Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-23
GR|PMEN co FREE.
They Are Exonerated From
Blame for the Disaster
on Wylie Avenue.
RESULT OF THE INQUEST
Held Upon the Bodies Of Henry
APPEL and Ward Ruffner.
AN ORDINANCE RECOMMENDED
To Give the Public Safety Department
Control of Parades
rur rnpnyrp,S rUipGr IN TUI TUpv
RESULT OF THE INQUEST
AN ORDINANCE RECOMMENDED
To Give the Public Safety Department
Control of Parades.
THE CoRoNERS CHARGE TO THE JURY


Coroner Mcdowell is preparing an ordi-
nance TO be presented at the next meeting
OF Councils regulating parades on the
streets and requiring persons in charge of
such turnouts to secure permission from
The Department of Public Safety. The
jury in its verdict on the deaths of Henry
APPEL and Ward Ruffner says: "From the
evidence we find that it was accidental and
e1onerate Gripmen GledhIll and Richard
son from all blame and further believe that
if proper arrangements had been made with
the Central Traction Company said accident
could have been avoided. We would
further recommend that an ordinance
be passed BY Councils that for all
demonstrations of any kind whatever the
Department of Public Safety have charge
of routes and make all arrangements for
stopping cars, etc, for the better protection
of life, limb and property of the community
at large"
Crowd at the Inquest
The was q large attendance at the inquest
yesterday. Among the witnesses were the
gripmen and conductors who ran the cable
cars 81 and 64 down Wylie avenue on that
fatal trip.
John Spratt testified that, though not
present at the time of the accident, he ex-
amined the tracks afterward for oil, but
found none. He found that the Center ave-
nue. switch had been CREASED.
Henry Gledhill, gripman on car Ga, the
one which first ran into the marchers, testi-
fed that his car was running along all right
until he tried to stop at Tannehill street.
When he saw the club ahead he threw off
his grip, put on the brake and rang the bell
The first club turned of. He found the
brake would not hold and threw it off and
gripped the cable. Then seeing the danger
ahead lie released his hold upon the rope
and put on the brake again, using sand.
Seeing 1t was no use trying to stop he
opened the window and yelled. A lieu
tenant of one OF the clubs yelled at him,
"Stop that car" He yelled back, "My
God! 1 can't stopr' When he did finally
get the car stopped he assisted in pushing
it back of young Henry APPEL, but when
car No. 81 ran into his car he hurriedly
took of his cap and badge and started home,
intending to 60 to police station and give
himself up. A policeman was waiting for
him when he got home Gledhill said his
brakes had previously held all right on the
hill
The Wheels Slid on the Rails.
Steven Richardson, gripmanz of No. 81, 4
testified: "I first saw the clubs ahead at
Crawford street Such heavy smoke arose
from their torches could not see the car
below them. When i got close enough,
saw the crowd on the track I put on the
brakes and opened the sand pipes, but be-
fore 1 reached Fulton street the wheels
were blocked and sliding. could do no
more. 1 have been on the road two years
and this was my first accident The hill at
Fulton street is the worst place to stop on
the road. Both the sand boxes on my car
were working freely"
F. o. Shonert, conductor on car No. "a,
said there were 81 persons on the car. His
evidence corroborated that of Gledhill
Conductor Pimm's evidence, of car 81, was
also corroborative.
W. I. Taggart and John Spratt testified
TO examining the tracks after the accident
There was plenty of sand on the rails from
Townsend to Fulton streets, but none above
Gxcept in a few spots Where the Fulton
street electric line switch is the rails were
creased.
Daniel Crowley, the drum msjor who led
the procession down the hill, testified to
the orders he had received. Just before
the accident he heard Captain Browns
whistle. 1t meant ''look out for cars"
Just as he looked back he saw the cable car
plowing through the company. 1t was
Crowley's first night out as drum major.
His orders were to keen a lookout for cars,
but his view was obstructed. The testi-
mony of several members of the club cor
roborated Crowley as to hearing Captain
Browns whistle.
Will Prepare for Parades.
Superintendent Smith, of the Central
Traction Company, testified to reliability of
the crews on the two cars. On the stand he
stated that the company had received no
notice there would be a turnout or some
preparations for safety would have been
made. Mr.. Smith stated his purpose of
asking Chief Brown to notify the company
In the future of any expected parade, and
when so notified he would make arrange
ments so such accidents will be impossible.
In his address to the jury the Coroner
strove TO impress the members with the
deep responsibility resting on them. The
law of city and State, he said, gives the
street railway companies the right to
traverse the streets over which their char
tiers give them rights, unmolested by any
person, but with due regard to the safety
of the public. Cautioning the Jurors against |
being influenced BY any comments they
may have heard or read in regard to the ac- |
cldent under consideration, the Coroner |
continued: Il would suggest that you treat |
the question OF an arrangement for demon |
Stratious upon the highways of the county, |
rs since this sad accident another similar |
one has been chronicled in our midst This. |
of course, you are not to consider further |
than as l call your attention to it. But the |
time has arrived when some specific ar
rangement should be made by which the |
life and limb of the pedestrian upon the |
streets, as well as the travelling public upon |
the cars of the traction companies should be |
protected, and through some authority |
other than the assumed authority that we |
are daily called upon to notice by the var
ious organizations and associations that |
traverse our streets.
Necessity for Police Regulations.
81 would suggest that you take the ques-
tion into consideration of q proper ordin- |
ance or ordinances being passed by the
Councils of the two cities by which an ar |
rangement tor all demonstrations of every
kind should be made with the Departments |
of Public Safety so that full protection |
could be afforded to the citizens and passen-
s-s upon the cars during such demonstra-
aons.
"You will see, gentlemen, that you
have the right and it is your duty to present
in YOUR finding what disposition should be
made of the gripmen in charge of cars "a
and 81, as appears from the testimony.
Whether or not their actions were such
1pon the night of the accident - careful,
FL