Bridgeton pioneer., 1895-09-12
SAD FATALITY.
Struck by Trolley Pole Near Burlington
Avenue and His Skull Fractured,
Causing His Death.

Avenue and His Skull Fractured,
Causing His Death.
One of the most serious and distressing
accidents in the history of the South Jer-
sey Traction Company, occurred Wednes-
day afternoon ON the pike line.
The Traction Company had sent over a
special to Millville to bring the crowds
to see the ball game, and there were quite
| a number on the two open cars. Among
| the number who were happy and gay
was Charles Bartlett, a young man about
thirty years old. He was coming over
| to see the game, and was especially lively,
| jumping from one car to another and
walking about on the outside steps of the
| car. Conductor Coates Thomas noticed
| the young man and warned him of dan
ger, but he paid little heed.
When the cars were coming down the
grade, just before reaching the reservoir
in this city, Bartlett was on the steps OF
the rear car. About that time there were
| some bicyclists ahead of the car that at
tracted attention, and Bartlett was on the
| outside step of the south side. He was
| holding on to the car supports, and his
| body was swung far outward, and the
young man was making an effort to look
ahead of the two cars
While in this position, he was struck
| upon the head by one of the trolley poles
| along the road, and this caused him to
lose his hold and he fell to the ground,
turning completely over once, and lying
near the track
| The Mortified passengers had the car
stopped Immediately, and ran back and
| picked the young man up. 1t was
found that he was unconscious, and
| there was nasty cash over the left
| temple, which was bleeding slightly.
DR.. Joseph H.Sheppard was in the car
and he gave the young man the attention
possible and he was brought to this city
and by his friends tenderly carried into
the office of County Physician Thompson.
DR.. Sheppard remained in the case, and
Dr. M. X. Elmer was afterwards called.
The physicians made very careful ex-
animation, finding it necessary to per-
| form an operation. The wound was
about one inch long, directly over the left
eye, and the skull was slightly fractured
and there was a considerable depression.
The fact that the wound did not bleed
much Observation-Disclosures that there
| ,voro Internal hemorhages. -----=.e
The physicians work. with the young
man for hours, but he did not regain con-
sciousness, and they gave no hope. Had
the wound in itself not been necessarily
fatal. the shock might.
Late in the afternoon relatives of the
young man came here and the physicians
did not object to the unfortunate fellow
being removed to his home, although DR..
Thompson feared that he would not live
until he arrived in Millville. The South
Jersey Traction Company Immediately
rendered a special car, and in company
with his friends and relatives, the young
| man was taken home.
Yes, home, just in time to leave it again
forever, he dying about ten minutes after
he had been taken in the house.
The young man was married and had
two children. His parents are also living.
He was glass-worker and very popu-
| lar young man, and the sad death was an
unhappy ending of the beginning of a
day of pleasure, and casts gloom over
the entire community.
There are conflicting reports as to how
the injury occurred. The impression
prevails that the poor man was not struck
by trolley pole at all, but that he lost
his hold upon the car and fell, and as he
fell he was struck by the step of the car.
The place where he struck the ground
was just AZ feet from the pole; a small
pool of blood was at this place, which had
oozed from the wound. The blood was
on the outside Of the rail.
He was placed on the special car, fur
nished by the Traction Company and
sent to Millville. The car reached Mill
vile and was run down South Second
street to the house of his brother-in-law,
John Corson, in front of which it was
stopped, and the dying man was tenderly
carried in.
This was about six o'clock and he died
ten minutes later, without regaining con-
sciousness.
DIR. Thompson went over in the car
with him and was with him when he
died.