out by the statement of Tillerman Shu-
bridge published in this paper yesterday
MAJOR sELDEN's THEORY.
The Major thinks that Mr.. Powelps lee
was probably injured while the two con-
yevances were in this attitude. He is
further of the opinion that had the car
| struck the truck squarely the former would
not have been knocked of the track, as
| was the case.
Referring to the blame attached to the
motor-man, Major Selden said that az the
| truck was coming mp Third street and the
car down Main it was impossible for him
to perceive it from d. distance unless he
| could have seen around the corner.
When the men undertook 10 remove the
broken car the brakes were found to be Sc
firmly fixed that 1t took tho united efforts
| of three persons to unloose them suth-
GENTLY to put il back In running order.
Mr. Powell was at one time Major Sci
denis school-teacher, and the latter was
particularly grieved at the accident FOL
| these reasons.
Mr.. Frank Davenport was among the
| passengers on the car, as were also Messrs
Preston Carson, Egbert g. Leigh, and
other prominent businessmen.
MoroR-MAN AND DRIVER ARRESTED.
Mr.. Lewis Williams, the motor-man or
Car 20, which colllded with the truck, was
| arrested Yesterday morning on warrant
sworn out by Captain Angle. The accused
was found at his home, No. 312 south
Laurel street, by Sergeant Cosby, and a.
he was quite badly hurt Justice B. A. Jacol
accompanied the officer to the house
Williams was bailed in the sum Of $500 fol
his appearance at tho Police Court Wed
nesday. DR.. II. f. Franklin, his physician
thinks that it will be several days before
he can be out. =,
driver of the truck, was also arrested
while at the engine house, by Sergeant
Cosby. He too was bailed for his appear
ance before the Police Court Wednesday
The condition of Mr.. Williams was not
thought to be improved last night. Wher
| a DISPATCH reporter called at his home OF
laurel street about o'clock q brother Of
the wounded man said that he was slight
lv unconscious and could not be induced
To take medicine. He further stated thai
his injuries were more serious than wa:
at first supposed, as he seemed to be hurt
internally.
COULDN'T HURT A DUTCHMAN.
When the reporter, who next called al
the Laurel street engine-house, asked t.
see MIR. James Weimer. he was introduced
10 n voung man apparently about twenty
two wears old. and told that this was the
nerson he sought. MIR. Weimer remarked
that az he was under arrest he preferred
not to make any statements until he wa
examined in court. He said that, barrlnl
q severe shaking up which he received; ht
| escaped uninjured and REMARKED; 1Ot
| can't hurt Dutchman,
At the engine-house the accident wa;
fine absorbing topic of conversation anC
those who figured in il were eagerly press
ed with questions all day. The fremen al
deeply regretted the occurrence.
A PASSENGERS VIEW.
A gentleman who was on the car at The
time of the accident approached the DIS
PATCH reporter few minutes atterwarC
and said that while he was dislnteresteC
toward both parties he thought 1t but JUS
tice to those manning the street-car anC
To the company to state that 1t was goinl
very slowly. ." 1 was very obseryant abou
the speed said he. and know that We
were travelling very slowly. Several per
sons who were going to the fire were
complaining about it. The car was moi
ooinr over three miles an hour. and l an
Confident that the moter-man reversed the
current as soon as he saw the truck coming
The car struck il about midship."
WHERE MR.. POWELL GOT on.
Another gentleman who was on the ca
at the time of the accident. was asked t'
tell his giew about the collision. He said
professor Powell, friend, and myself
boarded the car at Second and Man
streets. 1t was then going very Slowly
and did not stop for US. but we swung on
professor Powell got in front and behind
The conductor Stacked up between seconc
and Third to take on or let of somebody
do not think the car was going owe
three miles an 'hour-certainly not more
than four or five. don't think the motor
man was TO blame. While swinging on De
hind / saw that the truck was coming ano
knowing that collision was ineyltapie
;nmped of. told Professor Powell whel
he cot on with me to como back where
was" ,
| eos, ~ Mr JOspDl