The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-02
| COSTLY TEST
One Of the Truck Company's
Horses Almostly Inftant.
ly Killed.
WERE ANSWERING The TEST.
Tho Sad Accident Occurred Mt Sixth aud
West streets aud coutd not hnNe been
Avoided--NsIther Driver
Injured.

While responding to the teat alarm from
box No. 5. on Thursday afternoon. ono OF
the handsom sorrel horses of the Della.
ware truck was almost Instantly killed 10y
the shalt OF the carriage OF the Friend
ehip Company piercing Its lung. The
accident which made the test so costly To
the Delaware Company occurred at Sixth
and West street, and those people who
were at the corner at the ume declare that
under the cii icumstances 1t could not bave
been averted. The drivers escaped unin-
1ured.
When the alarm was given the big ap.
paratus was driven out OF tho house to
Sixth street and out that thoroughfare.
The Friendship carriage proceeded out
Delaware avenue to West street. Both
companies were running at breaknsok
speed and Sergeant Massey. who had
been placed on duty at the corner to warn
either company OF the others approach,
sized up the situation at glance and be-
iteved that unless the speed OF the horSe5
was slackened thsre would be a collision.
He was correct In his supposition and
when he saw each com pany draw near the
crossing he waved signal for both COM
pHnies to run slowly.
But there was a misunderstanding of
the signal and the Friendship driver, Chas.
White, allowed his horse to run as IL
had been since leaving the engine house.
The truck horses moved up the hill ut an
ordinary gait and when at the street in
tsrseetion were within twenty-five feet of
the carriage. Driver White slackened the
speed OF his horse somewhat, but 1t was
too late. The animal and carriage Slid
over the sm Doth pavement aud the shut
struck the of horse OF the three driven ky
the Delaware and entered It's body. The
truck horses at this time seemed to be
turning down West street and this pulled
the shaft from the horses body. but he
was thrown against the wall OF the house
nj Asnit ha ~
and the blood from his wound sDurIed In
stream until tue wall was covered to q
height of six feet.
The Friendship carriage continued on
and the Delaware men unhitched tho In
1ured horse. He was dead in three min
utes and suffered but little. Those who
saw the accident say II was impossible for
the Friendship driver to stop the horse
which he drove because of the slide on
the slippery pavement but that tue Della
ware truck could have been stopped on
the hill II the men had seen the danger or
understood the slgnals OF Sergeant Mas
eey. The weight of the truck would have
checked the horses at once. and the rough
pavement would have given them a good
foothoid. The Friendship driver had the
disadvantage OF a smooth pavement and
slight downward grade. He did what he
could to prevent q collision, but the mo.
mentum which had been obtained by the
terrific speed with which his horse had
Doou travelling muu6 IL lHpObSiDId 10 10
anything else than he did.
Strange to relate none of the other
horses were Injured. The Friendship
horse arrived at Fifth and Adams streets
minute later and CORY shaft told those
there OF the sad affair and rush was im
mediately made for the scene. The AMI
NAL was namei Hurry" and was valued
at $3.50. The company will endeavor to
compel the city or some one else to sta nd
the loa5.
DRIVER WHITES STORY.
Driver White of the carriage said when
asked FOR his side of the story:
when left the engine house weni
out Tenth to West street. On Tentl
street had trouble getting around tive
electric cars which delayed ms. Had 1t
not been for this would have passed the
corner where the accident occurred before
the Delaware got there. as we had an easy
Eoad while they had two hills.
I'VE were going down West street at
fast gait when l saw Sergeant Massey Rnt
another officer, as we'll az several othe
people. wave tier hands to me to stop.
pulled down the horse and put on tn
brakes. hut the smooth pavement fur
nlshed no hold for US, nnd both hors
and carriage slipped. When got the slg
nal to stop l was but few yards abov
the crossing OF sixth street. | saw tn,
Delaware horses coming across Was
street. They slowed, and then Charlie
on them ami they ran across the stree
couldn't prevent collision, because of
post on the corner The shaft of the los
carriage struck the Delaware horse an
entered his side. Then | backed tn
Friendship horse out. Some one gave III
the signal to go on, aud went oa out
Blxth street.
''When we cnllldel both were going slow
ly, and both oil us were OF the pavemeu
when backed out. ! could not stop b'
cause both horse and currlage wers slid
Ing. did all that l could. The Della war
had the advantage In stopping, beeau5t
they were OH tho hill whers there Ia rougl
stone pavement while wo wore OF do "
grade and smooth ravemsnt. In
Delaware could have easily stopped =
the hill, or the driver could have turnel
bis horses down West strUet and avoided
collision
member Of the Delaware Truck Com
pAny stated last evening that when Ii
driver of the truck saw the police office
moIiontnK it at West str sSt hs thought
WAS for the purpose OF sLopptug persO
driving Wagon. lie did not think II
warning was Intended Tor the truck an
kept on. This statement was not mae
upon the authority OF au 0iiiIsr Dt III
company at ali. and the informgilt euI
Rested that the reporter shopid see sou
OF the oillcers, but mono OF them refus,
10 talk
MIR. Smith wants repairs made. ii
marble base anJ the steDs Of tho realdeut
Of MI Sulsd was badly disenIored Wi
plood and the pavement was badI
ProSsn, Mr.. Smith desires the city az
thorities to attend To making the nare
~Bary repairs. ae tne Fire Alarm Commit,
ordered out the fire companies ana ii
city should he resp0nslbla Tor ali acc
dents.
HOu seldom Ftud
Muph shaDA style M oulIltv In col