Evening journal., 1895-01-02

The Accident Occurred at Dangerous
Crossing. and There Were Numerous Es-
capea From Instant Death--one Car Was
Smashed to Bits.
BROOKLYN, Jan. 2.--Slx persons were
injured In a trolley car collision In Brook
lyn. Car No. 1873 Of the Franklin avenue
line was run into and wrecked by car No.
1913 Of the Fulton street line at Franklin
avenue and Fulton street The injured
are;
William Purbo, motorman serious In
juries about hips and body, may die; John
Salker actor, shock and hysteria; Charles
W. Murphy, well known bicyclist Of
Brooklyn, severe Internal injuries; A. w.
Franklin, injuries to forearm and contu-
sion Of head Mira Elizabeth Saunders Of
Jersey City, shock and sprained arms; Miss
Frances, IL years old, bruises OF head and
face aud sprain OF ankle.
Bicyclist Murphy 1t ia said, Is very se-
/ riously injured and may never be abla 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
/ cnrs on these streets cross each other at
right angles There Is a down grade on
each line at this point, and owing to the
peril involved the motormen have been
cautioned to be extremely careful 10 ap-
preaching Il The peril was increased by
the slippery condition of the tracks and
the consequently greater difficulty In stop
ping the cars.
Met Mt Right Angles.
Car 1863 Of the Fulton street line, which
WAS going west approached the crossing
at n high rate Of speed. At the same In
stant car i2s Of the franklin avenue line,
with trailing car attached, came into
view, going toward the park It's speed
was even greater than that OF the Fulton
street car and Motorman Edward Purcell
OF the latter quickly made up bis mind
that he could not cross in time to avoid a
collision
He used every possible effort, he says,
to stop his car. Tho inotorman Of tho
Franklin avenue car, also apprehensive OF
a collision, turned his lever aa rapidly as
he could, but both cars were carried along
by their momentum and they came to-
gether on the crossing with q loud crash
which camo near hurlinR them off the
tracks. The passengers were thrown down
IN manner which they will not soon for
get.
The Franklin avenue car and tho trailer
were coupled together with an iron bar
about three feet long and 1t was this
, coupling point that the Fulton steet car
I 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 tho trolley cars.
William Purbo was standing on the
front platform Of the trailer In charge Of
the brake, and there were two or three
passengers standing Alonside Of him. This
car as woll as the trolley car, was crowd
: ed inside with passengers, very many Of
! them being out ON calling tours. The
Y trent 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 a Panic.
r When tho collision became inevitable,
Brakeman Purbo and tho passengers who
! were with him jumped back into the trail-
. or Just In time to save their lives Had
: they remained moment longer they
would have been crushed to death. The
!. passengers In all the three cars were great
a ly excited, and, panic stricken, they rushed
/. TO tho doors, throwing each other down
In their haste to get out. It is supposed
q that a dozen persons were cut bruised and
a otherwise injured, but some of them hur
r rcd off without giving their names
' Ambulance Surgeon Herbert Of tbs
Brooklyn hospital was on hand few
4 minutes after the accident, and with ths
d assistance of some other doctors he attend
d ed to the injured persons In o neighborine
a drug store. With the exception Of Purbo
q who was removed TO the Brooklyn hospi
q tai, oil were taken to their homes.
4 There were no arrests, and the officiall
OF both lines place the entire responsible
a ty for the accident on the slippery tracks
q which indicates that proper precautlon
have not been taken by the companies
Both roads were blocked for over quar-
ter Of an hour in consequence Of the acci
dent.