Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-18
FATAL CROSSING ACCIDENT.
Three Persons Killed on Network of
Tracks at Chicago.

Tracks at Chicago.
CHICAGO, July 1S.-Forty-ninth street,
at the crossing of the Grand Trunk rail-
road, was the scene of another accident
whereby three lives were lost and many
people injured. \ Halsted street horse
car was run into and hurled thirty feet to
one side. IL was filled with men and
women, foTty-six passengers being ON
board. The dead are Thos. Perkins,
Margaret Aurphy, and on unidentified
bov.
The injured-Mrs. Mary Vanderbeck,
face cut ard internally injured, very
serious; Frank Vanderbeck, her 3-year-olG
son, body bruised; Jennie Black, of David
son Station Mich, scalp cut and lower
jaw broken; William Buhlman, left leg
broken and lack injured; Emma Sander
son, head AMI face bruised and internally
injured; j. p. Smith, skull fractured, left
arm broken and internally injured, may
die; Mary McA,oon, back and hip bruised
and internally injured; Mrs. S A Lace,
bruised about head, face and body; Celia
Mitchell, head and body bruised
Was II Dangerous Crossing.
The southtound Falsted street car, the
open make, vas crowded, and men were
standing OF the footboards. 1t was in
charge of Conductor Frank Barnett and
Driver Charles Stahlnecker. At Forty
ninth street Is 4 network of tracks, and the
crossing has always been regarded as n
dangerous one. \ long freight train going
west had just passed, and the tower man,
George Barnett, had raised the gates This
was taken o. q signal that the way was
clear. and Stahlnecker whipped up his
horses as he started to drive across the
tracks. Previously, however, Conduct or
Barnett had gone ahead, and not able to
see the approaching passenger train be-
cause OF the freight he motioned his driver
TO so ahead.
. PGfti seen When Too Late.
Barnett, in the watch tower, saw the
passenger train and realized that a coils
ion was INN inent Yet. as he says. he
could do moth Nc. He at once lowered the
gates. But he was too late, for the street
car vas already on the tracks and the pas
senger train was only few feet distant.
1t was runniny at Il lively rate of speed
and crashed IL to the side Of the car. The
latter was turned and then was thrown
thirty feet through the air. Few of the
passengers had any warning of the acct
dent. Those on the footboard nearest the
1 pdSSsAlEtI tLdl saw IL CoililIl7 anu llCG
in time to save themselves.
FriGhtfIl Effect of the Crash.
But the majority of those on board were
carried with the demolished car and they
fell to the groU nd together. some with bad
ly bruised bodies and others dead. The
! car, broken into many pieces, buried those
who had been riding in it and as the pas
senger train plunged ahead there were
many cries OF pain and agony to be heard
The dead were at once taken to
the county morgue and the injured were
placed in CARR ages and driven away
Make Some Brilliant Arrests.
The passenger train was in charge Of
Conductor Joln Kern, Engineer L. w
Jones, and Fireman James Campbell J I
gineer Jones said he did not see the street
car until the horses We're in front of tue
train, and that he could not possibly have
! stopped in time to avert the accident. Po-
lice Captain Ward arrested Engineer Jones,
Fireman Campbell, and man named
Henry Hughes, who was riding in the cab
of the engine. They will be held at the
station until after the coroner's inquest