The herald., 1893-11-02
DASHED INTO AN OPEN DRAW,
A Most Horrifying Accident at
Portland, Ore.
An Electric Car Plupges Into the
Willamette River.
Passengers Drowned Like Rats In a
Trap Five Bodies Recovered.
Two More Believed co Be
In the Wreck.
Rx the Associated Press.

Il by tne AssOClatSu TEesss
PORTLAND, 0re., Nov. lone of the
most horrifying accidents in the history
of this city, occurred about O'Clock
this morning. An electric car from
Oregon city plunged off the Madison.
street bridge into the Willamette river,
drowning all OF the occupants, who are
thought to have been five in number.
Two bodies have been already recov-
cred. but not yet identified. The car
contained about l5 passengers, but 10 of
them escaped by jumping just as the car
left the bridge. A heavy fog WAS pre-
vailing at the time of the accident and
she draw OF the bridge was open for a
passing steamboat. James Steel, presi-
dent of the railway company, has been
placed under arrest.
A heavy fog was prevailing and the
draw was open for the passage of the
steamer Elwood. So far as known the
car contained about 20 passengers. just
before the car reached the edge of the
draw the conductor saw the impending
danger and gave the alarm. The pas.
sengers rushed out of the car in con-
fused mass and it is thought all but six
of Them succeeded in getting off the car
beipre it took the fatal plunge.
Three bodies have been already re-
covered and taken to the morgue, viz
Charles Breckman, a book keeper, leaves
a wife; Alex. Campbell saloon keeper,
leaves wife and child; Johsn p An
1erson, a cabinet-maker, leaves a wife
and FIVE children. Three men named
Bennock, Sladter and Scott are missing.
Several of the passengers received
slight injuries in jumping from the car.
Motorman G. F. Terry gives the fol-
lowing version of the accident: when
the car came on the bridge the power
was thrown off and the car approached
the draw at q low rate of speed. The
fog was so heavy that | was unable to
see the lights at tine draw. When about
four spans from the draw | put on the
brakes, but owing to the slippery condi.
tion of the track they refused to work
and l had no eand. When within one
span of the draw / reversed the car, but
the momentum was go great that it was
of no avail. Seeing that it was impos-
sible to avert the accident. jumped,
catching the railing of the bridge Just
as the car crashed through the wooden
gate in front OF the chasm."
Conductor W. @. Power states that he
was standing in the front end OF the car
making out q report, when he saw the
impending danger. The car was then
bnt a few feet from the gate. He
shouted to the passengers to Jump, and
a scramble followed. The conductor
states that his register of the fares paid
showed IL. This, however, is no index
to the number, as many of the passen-
gers who came from Milwaukee or
points outside the city limits paid double
fares, which were shown by the register
as two fares while representing but one
passenger. In addition there wora q
number of passengers riding on tickets
issued by the company which were
punched by the conductor but not re-
corded. The conductor thinks there
were Is or 20 persons on the car.
Preparations are being made for div
ers to 90 down to the car which lies at a
depth of 30 feet. The conductor and
motorman were placed under arrest,
but released on their own recognizance.
There was only one lady passenger on
the car, Miss Thayer, who in the
scramble to get out of the car got caught
in the doorway, from whence she was
extricated without serious injury. The
railroad company are the recipients of
great deal of censure in not providing
the cars with sand.
Late this afternoon the body of T.
Bennick was recovered. This makes
the fifth. Bennick was deaf mute.
He leaves a wife and three children.
Paul O'Dear and boy named Albee are
missing, and it is thought possible they
are among the drowned. The coroner
will hold an Investigation tomorrow.