The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-11-20
AWFUL PLUNGE TO DEATH.
WENT THROUGH A VIADUCT.
Nineteen Persons Killed by Car Drop
ping 1o1 Feet at Cleveland.


shortly after Z o'clock Saturday night whom
an electric car containing between 20 and 80
passengers went through the draw OF the
Central viaduct and dropped lO1 feet into
the river The list of tho dead and missing
is as follows
James Mclaughlin, baseball player, n
Trowbridge avenue.
Henry W. Mecklenburg, merchant tailor
5S Mary street.
Edward Hoffman, conductor, 12i East End
avenue
Mrs. John A. sauernheimer, 70 Professor
street.
Miss Bessie Davis. school teacher In sackott
school, lived at l07 Noyes street.
Harry W. Foster, clerk for Root Il Nc
Bride Company, 81 Mentor avenue.
Mrs. Minnie Z. Brown, 10 Thurman street.
Curt Lephene, schoolboy, &C Jennings ave
nue..
Mrs. A. W. Hoffman, 80 years old, 1903
Pearl street.
Harvey Holman, years old, 1908 Pearl
street.
Mrs. Martha Palmer 1865 Kenllworth ave-
Marie Mitchen, 2i years old, domestic, Bell
avenue.
Augusta sarlnski, 2O7 Central avenue
Gertie Hoffman, Al years old, 1908 Pearl
street.
Louis +. Huletz, mail carrier 3s Brewer
street.
MISSING.
Miss Martha sauernheimer. 154 Merchants
avenue
- Looney, years old 81 Clifton street.
ID. c. Page, residence unknown.
Matthew Callahan. Hamilton street.
The Central viaduct IL n huge iron bridge
5000 feet long which connects the heights
and prosperous residence section of the south
side Directly over the river is drawbrldge
Of the pivot swinging kind and II is l0l feet
above the surface of the water. The South
Side electric line passes over the bridge, and
On :either end of the draw there is safety
switch, which unless the conductor alights
and holds up handle. will send the cnr into
gutter instead OF allowing II to 90 on the
draw. The motor car approached the draw
just ms vessel was approaching 1t, and the
bridge attendants had closed the big iron
gates and were preparing to swing the draw.
The car stopped, as is the rule, and the con.
ductor went forward to release the switch In
case the way was clear.
The conductor must have been blinded by
the electric lights, for, although the gates
were closed and the draw was already in mo-
tion, he raised the switch handle. The
mototman applied the current and the car
shot forward and struck the gates with u
crash There was only moments pause
and then the heavy car ground its way
dark abyss, amid the screams and frantic
struggles OF the passengers, who, at the first
intimation OF danger, rushed, Tor the reat
door. The car struck the water with great
splash, and then there was silence. Soon
men began to rush, shouting about and
police patrol wagons and ambulances were
soon flying to the spot in response TO tele.
phone calls. In an incredibly short space of
time the work of rescue has begun.
All the occupants Of the car with the ex-
ception OF the few who had managed to Jump
as 1t toppled over, went down to certain
death. The car disappeared from sight as
soon as 1t struck the water, and every one OF
the passengers were drowned.
The alarm which was sent out brought to
the scene half dozen ambuances, the fire
boats and the members OF the life-sayine
crew with graphing irons Within FIVE min
utes after the accident the surface OF the river
revealed nothing of the terrible tragedy that
had just been enacted. The waters had
closed over the car and its passengers, and
the work. OF rescuing the bodies In the uneer.
tain light was slow indeed. All Of the dead
have been identified, but four persons \, he
were supposed to have been on the ill.fated
car as 1t made the awful plunge are still
missing, and there seems to be no doubt that
their bodies will be taken from the bottom Of
the river when the heavy iron trucks OF the
wrecked motor are raised.
Motorman Rodgers was arrested shortly
after the accident. He said that the con.
ductor gave him the signal to come ahead
and he supposed everything was all right and
did not notice the draw open, being blinded
by the electric lights. He jumped when he
discovered the gates closed and barely es.
capped going over.
He talked about the accident:
"It was my second trip" he began. "Just
after leaving the Market house, looked into
the car and from what l can remember, there
were about 20 or 2S passengers. They were
mostly women and children, think. When
my motor reached the switch at the approach
OF the draw in the viaduct, shut Off my
current, and applied the brake. The car
came to q full stop, and the conductor ran
ahead and threw the switch. He motioned
me ahead with q wave Of his arm. put
my lever at the first notch. and as
passed the conductor, who always stands
at the switch lever until the car has
passed, was running at the rate OF pos
eibly four miles an hour. looked back,
as always do, and saw him get on the rear
platform. Looking ahead l thought saw
the gates at the draw closed over the track,
but as my lights were burning and had cur
rent, the thought occurred to me that nv
eyes must be at fauit. was Just In the act
oil giving. and possibly gave the lever slight
push forward, when / was startled by the
gates just In front OF me, and / heard some
one yell Jump. don't konw whether reyers-
90 the current or not. for then realized the
danger and leapsd from the vestibule. As |
leaped thought l would plunge headlong
down and into the river. but as the car struck
tho gate fell on 1t and caught the iron frame
and saved myself The car went down with
an awful crash, but never heard murmur
or anything that resembled scream"
Here Rogers buried his face In his hands
and cried; MY God, its an awful thing"
When ne had recovered himself somewhat.
Rogers continued; when was freed from
the iron gate / scarcely knew what to do. l
was dazed. finally concluded to run back
to the market house and tell the police. I
hurried down the embankment and began to
pull bodies out OF the wreck. j worked there
for fully an hour, may be an hour and hall.
Then grew sick and went home"
"When you saw the gates of the draw.
were your lights burning and did you have a
current?
II did have current and my lights were
purAing. That Is the reason thought OF no
danger When the draw is open the lights
usually 20 out, but It was not the case at the
time OF the accident. as can swear. As |
told you, ! was surprised when l saw the
gates and knew that had both lights and
haa NJ Aya haa e.