New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-12
CABLE TRAINS IN COLLISION
A DOZEN PEOPLE BADLY HURT
DISASTROUS WRECK IN A CHICAGO
STREET TUNNEL.

A DOWN GRADE THE BRAKES FAILED TO
WORK AND THE THREE HEAVILY LADEN
CARS CRASHED INTO THE CROWDED
TRAIN AHEAD-FIRE ADDED TO
THE HORROR OF THE SCENE
TWO MEN DEAD.
Chicago Dec 1.-two West SIDE cable trains
came into collision in the Westinghouse tunnel
a little after O'Clock tonight. causing the worst
wreck that has ever happened on the street-car
Ines Of the city. apart from the grade-cross!ng
locomotive horrors. \ dozen passengers among the
hundreds who or w6ei the two trains were rious-
~ injured least two Of them fatally and others
whose names could not be learned on account
Of their hurried departure from the scene. were
slightly hurt by flying glass and splintered wood.
Following Is the list of the casualties:
DEAD.
r2NoMrE Jehn home NJ % % r'9ra-s' legs broken
SMITH. Morris home No 80 Kodzc-av". legs broken
back injured died hospital several hours after
being admitted.
INJURED.
RARTRAM George home NJ. DeKalb-st: face lacer-
a-l and knocked out.
FREiNZ. john legs and broken
JOYCE. william. home NJ. : NiNon-st.; leg broken.
MpcNALD James. home sos West pok-st.; leg broken
ard body bruised.
MONTY Jnmes home No 72l West Indana-st.; leg
MrLRoNEY. william home 80 soi West Madlson-s,.:
NEWMAN George home Madison-st.; leg broken
and hand
REIss Mrs. home osden-ave.; cut by glass and wood
RooNAN. George home Rockwclst.: injured internally
and knee punc;ured will die.
vIEMAN Mrs Estele home No. 1896 West Sixteenth
st, head injured.
The gripmen and conductors of both trains
Jumped from their posts and escaped injury.
Two OF the cars such complete wreck
that 1t seems miracle that some Of the victims
were not Killed outright.
a Milwaukee-ave. grip car. with two trailers.
descended the sharp grade of the tunnel, goinS
west. with nearly 250 homcward- bound West Sid
ers close behind "A crowded Mldsop-st train made
up Of "A grip and two trailers. When half way
down the incline the Milwaukee-ave. grlpman
found that his grip had slipped on the cable or
broken the brakes failed to work and In spite
~ sand thrown on the track. the cars rushed
down with terrifying velocity toward the train
In front At the bottom Of the grade came the
crash II the collision leaving only few seconds
grace from the time oi warning for those pas
sengers who we're nearest the outside 10 jump
on the clear track.
The victims were pcnned In tho two trailers
II the Madison-st train. which w"r" shattered
10 splinters. Frantic screams filed me air.
Fire added To the horror Of the panic. ana
many were hurt In the desperate scramble |"
escape from the wrecked cars. The nr" came
from a stove in the first trailer. hut no one was
injured in that way. Doors. windows. wooden
blinds and the heavy metal parts OF the cars
wer. smashed and hurled In all directions The
nhattered seats crushed against the lirrirS ~ The
unfortunntes and the platforms OF tho TWO
traiIers NJ both ends were forced into the struS-
Cling wounded mass ~ human beings. Several
~ the victims had 10 hc cxtricatei from the
wreck and Smith. who had his legs broken.
was pulled over the front end Of the first trailer
ius, i'm time To escape being burned by the coal
from the battered stove
\ few OF the passengers in IN" first MI
waukec-ave. trailer We're hurt. and tn" machln-
cry of both grips and parts of other cars w"r"
smashed Traffic was delayed several hours.
and intense excitement prevailed outside the
tunnel when the fire engines. ambuances ana
patrol wagons arrived.