New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-20

poles set along the sidewalks. These poles are
twenty-five feet high and eight inches square al
the base. leaving about three feet on each side
between the base Of the pole and the tracks.
Near the top OF each pole ia cross arm. secured
with braces underneath. These poles are about
119 feet apart and come within II or IA inches
Of the side OF passing car
After luncheon on Saturday, Mr.. Schmidt, &C
companied by his wife and little girl. went 10
Coney Island. On their return in car No. lSS ne
sat on the front seat with MS back TO the motor
man and facing his wife and child The inner side
OF the car Is protected by sliding rail- that runs
the entire length OF the car. When nearing
Kings Highway a sudden gust OF wind blew his
hat OFF and he leaned out. either TO catch It or
see where It went While doing the car.
bounding along. carried him with stunning force
against trolley pole. The injury not be-
lieved TO be very serious at first. although 1t was
at the base OF the skull At the seney Hospital,
10 which he was removed, 1t was thought that he
stood fair chance Of recovery. although the
skull was fractured and he suffering from
conclusion Of the brain.
When Denis w Sullivan was told OF Mr..
Schmidts death yesterday. he expressed much
regret: he had been told that Mr. Schmidt would
probably recover. When asked II he did not con
slider the central trolley-pole dangerous. he
said:
Not more so than the Bridge cars are. II
you put your head too far out OF the Bridge
cars the same thing Is liable to occur. Every
one knows those poles arr there, and there Is a
rail to protect passengers
The road was the fret one equipped with
electricity. but IT not n matter % choice
with us to put up the central poles. We would
have much preferred the other system. which
we have used everywhere we could ON Coney
Island-ave 1t was different. The road. in the
first instance was built the west side Of the
avenue. and the property owners objected TO It's
going anywhere else. | put down one mile OF
track upon the centre OF the avenue below
Rader's and was forced to move It over where
1, IS now The property-owners would not al
low us TO go beyoLd our own territory 70 erect
our poles. so Il was case or putuhs tne ,o
ley-poles In the centre OF the tracks. or not AZ
Ali IL we had any choice. the poles would De
on the sides OF the avenue. COMMITTEES OF
three property owners came to this Once IN
her 1850 John l.. voorhees,. then lowh
clerk Of Gravesend. was spokesman. ana they
made strong protest against interfering WIN
the rights Of the property-owners az '"'y
wanted the east side Of the road for driving 30
we put our tracks and poles where they are
now" ,,o,
~, bis acnuaintanccs His father. Louis Schmidt.
was a musician OF note In the "os' "h'n no r..
organist in one Of the Heights chur'H'H. -,
rivalled those Of the beet makers. In lN"i oiII
ford was born, and soon afte: the faihly r.
moved to San Frtncsco There are wv" -
brothers living, both well-known musiClahS
Louis Schmidt jr, violinist. ana Ernst
a 'cellist In 1869 the family went 10 l'eips w.
Young clifford and his brothers were placed u.
the Conservatory Soon after he and ErEst went
10 pa ris and studied under Maseart the direc'"
~ the Conservatory. who was pupl 90 %,
Xreutzer They returned TO Lepslc ana IN 1871
clifford went TO Berlin. where he studied TWO
vears under Joachim; then returned to lIipslc;
In 1885 he came back to this country ona JDnra
hds brothers who were then playing In Thomas
nrcbestra The same wear he joined the orches-
fra OF Seidl and Damrosch. and atter"afd went
u,itb Se,dI where he remained until he apah-
Tannd the orchestral stage little over one year
ago, He filled the place OF concert-maste win
SoidI and held the same place In the Metro-
poIitan Opera House orchestra.
He then turned his entire attention to teachlns
ond had a large number Of pupils he was
aiso head of the violin department In the Metro
potan college of Music He was most he nn maE
rIed Miss Henley. Of No. LOGS Dean-st. where
| he has since lived.