The record-union., 1893-11-02
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

PORTLAND (Or.), Nov. Lone of the
most horrifying accidents in the history
of this city occurred about o. clock this
morning. The electric car from Oregon
City plunged off Madison-street bridge
into the Willamette River, drowning all
of the occupants, who are known to have
been at least five in number. The car
originally contained about fifteen passen-
gers, but many of them jumped just as
the car left the bridge.
A heavy fog was prevailing at the time
OF the accident, and the draw of the
bridge was open for passing steamboat.
Just before the car reached the edge OF
the draw the conductor saw the impend-
ing danger and gave the alarm. The
passengers rushed out of the car in con-
fused mass, and all but five of them sue
ceeded in getting off the car before it
took the fatal plunge.
There was only one lady passenger on
the car, Miss Thayer, who, in the
scramble to get out Of the car, caught in
the doorway, from whence she was eX-
tricated without serious injury.
Five bodies have already been recov-
cred as follows: Charles Breck mon,
bookk eeper, leaves wife; Alexander
Campbell, saloon-keeper, leaves wife
and child; John z. Anderson, cabinet
maker, leaves a wife and five children;
George Stodtler and L. Bennick. Ben
nick was a deaf mute. He leaves wife
and three children.
Paul Oder and boy are missing, and
it is thought possible they are among the
drowned.
a diver who went down states to the
Associated Press reporter that there are
no more bodies in the car.
Several OF the passengers received slight
injuries in jumping from the car.
Motorman c. Il. Terry gives the follow
ing version Of the accident: when the
car came on the bridge the power was
thrown off and the car approached the
draw at low rate of speed. The fog was
so heavy that / was unable to see the
lights at the draw. When about four
spans from the draw | put Oh the brakes,
but owing to the slippery condition OF
the track they refused to work, and
had no sand. When within one span of
the draw / reversed the car, but the mo-
mentum was so great that it was of no
avail. Seeing that it was impossible to
avert an accident l jumped, catching the
ratings OF the bridge Just as the car
crashed through the wooden gate in front
of the chasm."
Conductor c.. Power states that ne was
standing in front of the car making OUT
his report when he saw the impending
danger. The car was then but a few feet
from the gate. He shouted to the passen-
gers to jump, and a scramble followed.
The conductor states that his register of
fares paid showed eleven.
This, however, is no index to the num-
ber, as many of the passengers who came
from milwaukee, or points outside of the
city limits paid double fares, which were
shown by the register as two fares, while
representing but one passenger. In ad-
dition, there were number OF passen-
gers riding on tickets issued by the COM
pany, which are punched by the con-
ductor but not recorded. The conductor
thinks there were eighteen or twenty
persons on the car.
The conductor and motorman were
placed under arrest, but were released on
their own recogniZance.
The Coroner will hold an investigation
tomorrow.
G.. w. Hoover, who was on the car al
the time, gives graphic description OF
the fateful scene. The track was frosty
and very slippery, and TO make time the
motorman was compelled to run as fast as
possible. | think about fifteen passen-
gers were on the car. After passing on
the bridge the car kept up its rapid rate
of speed. 1t went just as fast as when
coming down the track from Milwaukee.
There was a pretty heavy cloud of fog
hanging over the river, and one could not
see far ahead of the rapidly moving car.
The first thing | noticed was a red light.
conductor Powers was standing near
the front end of the car with the motor
man. | heard Powers shout to the pas
sengers to jump, for he saw that the car
would inevitably go over the brink. At
the same moment Powers and the motor
= an sprang of. All was a scene of wild
confusion and panic for an instant, and
every passenger made rush to save his
life. Those on the rear platform jumped
Oft, and those in the car crawled out.
ut all happened IN all instant, ana l.,
like the rest, can scarcely remember all
that transpired. There was on board only
one woman, Miss Alice Thayer, when the
conductor shouted Jump for your lives
Fright and confusion seemed to have par
alyZed the girl, for she stood right in the
rear doorway. l was incapable of action.
| was right behind her and others were
pressing violently against my back
in frantic efforts TO escape from
the doomed car. / grasped the
woman and pitched her out to one
side of the platform. L had no al
ternative but to use force and even
violence. She struck against the heavy
bridge timbers on one side with much
force, and must have been severely
bruised.
"Just then the car went over the edge
and made dreadful plunge into the
river. ] remember seeing Two persons
swimming a moment after the car sank
from sight. In the fog and confusio:l l
could not tell who they were. I saw
steamer passing through the draw just at
the moment. There was no attempt
made to check the speed of the steamer
and she kept on straight ahead
and ran down the two persons | saw
struggling in the water. [ saw the bow
of the steamer strike one man Il think it
was poor Charley Beckman on the head,
which would have been enough to kill