Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-02-09
A FATAL PLUNGE.
An Electric Car Goes Through an
Open Draw at Milwaukee.
Crashing Through tho ice In the River,
Three OF the Passengers Arc Drowned
Due to the Motormau's
Carelessness.


Carelessness.
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 5.-A trolley car of
the Russell avenue and Holton street
line plunged through the open draw of
the Kinnickinnicl avenue bridge atS:3O
Monday morning, carrying three peo-
pie down to death in the icy waters of
the river Six others were rescued
from the partly-submerged car.
The dead were: Mrs. Antoinette q.
Ehlman, "a kindergarten teacher in the
twelfth district primary school and a
Coughter of Prof. Ehlman, director of
music in the public schools; John Ken
nedy, motorman Miss Schmidtkuntz,
employed at National Knitting works.
1t was the worst street car accident
that ever happened in Milwaukee, and
the news of the shocking disaster sent
a thrill of horror throughout the city.
From all accounts the accident seems
to have clearly been due to the care
lessness of the motorman, John
Kennedy, but he stuck to his post in
vain endeavor to stop the car, which
he had permitted to approach too near
the open draw, and paid the penalty
of his carclessness with his life. The
car struck endwise 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 ls feet deep at that point being due
to the presence of thick ice. This cir
cumstance alone, 1t is believed, made
it possible to rescue any of the passen-
gers.
Russell avenue and Holton street car
No. las, south bound, was speeding up
Kinnickinnick avenue about $50
o'clock with twelve passengers aboard
The Chicago &5 Northwestern railroad
crossing, about twotthirds of "a
block north of the KinnickinniclS
bridge, was made on schedule
time. The usual stops were observed,
and at the conductors signal to come
ahead Motorman John Kennedy ap-
piled the power and the car started on
ward, to be suddenly stopped by an
awful casualty. Rolling along at
a fair speed, when not more than ten
or twelve feet from the bridge Con-
ductor Peterson, who is said to have
been in service only short time, rang
the bell to stop. Instantly the passen-
! gers became alive to the fact that
something was wrong, and, looking out,
saw that the open bridge was almost
at hand and no brakes had been ap-
| piled.
At the sound of the hell the motor
man grasped the brake crank and
twisted it with all his strength. But
the wheels slipped, there was no time
to reach for sand and the helpless pas
sengers realized that no power on
earth could prevent them from plung-
ing headlong into the yawning gulf of
icy waters
Wild shrielxs from the four women
passengers intermingled with the
gasps of the pale-faced men. There
was no time to plan. The reardoor was
the only means of escape offered
The men on the rear end, two or
three, including the conductor, had al
ready jumped. William p. Severely 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 crossing had been
passed. He needed not the warming
bell of the conductor to notify him OF
the danger. He was the first to bound
|
rear door. But he never opened it,
The instant he touched it the forward
end went down and he, together with
the terror-stricken passengers who
were crowding behind him, was
thrown to the front.
A heavy crash followed as the ice was
struck and then the car gradually sank
midway into the water. The fire was
instantly quenched and the passengers
entirely submerged. The two ladies
who met their death must have been
at the very bottom and were probably
instantly suffocated, as their bodie:
: show no signs of bruises.
One woman, probably Ella Wach
holz, clung desperately to Edward
Hoffman, as he continued to raise him
self out of the water. He could lend nj
assistance, however, as his strength
was almost gone. But the strong
: arm of rescuer was near at hand, ant
the helpless woman was safely borne
: above the water and soon placed il
place of refuge. Annie Alb wa
7 rescued in a similar way. Thei
| preservation is alone due to the fac
t that they CHANGED to be near the rea
7 door. Miss S.hmidtkuntz's body wa
4 the first recovered. Afterward tn
!. bodies of Miss Ehlman and the motor
j man were taken from the car.