The herald., 1895-11-17
Hiding All the Evidences of a
Horror Unparalleled
THE DRAWBRIDGE WAS OPEN
rhe Car reIl Into the Water, Z Hun.
bred Feet Below
Ard Of Those Who Went Dowa With II Not
l One Escaped
The Cause Of the Accident and tie Number
Killed May Never Do Known With
Any Degree Of Certainty
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special wire.
CLEVELAND, o., Nov. 16.-A heavy
electric motor car containing between
twenty and thirty passengers went
through the draw Of the central viaduot
at TAO O'CLOCK this evening and dropped
100 feet to the river below. 1t is . horror
the like of which never occurred here be-
fore.
The central viaduct 10 . huge silt
bridge. 5000 feet long, made OF iron. 1t
connects the heights and the prosperous
residence sections on both sides with the
business center OF the city. Directly over
the river 10 q drawbridRe on the pivot
swinging pattern, and this IL 101 fest
above the surface Of the watsr. The South
Side street railway passes over the bridge
and on either side Of the draw there is a
safety switch, which, unless the conduct
or alighss and holds up a handle, will
s'nd car into q gully instead Of allow
ing it to 60 on to the draw.
First reports from the scene OF the DIS
aster seem to place the blame on the con.
ductor. They were to the effect that the
Inflated motor car, containing between
twenty and thirty people, approached the
draw just Is . vessel was nearing it, and
the bridge attendants had closed the big
iron Rates and were preparing to swing
the draw. As j. the rule, the car stopped
and the conductor went for ward to release
the switch in case the way was clear. He
must have been Blinded by the electric
lights, FOR an eyewitness declares that
although the sates were closed and the
draw in motion the conductor raised the
switch handle. The motorman applied
the current and the car shot forward and
struck toe gates with crash. There
was only q moments pause and then the
heavy car ground its way through the
wreckage and plunged over the brink into
the black abyss amid the screams and
frantic struggles Of the passengers, who
at the first lntimation of danger rushed
tor tho rear door. The car struck the
water with great splash and then there
was silence.
Soon men began 10 rush about shout
ing wildly, and the olice patrol wagons
and ain balances were flying to the spot
in response to telephone calls. In an in
credibly short space of time the work Of
rescue had begun.
All the occupants Of the car, with the
exception of the few who had managed
to jump as it toppisd over. went down
to rtain death. The car disapp ared
from sight as soon as 1t struck the water,
and every one Of the passengers was
drowned.
The alarm sent out brought to tins
scene half dozen ambulanoes. fire boats
and the members of the life saving crew
with graphing irons. Within five min
utes after the accident the surface VI tho
river revealed nothing Of the terrible
tragedy that had just been enacted. The
waters had closed over the car and Is
passengers. and the work of rescuinR the
bodies in the uncertain light was slow
indeei. At 8 o'clock half dozen bodies
that had evidently foated out OF the car
and risen to the surface were taken from
the river and carried to the various
morgues. The news of the terrible acct.
dent spread like wild fire throughout the
city, anu large crowd collected on the
bridge and along the banks of the river.
They could 60 nothing. however, but
watch the slow work OF graphing for the
bodies.
The captain of the bridge guards says:
II saw this car coming rapidly toward
tho draw Just as | mad given this signal
to swing it to admit Of the passage OF q
vessel. waved my hands and hallosd
to the motUrman to stop, but apparently
he paid no attention to me. The car
came on. Just before 1t went over the
brink the motorman jumped and raa
away"
a man whose name has not been learn
ed 10 at the hospital in an aunconscious
condition. So far as can be learned ne
is the only one WIN escaped instant
death. I
The work OF rescuing the bodies went
on by the flaring lights of the lamps of
the tireboats. BY 10 80 five more bodies
In addition TO those already taken to the
morgue, making twelve in all, hau been
taken from the river. Among them was
fairly we'll dressed, being the body ap-
rarently Of shop girl going home from
work. By her side in ths dead wagon Law
the body ut q woman about so years old
and near her Twas one of woman about
40 years Of age.
Word just comes from the scene of the
wreck that a dredge has been secured and
the whole car will ba raised bodily from
the bottom OF the river. If that is doae
the remainder of the bodies will soon he
recovered. for IL Is not possible many of
them have floated away, the river being
practically without current this time.
mum Der thirteen. Three more bottles
have been identified. They are thoss of
Matthew Callahan, who lived on Hamll.
ton street; Mrs. Saurheimer of Professor
street. and her sister-in. law, Mrs. Martha
Saurheimer Of No. 154 Merchant avenue.
The man who was taken to the hospital
in al unconscious condition is Patrick
Looney OF Liman street. He recovered
const iousness shortly before midnight,
but Is in q critical condition. Looney
has bad wound on the head. He said
when he recovered consciousness that his
zscolIsction OF the accident Was not very