The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-28
DOWN THE GRADE.
Mad Run of an Electric
StreetCar.
Three Ladies Lose Their Pre- sence of
Mind and Jump, Sustaining
Painful Injuries.

The possession of little GOODNESS and pres
ence Of mind would have been the means of
saving three passengers on the san Mateo elec-
trio road yesterday from being injured
more or less through their excitement. AS it
is, however. Mrs. Henry H0rstmaD, residing at
Tbirleth and Mission streets; Mrs. Mary La
porte Of California avenue and a Mrs. Welch
were bruised and otherwise injured by jump ing
from a car while the latter was running at full
speed. The facts of the episode as related by
eye-witnesses are rather contradictory as 10
the cause OF the accident, but the facts are
these:
About noon yesterday two carloads of pas
sengeTs on the electric line were returning
from the funeral OF Mrs. Joseph Al. Mello wife
OF an emplOye of the road. The interment had
taken place at Cypress Lawn Cemetery, and as
there was large representation OF members of
The WOodmen NJ the World present, In addition
TO numerous friends, an extra car was required
10 carry the passengers. The regular car started
first and the funei al-car followed a few mo-
meuts in the rear The latter was i'll charge of
Electrician Sutcliffe, ana when The steep grade
on Chenery street reached the brakes
failed TO work satisfactorily and the speed of
the car was Increased TO such au extent that it
commenced to gain peTeeptlbly on the car in
front.
Surmising that something was wrong the
motorman OF the latter went ahead almost at
full speed down the grade toward the turn at
Twentieth street. This action, in all probabil-
w. saved the lives of many of the passengers,
inasmuch as lt aveTted "A rear END collision, bnt
lt had the effect OF exciting many of the female
passengers. Many of them lost their presence
of mind and commenced screaming and rush
ing IN the direction of the rear platform. Those
of the men who had retained their GOODNESS
eDdeavored to quiet and TeasSure The women,
but before succeeding the three named above
had jumped from the car. When tie curve
was reached the funeral-caT bad reached the
one in advance and they came together with a
bump
Attention was Immediately given TO the three
injured ladies, and Drs. DoZler and Burke OF
st. Lukes Hospital and Or. Baumeister of the
railway company were soon on the scene. MRS.
Horstman was unconscious aud appeared TO
be suffering from Internal Injuries. She vOm-
IT, d blood 10 copious streams, and was iinmedi-
ately removed to her home, where at a late hour
last night she appeared TO be resting easily.
Mrs. Lap0rte received a severe cut over the
eye and had one OF her ankles sprained. She
was also taken To her home, on California
avenue.
Mrs. Welch appeared TO be injured bu {
slightly, and was able 10 walk about soon after
the arrival OF the physicians.
Several passengers on the funerai-car stated
that the electrician in charge appeared 10 be
experimenting with a new device on The front
platform.
Heretofore the funeral-car has been attached
to a regular MOTOR ana IL Is thought probable
that some portion OF the new appliances failed
to operate properly. The bill on Cnenery street
has always been regarded as a dangerous grade,
ana in the past has been the scene of several
serious accidents.
Had the mOtorman on the first car not in.
creased his speed the colliding of the two cars
would doubtless have been attended by loss OF
lfe.,