Evening star., 1896-08-24
TROLLEYCAR'S FEARFUL RIDE
Brake Refused to Work While Going Down
Catoctin Mountain.
Jumped From the Rails at n Curve
Hundred Persons Narrowly
Escaped Death.

Oh car on the FREDERICK ana MlddletOWn
electric railway. as it ran away down Ca
toctin mountain. near Frederick Md.
The new electric railway was put in op-
eration last Monday. and has been operated
successfully since then until last evening
Open summer car No. 10. the first car that
had ever run over the road, left Frederick
shortly after O'Clock for Braddock
Heights. at the top Of Catoctin mountain,
five miles away. The car was on a regular
run on an hourly schedule, having carried
large crowds to and from the mountain.
At half-past o'clock the car started to
return, with Motorman VIM. f. Mantz of
frederick at the lever. The conductor was
D. c. kefauver. AS the car started the
crowd at the Heights made a rush to get
on, greatly overcrowGing it's capacity and
making the risk a dangerous one
The conductor said that it was impos-
sible 10 keep them Off. and with one hun
cred ard ten persons on board the car
started. Among the passengers were old
people and young, mothers and fathers
with happy little children on their laps.
and few parents held babies In their arms.
All had gone out to the mountain top to
experience their first ride on trolley car
and to enjoy the fresh breezes and beauti-
full scenery.
Brake Refused to Work.
Almost from the moment of the start,
however, after the car had rounded the
nrst sharp curve at the top of the noun
tain. 1t became evident to many that some
thing was wrong. After passing the curve
the car struck the summit of steep grade
that continues with slight variation all the
way to Frederick. The brakes were ap-
Piled with all the power possible Those
IN front of the wheels seemed to hold The
others did not. Moment after moment the
speed OF the car increased Down the in
cine and around the curve it sped with ter
track at every moment. Seats cracked and
broke down. The glass in the doors was
broken. and fell with a crash. Hats were
Wnirled M from the heads of the passengers,
ana every moment the danger increased
A mile from the summit a trestling 400
leet long and 40 feet high, spanning a ra-
vine. was to be crossed. Those on board
OF the car who knew Of it turned wnite
with 1ear and clinched their teeth with de-
termination. We will go over that for
sure they cried. I'VE will all be killed. ;,
Hut down and over the dangerous point
the flying car sped, crossing 1t ga felv Men
women and children, too frightened almost
10 scream. clung to the posts at the sides
or the car or to one another, and prayed
beneath their breath
A mile further on the motornan art.r
abandoning all hope of the brakes holding
the car, turned the lever back to reverse
the motor, but this effort was useless The
troiiey mad jumped the wire, and remained
Jumped the Track.
Thus. with nothing to prevent the calam
tty that all saw was inevitable the oar
gave sudden leap as 1t rounded Mercer,s
curve. two miles from the top of the noun
tain, and over on it's side, with a crash
and roar, 1t fell. with Its load of screaming
ana helpless passengers wedged In beneath
the broken tlmbers. torn, bruised and lust
by miracle saved from instant death
The car fell on the left side or to the
ha
is steep. but short. and strong wire fence.
with posts. at the bottom aided In pre-
venting the car from sliding farther or
rolling over. 1t is evident from the condi-
ton of the track that the wheels had left
the rails at least two hundred feet before
the car toppied over. and the diminution
OF the speed Of the car by the humping of
the wheels on the ties lessened the extent
of the accident.
The car had gained a speed OF at least
E1ty miles an hour on the grade. and If 1t
mad gone over while running at such speed
1t Is hard to see how a single life couId
Eave been saved. People on the road who
saw the car flying along before the ac-
cident declare that the sight was appalling.
as no one could do a thing to prevent the
calamity that appeared to be inevitable
The screams of the injured could be
heard for mile down the narrow valley,
and all who were anywhere in the vicinity
rushed to the point to render assistance
Many who were not hurt at all and those
who received only slight scratches and
bruises climbed out of the car without as
sistance and turned to the relief of the
others.
News Taken to Frederick.
Harvey r. Lease of Frederick, who was
driving in the direction of the road, had
his attention called to the screams Of the
women and children by a farmer along the
pike. He hurried at once to the spot, and
taking Hamilton B. Snowman, who was
In the wreck, and who had his face and
one hand cut, the two drove swiftly to
Frederick and gave the first news of the
accident The streets were soon crowded
with anxious men and women, alarmed for
the safety Of friends and relatives who
might possibly have been on board The
physicians of the city were hastily sum
moned, and hurried to the scene and every
liveryman in Frederick volunteered to send
his buses and teams to bring in the in
jured. Hundreds walked out from the city.
and on every face was written the mark
Of anxiety and dread lest some loved one
was beneath the timbers Of the car
The Injured.
The list OF those most severely Injured is
as follows:
Thomas T. Anderson, compound fracture
Of left hip and badly cut: is in a critical
condition and may not survive.
Miss Annie Buckles. about forty years
old, badly injured internally, cut and bruis-
ed and suffering from shock.
Menrle MOTIFS, leIt knee cut to the bone.
Frederick Heinlein, back injured
Charles Schroedel, left leg cut below the
knee.
Mrs. Frank Brookey. cut and bruised on
head and body.
William Filters baby. head cut.
Mrs. Lakfn, badly bruised.
William Hale, lineman, struck on head
by sand box, under which he was caught.
Rosa Eyler. ear cut, left limb hurt
George Morgan, finger cut.
Charles Morgan. cut on leg.
Emma Riddlemoser, elbow hurt.
DR.. U. A. Sharetts, one Of the directors
of the road, who attended most of the In
1ured. came back from the scene at 1O:45
last night and said: There is really only
ore man seriously hurt, Mr.. Anderson, and
he is doing pretty WELL Most Of the others
received only slight injuries, and can
not learn Of more than a dozen or more of
these"
Marriage Licenses.
Marriage licenses have been issued to the
following:
White-John W. Thompson and Flora b.
Markward; Jacob B. Bolinger and Katie A.