New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-02
THIRI'EEN LIVES LOST.
\ CROWDED ELECTRIC CAR GOES THROUGH
& ADRAW INTO A RIVER
FOG HID THE OPENING FROM THE MoToRMAN,
AND FROST on THE RAILS MADE Ihh
BRAKES INEFFECTIVE.

fOU HID The OPESlNb thON I'M -
AND FROST on THE RAILS MADE THE
BRAKES INEFFECTIVE.
Portland Ore Nov IAN electric car OF the
| Oregon City line containing about thi''y '"''
| sengers. went through an open drawpr'use az
Madson-st. this morning. falling in'o '"e
Carpin River. The car was the hrst one eo','
ing into Portland from the suburb ol ''.-
waukee, and few minutes before c'o'N :.
went through the draw. very "e"'' 10
prevailed at the time Of the accident anu ~
was undoubtedly due to this that the car 'ooN
its fatal plunge to the bottom oi '"'
river. Rescuers soon hafu a- "o'"'
but much difficulty was encountered III '''i''5
the bodies Of the victims The bodies 80 i"'
recovered are those of Charles Beckman. book
Keeper; J. p Anderson. stair builder AeNahuei
CamnbeU proprietor Of a saloon, ana Joseph
Stader sawmill empoye. a dear mute
printer w. T. Scott. is among the oro""eu.
The motorman and the conductor surrehue'eu
themselves to the police and were released On
their own recogniZance
The motorman Edward F. Terry. stayed WIN
the car as long as possible having har'o"
escape for his own life. He told the fono"ihs
story of the disaster Il LEFT the station at
Milwaukee for Oak Grove at o40 a. M we
took on five passengers at OAK Grove anu
turned there for Portland. for when place
do not know how many passengers got Oh tue
car | found the track somewhat slppery a."
the way in, but worse on the bridge IMAM any
where else. We made reasonable stops ""e'
ever | found it extremely slippery. threw OIL
nower as usual. on coming on to the bridge,
then threw power about one turn after get
ting on the bridge | do not know how long
A.. a NAr
as we expected to meet teams at any time on
the bridge When got into the fog whlch was
heavier on the bridge than anywhere else.
tried my brake about three spans east OF '",
draw and found that 1t worked all rlght ana u
held the wheels. but found the wheels ~ ~snu
on the track. BY that time l was wl'hn on
span Of the draw. and for the first time l saw
the red light then reversed the switch ana
mt on the power but il seemed to have no
effect The car continued 10 slide. and nnally
went into the river. | stayed with the car uhui
IL broke through the gate. and knowing tha'
had done all in my power 10 stop thc car
Jumped and. landing on the sidewalk. helh on
10 the outside railing Of the bridge with my feet
hanging over the edge Of the bridge When /
got up the car had sunk out Of sight. did not
see IL go into the river. and do not know now
many passengers were on the car AZ the time
One Of the passengers on the Inflated car
named Hoover says that he did not notice any
stop or slackening in speed from the time the
car entered the bridge until IL went on inc
draw When the car started over the ora"
there was Wild seem" Wlti'lh' INV P"HHV'1'' :,
making frantic efforts to escape by jumping on
both sides Of the car and over the dashboard.
When Hoover regained his feet after jumping
of the car he looked into the river ana saw
two men swimming In the water and making
for the draw pier Before they reached II.
however a steamer which was passing through
ran over them. The steamer. which was stopped
as soon ms possible. apparently covered the
swimmers Afterward srS>n boat appeared
and one ~ the men was picked up The BODY
was taken 10 an adjacent boathouse. but all
Efforts 10 rcsuscitatc Il were fruitlers.
driver reports that thirteen bodies were IN
Tho car nvc Of which have been recovered. Two
were hanging ont OF the windows ana IN" ouerS
were huddlcd together In the car