The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-05
INTO THE ICY T
ELECTRIC CAR PLUNGEs INTO Fl
RIVER AT MILWAUKEE,.
MotOrman Did Not See 1t In Time
Three People

MILWAUKEE,, Feb. "A trolley car of
the Russe.i-avenue and Holton-street line
plunged through the open draw of the Kin
nickinnic bridge at $50 this morning, carry
ing three people down to death III the icy
waters of the river. Six others were res
cued from the partially submerged car. 1t
was the worst street-car accident that ever
happened in milwaukee,. From all accounts
the accident seems to have been clearly
due to the earelessness of the motorman,
John Kennedy, but he stuck to his post in
a vain endeavor 20 stop the car which he
had permitted to approach too near the
open draw and paid the penalty of his care
lessneSs with his life. The car struck end
wise in the river and was submerged for
about two-thirds of it's length. The fact
that it did not go to the bottom of the
river, which is eighteen feet deep at that
point, being due to the presence of thick
ice. This circumstance alone, it is believed,
made it possible to rescue any of the pas
sengers. The dead are:
MISS ANTOINETTE EHLMANN, a kim
dergarten teacher in the Twelfth district
primary school and a daughter of Professor
Einmann, director of music in the pubic
JOHN KENNEDY, motorman of car
MISS sCHMIDTKuNz, employed at the
National knitting works.
The rescued are: w. p. Severy, No. ZOE
Walnut street, hand cut: A. Oertel. No. 766
Island avenue; G.. w. Chase, No. 77 Fourth
street; III. keuhne, No. 307 Reed street; R.
Brand. No. $40 Grove street; Ella Wachholz.
No. Ills Eleventh street, hurt about the
shoulder; Edwar Hoffman, No. 44s Jackson
street; Miss Annie Alb, No. 10 Poplar
street.
Russell avenue and Holton street-car No.
145. south-bound was speeding along up
kiQQickinnic street about baIf-naSf 8 o,clocLx
this morning with twelve passengers aboard.
Inc Chicago & Northwestern railroad cross
ing, situated about two-thirds of a block
north OF kinnlckinnic bridge, was maae
to come ahead motorman John Kennedy ap-
pled his power and the il-fated car started
onward. While the car, running at q tair
speed, and not more tnan PROBABLY ten to
Twelve feet from the bridge, conductor
PETERSON, who is said to have been in the
service only a short time, rang the bell to
stop. Instantly the passengers became awe
to the fact that there was something wrong,
ana looking out saw the open bridge almost
piled.
At the sound of the bell the motorman
might and main. But the wheels slipped,
tnere was no time to reach for sand, and, to
the horror Of the helpless passengers. they
reailzed that no power on earth could pre-
vent them from plunging neadlong into the
icy waters. Wild shrieks from the four wom-
en- passengers, intermingled with the
breathless gasps OF the pale-faced men.
There was no time to plan or to say a
word. The rear door was the only means of
escape. The men on the rear end, two or
three. including the conductor, had already
jumped. William p. Severy was the first TO
reach the door. He had occupied the front
seat, at the window, and had seen the
bridge open shortly after the railroad cross
ing had been passed. He needed not the
warning bell of the conductor to notify him
of the danger. He was the first to bound
forward and reach the handle of the rear
door, but he never. opened it. The instant
he touched il the forward end went down.
and he, together with the terror-s9ricken
passengers who were crowding behind him.
was thrown to the front. A heavy crash
followed as the ice was struck, and the car
gradually sank midway into the water. The
fire was instantly quenched and the passen-
gers entirely submerged. The two women
who met death must have been at the very
bottom. and We're instantly suffocated. as
their bodies bear no sign Of bruises. One
woman, probably Ella Wachholz, chung des-
p~erately to Edward Hoffman as he con-
tinued to raise himself out of the water.
He could lend no assistance, however, az
his strength was almost gone. But rescuers
was safely pulled out of the water and soon
placed in a place of refuge. Annie Alb was
rescued in a similar way. Their preserva-
ton is due to the fact that they Glanced to
be the furthest away from the rear door in
the first attempt to escape. Miss Schmidt
kung's body was the first recovered. After
wards the bodies of Miss Ehlmann and the
motorman were taken from the car. Two at
temps We're made to lift the car but the
chains broke. The police used graphing
hooks on the wrecked car without effect.