Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-02
TROLLEY CARS CRASH.
Six Persons Seriously Hurt by .
Collision In Brooklyn.
THE OARS MET AT RIGHT ANGLES.
The Accident Occurred at a Dangerous
Crossing. and There Were Numerous Is
capes From Instant Death-One Car Was
Smashed to Blts.

CrOSStngs anu Lhere were Nunaerous Gs-
capes From Instant Death-One Car Was
Smashed to Blts-
BROOKLYN, Jan. 2.-Six persons were
Injured in a trolley car collision in Brook
lyn. Car No. 12S of tho Franklin avenue
line was run into and wrecked by car No.
1bS of the Fulton street line ut Franklin
avenue and Fulton street, The injured
are:
William Purbo, motcrman, serious in
juries about hips and body, may die; John
Salker actor. shock and hysteria; Charles
W. Murphy, we'll known bicyclist of
Brooklyn. severe internal injuries; a. ".
Franklin. injuries to forearm and contu-
sion Of head; Mrs. Elizabeth Saunders Of
Jersey City, shock and sprained arms; Miss
Frances, IL years old, bruises of head and
face and sprain Of ankle.
Bicyclist Murphy, it is said is very Sc
riously injured and may never be able to
ride wheel again. He is a member of
the Kings County Wheelmen club. and he
made many records ON the track.
The accident occurred in Fulton street
and Franklin avenue, where the trolley
cars on these streets cross each other at
right angles There is n down grade on
each line at this point, and owing TO tho
peril involved the motormen have been
cautioned to be extremely careful in ap
preaching 1t Tho peril was increased by
the slippery condition of the tracks and
the consequently greater difficulty in stop
ping the cars.
Met ut Right Angles.
Car 15S of the Fulton street line. which
was going west approached the crossing
at high rate of speed. At tho same in
slant car 12S of the Franklin avenue line.
with trailing car attached, came into
view, going toward the park Its speed
was even greater than that of the Fulton
street car and Motorman Edward Purcell
of the latter quickly made up his mind
that he could not cross in time to avoid
collision.
He used every possible effort, no says,
to stop his car. The motorman Of the
franklin avenue car. also apprehensiye Of
a collision. turned his lover as rapidly as
he could. but both cars were carried along
by their momentum, and they came to-
gether on the crossing with n loud crash
which came near hurting them off the
tracks. The passengers were thrown down
in a manner which they will not soon for
get
The Franklin avenue car and the trailer
We're coupled together with an iron bar
about three feet long, and it was this
| coupling point that the Fulton steet Caf
struck The principal force of the collision
was spent ON the trailing car. which is of
the old fashioned horse car pattern and
much lighter than the trolley cars
William Purbo was standing on the
front platform of the trailer in charge of
the brake. and there We're two or three
passengers standing alonSide of him. This
car, as well as the trolley car, was crowd
| cd inside with passengers. very many of
| them being out ON calling tours. The
front platform of the trailer was badly
smashed up and the end of the Franklin
| avenue trolley car was also slightly dam
| aged while the front of the Fulton street
car escaped with slight damage
Passengers In Panic.
When the collision became inevitable,
Brakeman Purbo and the passengers who
were with him jumped back into the trail
| or just in time to save their lives Had
| they remained n moment longer they
| would have been crushed to death. The
| passengers in all the three cars were great
| ly excited, and, panic stricken, they rushed
| TO the doors. throwing each other down
| in their haste to get out. 1t is supposed
| that n dozen persons wcro cut, bruised and
| otherwise injured, but some of them hur-
red off without giving their names.
Ambulance Surgeon Herbert of the
Brooklyn hospital was on hand a few
| minutes after the accident and with the
assistance of some other doctors he attend.
ed to the injured persons in n neighboring
drug store. With the exception of Purbo
who was removed to the Brooklyn hOspi
tai, all We're taken to their homes
There We're no arrests, and the officials
of both lines place the entire responsible
ty for the accident on the slippery tracks
| which indicates that proper precaution:
have not been taken by the companies
Both roads were blocked for over a quar-
ter of an hour in consequence of the acct
| dent.