The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-02
TWO CARS COLLIDE
Captain Short Receives
Painful Injuries.
Another Accident at the Fourth and
Howard Street Cross
ing.

About dozen people on Fourth street
horsecar had narrow escape from serious
injury or death yesterday afternoon.
During the heavy rain car II was pro-
ceeding southwark about O'clock, and
when it reached the Howard-street cross
Ing the driver observed cable-car coming
west at rapid Speed and close to the cross
ing
The horsecar-driver saw that collision
was in prospect He could not stop his car
in time and The only hope for him was to
endeav0r to cross the cable track ahead of
the cable-car.
He applied the whip vigorously to his
horses, but before the car could clear the
track the cable-car crashed into the rear
end, the noise being heard blocks away.
The horsecar was knocked off the rails and
slightly damaged.
Captain Short, the veteran officer In charge
OF the Southern police station, was standing
on the rear platform of the hOrsecar and
was thrown between the two cars
A cry of horror rose from the spectators,
as they thought he would be crushed to
death. He was seen TO attempt to rise but
fell back again. In doing so. however. he
clutched the iron rail on the rear platform.
inst then the driver whipped up his horses
| and the captain was dragged along for few
| yards till the car again stopped.
Policeman Cook ran to his assistance and
| Sergeants Tobn and Cole were also
promptly on the scene.
Quite a crowd soon collected, but when
they saw that nothing serious had hap
| pened. as Captain Short was a bic with slight
assistance to get on tie car again after 1t
was Tighted, they soon dispersed.
SergeantS Tobin and Cole accompanied
| Captain Short TO the police station. where
he used language more vigorous than
poetic against the streetcar system of San
| Francisco in general and Howard street in
| particular.
After resting for a few minutes In the
| station, be was driven TO his home, 1904
| Jackson street, accompanied by Sergeant
| Tobin.
DR.. Perault was summoned. and found
| that the venera bic and universally esteemed
captain was badly shaken up and bruised
at the base of the spine and chest, but that
| his injuries are not serious. He is 50 years
| OF age. and of unusually robust constitu-
| ton notwithstanding his advanced age.
| The HOward-street cable-car was No 65.
| Grpman Hughes sent IN the following re-
| port of the accident to the superintendent
| office: About p. NJ, rs | approached the
crossing at Fourth street l slowed down and
| rang my bell. didn't see the horseear ill
! ! saw the driver whipping up his horses.
| We struck the rear end Of the car. ana the
conductor ran forward to see If any one was
| hurt, and finding none we went on"
Several eyewtnesses to the collision
were seen last night by CALL reporter,
and the majority ielt inclined to lay the
blame upon the gripman. 1t was stated
| that il he had paid more attention TO the
brake and less to ringing his bell the col
| lsiOn would not have occurred
Others expressed the opinion that, con-
| sidering the slippery condition Of the rails.
aud the fact that he was driving down hill,
| the hOrsecRr-driyer should have driven at
/ elpWpr when eSip
There have been several accidents of
! similar nature at this crossing and igid
! investigation should be made as to where
! the fault lies, so that an example should be
made of those responsible for placing the
| lives of people in jeopardy by neglect Of
| orders or gross carelessness.
| II was fortunate that the accident was
not more serious, as it would have been il
the cable-car had struck the horsecar in the
| center, where several passengers were