The morning times., 1895-09-19
MORE THAN Law ALLOWS
Ninth Street Cars Speed Vio-
Iates Existing Ordinances.
NINE MILES THE LIMIT
Residents In the Vicinity of Tuesdays
Accident Declare That the Electric
Trains Run Altogether Too Fast.
There VIII Be Repetitions Unless
Elagmen Are Provided.

The collision of an electric train with 0
Belt line car, by which five persons were
injured Tuesday night, has called general
attention TO the speed at which the Ninth
street motors run and may lead to a stricter
enforcement of the la w\against fast going.
Commissioner Powell said yesterday that
| the accident had not been brought to the
| attention OF the Commissioners officially,
| but II it should be, an Investigation would
certainly be ordered for the purpose OF
determining whether there had been any
| violation of the law.
The police regulations provide that no
street car shall go faster than nine miles
an hour nor slower than five miles an
hour. Down grade and on curves the speed
must be reduced TO four miles. Further
more there is a provision at the end of the
first section of Article X, which governs the
speed OF vehicles at crossings. 1t does
not seem heretofore to have been applied to
street cars, but there is nothing known TO
excuse them from it's operation.
NOT SPEEDIER THAN A Walk.
tuIs lildt uo NGultic eudn
cross where street car lines intersect at a
speed greater than walk. 1t is also
directed, as stated by The Times, that
street cars must come to full stop at
crossings.
Testimony of residents along the Ninth
Street line has been published by The
Times that the electric cars run al times
faster than nine miles an hour. and as much
more could be obtained as could be de-
manded. In addition, instead of slowing
up down grade, it frequently happens that
speed will be Increased. Finally, hardly
any attention is paid at all to the require
ment not to cross another street car line
faster than a walk.
Itfrequenlly happens w ith the Ninth street
motormen that they are unavnidably behind
time, and they feel obliged to make 1t up.
Otherwise they may get into trouble.
All the persons injured Tuesday night
were improving last night. and il is hoped
that all will recover without permanent
injury.
Joseph Lewis, of No tO16 Fourth street
northwest, who was on the Belt Line car,
told his friends that the electric train was
coming las hard as it could" without any
otii 3hSihE. anu IL was lVi tlis
horse car 10 get ont of the way. He is a
Belt Line stable boy. F"'- -'
Driver C. W. Hammett is very III. hut
no apprehension as to his recovery is now
selt He has been removed to room in
the second story of his residence because
of the nnise He continually complains of
severe pains In his head. and suffers from
1ausea since the accident. SO that it l.
impossible for him TO retain medicine.
DRIVER HAMMETT.S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Hammett says that upon approaching
the crossing he took the usual precautions,
and looked in both directions for approach
ing trains, but neither sa w nor heard the
ole which caused the disaster.
The horses had Just gotten squa rely upon
the Ninth street tracks when he saw the
Dorthbound train close upon him. He
Instantly realized that the only possible
chance of avertng an accident was to
cross the tracks and with this end in view
he urged his horses to their utmost speed.
But the time was insufficient and the
motor struck the Bel: line car almost in
the middle.
Mr.. Hammett remembers nothing after
the collision. He was thrown from the
NtA obO aiies httu Ca MS iiedds bciite uiiNOii-
scious when picked up. He sustained a
bad cut hack of the left ear from which
blood still continues to flow. His knee
was bruised and he expresses himself as
feeling sore all over.
SKULL NOT FRACTURED.
The physicians feel confident that Mr..
Hammett has not sustained fracture
of the SIX uil, and have no apprehension as
to his recovery. The back of his coat was
badly torn and his cap lost.
The Belt Line Street Railway Company
ire seriously considering holding an Off
cial investigation looking into the causes
which led up to the accident last night.
A number of officials of the company
were closeted most of the morning, and the
result of the conference will likely be a
thorough investigation of the whole affair.
Conductor Peters and Motorman Walsh
were yesterday at the Ninth street power
house and made an informal statement
to the officials of the Metropolitan road,
who have decided that no investigation
will be held unless ordered by the authori-
lies.
DIR. COE EXPECTED 1T.
The assertion has been made that Walsh,