Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1895-12-27
MET AT FULL SPEED.
TROLLEY CARS COLLIDE IN A roc
WITH FATAL RESULTS.


Into Each Other-A Stove slid Down the
Aisle of One Car and Landed on a wo-
man-The wrecknge Caught Fire.
PATERSON N j., Dec. 20--Going un-
der full headway in dense fog cars
go and 7S on the Paterson, Passaio and
Rutherford Electric railway crashed into
each other yesterday. Thomas Murray Of
272 Spring street, Paterson, motorman of
car 7s, was killed, and 12 or 10 others
were injured. The point at which the ac-
cident occurred Is about midway between
Clifton and Paterson, near a orossroad
known as Ripps lane. At this place there
are two switches, about 500 yards apart
From the switch nearer Paterson thore Is
a gradual descent. A single track CON
meets the switches
The running schedule of the cars was
mixed badly this morning owing to the
fog, and the cars had been trying to "steal
switches" Cars 7S and go arrived at their
switches at about the same time. Each
motorman was unable to see the other
car, and decided to 20 Ghead and trust to
luck. William Oldfleld motorman of car
GO, evidently apprehended danger, for be.
fore he started his car he opened the side
gate in order that he might be prepared
Tor danger. Old6old saw n big white OBJ
ieot looming up out Of the fog when he
was about half way TO the next switch,
He knew it was a car, and reversing his
lever he jumped, escaping with slight
bruises.
Tho two cars came together with terrif-
io force and then bounded about ten feet
apart. Every pane of glass was broken,
and the woodwork was smashed in doz-
ems OF places The platform Of car 60,
which Oldiield had jumped from, was
| crushed fiat against the end of the car.
/ Murray the motorman OF 49, reversed his
| lever as soon as he saw the approaching
car and tried to jump off, but he bo-
came entangled in the gate and was
crushed against the car. He was alive
| when taken from the wreck, but died be-
fore he reached the Emergency hospital
| in Passaio. George johnson of Lake View
the conductor Of car rs, was putting coal
in the stove at the time of the accident
The shock upset the stove, and no was
burned badly. Edward ~ Kieret Of Pas.
sale saw something was going to happen
| and made a jump through window pane.
! He was ont by the glass, but escaped seri-
GUS injury. Peter Ielleme OF Garfield was
cut and bruised. Mrs. Rosa AmshofT of
Rutherford was sitting next to the stove
when the cars met.
PInioned Under the Stove.
The force Of the collision threw her to
the end of the car, and the stove came
after her and pinned her down. 1t set fire
to her dress. and she called loudly for
help A man, WHOSE name is unknown,
saw her plight, and, despite the fact that
he was bleeding profusely from a wound
in his tempe, hurried to her aid and ex-
tricated her from danger The fire was
put out, and, aside from a few bruises
nd ri Mru
not hurt.
The only other occupant of tho cara
woman who lives at 40 Park avenue, Ho-
bokon, N. appeared to be hurt badly,
but the extent Of her injuries could not be
ascertained as she was taken away soon
after the accident. On car 60, besides
William Oldneld, the motOrman, who
jumped, and James Warner of Paterson,
the conductor, there were seven persons.
Warner was hurt about the legs and cut
about the head. One of his legs is thought
to be broken. Frederick Seeker of 65
Plum street, Paterson, may die. He was
cut about the huad and was hurt inter
nally. There were six other passengers
in car 60, but their injuries were so slight
that they were able to go home unassist-
ed
Car 7s had had less serious accident a
little before the collision with car 60. The
heavy fog and the endeavor of the men to
steal switches were responsible for this
too. The mishap occurred in Bergen coun-
ty between two switches and near what is
known as the Hermitage. The cars were
going at good speed when they collided.
Car rs had some glass broken and the
fender bent The other car lost several
windows. Mrs Rosa Amshoff, who was
in the second accident, was also in this.
She yyantpd IN laava tho car at the fip,a
but the conductor persuaded her to re-
main in it.
Soon after Murray's death his little
brother met car rs with pail containing
tho motormans dinner The conductor
on the car was about to burt out the sto-
,, ry of Murray's death, but the new motor
man stepped forward and took the pail
and sent the little fellow off to join his
comrades