Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-30
TROLLEY'S BLOODY ROLL.
Records of the Coroner's once in
Philadelphia.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Although the troliey's bloody roll of dead
and injured is growing to frightful propor-
| tions, and although three coroner's juries
have recommended. three separate times
during as many years past, that rigid legis-
lation be enacted to provide proper safe
guards. the trolley cars are still untram-
meled, save by the Anticipated ordinance of
1857. which provides that street cars shall
not be run at a greater speed than six
miles per hou--a law, by the way, which
is dead and almost forgotten.
The records Of the coroner's office tell the
tale Of wanton neglect of citizens rights
more forcibiy than can the most graphic
writer. Here is that record:
Patrick Shannahan, seventy-fve years
| old. of 1923 Catharine street, died on
March 20, 1898, after being struck by trolley
car No. S62 on Catharine street below
Broad
May Kingston. three years old. of the
rear of 1924 cambridge street, died on
April IL. 1898, after being run over by
trolley car No. S5T.
South Fifth street died on April Is, 1898,
after being struck by trolley car No. $50.
Anna r. Campbell, ten years old. of 1914
cambridge street, died on April 49, 1898,
| after being struck by trolley car No. 1853.
Michael Evans, jr, four years old. of I54
Swanson street, died on September IL 1893
after being run over by trolley car No. s65
| at Front and Mead streets.
Powell Caviezel. six years old of 1907
Latona street. died on October IL, 1898,
after being run over by trolley car No
s62, at Thirtieth and Gray's Ferry road.
Albert H. Hartman, thirty-eight years
old, or Gil South Twenty-seventh street
died on December 81 1898, after being
struck by a trolley car on the Grays Ferry
line.
James Thompson, eight years old. Of 7sI
Cd n
1894, after being run over by trolley car
No. lab of the Twelfth and Sixteenth
streets line.
Joseph Hetzell, motorman, Of 1920 JJber
street. died on March 8. after being run
over by a trolley car on the Twelfth and
Sixteenth streets line.
Daniel Kelly, ninety-fve years old, of
1000 Malcolm street, died on March 20.
after being run over by trolley car at
Thirteenth and Tasker streets.
An unknown man, about forty-five years
old, instantly killed by being run over by
trolley car No. l149, at Sixteenth and
Carlton Streets on March 20.
Joseph M. Kirschneck, twenty-seyen
years old, of 4S3 Fernberger street. died on
March %, after being run over by a trolley
Garden.
Thomas E. Morris, thirty years old, of
913 Sergeant street, died on April s. after
being run over by trolley car No. 1O71, at
Thirteenth and cambridge streets.
Annie Schametz. six years old, of S31
South Third street. died on April %, after
being run over by trolley car No. SEQ on
GATHERINGS treet above Third.
In addition to these killed there is a long
list of manned and wounded, the increa Sc
of which has become an incident of almost
daily occurrence.
The CorOner's Views.
Coroner Ashbridge, in the routine of his
office, has watched with feelings of afsmay
the death list steadily increasing Yester-
day he spoke forcibly of the need of prompt
action to check the recklessness that seems
to pervade the corporations, leading them
to operate trolley cars under conditions
that render the sacifce of more lives a
matter of absolute certainty.
while 1t is plainly the duty of every
corporation and of every individual" said
Mr.. Ashbridge. ito take proper precau-
tons against accidents yet it does not
come within the province of the coroner or
his jury to censure corporation for even
gross negligence, unless such negligence is
violation of law. 1t has even been limited
that the ccroners jury has gone outside
the strict line of duty in recommending to
councils the passage of an ordinance maxi
ing tenders compulsory.
In spite of this disbursement three
separate recommended to that effect
have been made thus far without doing any
apparent good. What is required in nv
judgment Is a rigid law, not alone COM
polling the use of tenders, but controlling
the rate of speed at which cars shall be run
In the crowded portions Of the city"