The San Francisco call., 1896-04-25
The Victim Wedged to the
Ground by the Board
Protector.
SHE Is PERMANENTLY INJURED
DIR. Ragen, the Attending Physician,
Declares She Will Be Lame
Through Life.

Mrs. V. N. Johnson, wife of Special Pen
sion Examiner V. N. johnson. was run
down by Turk-street electrician of the
Market-street Railway System yesterday
afternoon, and as result the physician in
attendance, DR.. D. F. Ragen, says she
must inevitably be a cripple for life. The
circumstances are particularly significant
as proving the utter inefficiency of the
so-called straight board ''fender," which
Mr.. Vining declares to be the most practi-
tical he has yet tried.
1t was about 4 80 yesterday afternoon
when the accident occurred. Mrs. John.
son. who lives at 612 Van Ness avenue,
had been making purchase at the meat
market on Turk street, Just west of Van
Vess avenue. 1t is not ordinarily danger
Gus to cross the thoroughfare at that point
and Mrs. johnson, without looking about
particularly for any approaching vehicles,
started for the fruit-stall opposite.
She had made number of purchases
from the stores in the vicinity, and as a
result her arms were full of bundles,
which, with the umbrella she was carry
ing, required all her attention. As result
she did not notice the eastbound car until
Just as she reached the far side of the
track. Then the startling alarm of the
jingling bell filled her with CONSERVATION.
Looking up she saw the green monster
bearing down on her at a frightful
speed. For moment she was paralyzed
with fear. The horror of her situation
caused her to lose all presence of mind,
and in her confusion she turned and
started again across the track. BY this
me- ha HI haS tC
stop the car, but the momentum with
which the electric-cars rush along between
crossings is not to be checked il a mo-
ment, and the unfortunate lady was
hurled to the ground.
The grating which is supposed to pro-
tect the front part of the car passed over
her body and the straight board fender
dragged cruelty along under its crushing
weight until the car was finally stopped.
Even then the poor woman's agony was
not at an end. The board had caught
her right leg and pinned her to the
ground. Efforts to extricate her caused
excruciating pain, and at the suggestion
of the employees the motor was reversed
and the car was set in motion backward.
The agoniZing shrieks of the victim in
stantly showed the futifity OF this scheme.
The cries of the lady and the efforts of
the car employees and the passengers to
relieve her had by this time attracted
quite crowd. A pile of lum Der fortu-
nately was near and suggestion to pry
up the car was put into immediate effect
and the sufferer was thus released. Word
was sent to the Receiving Hospital and an
ambulance was sent to convey the in niured
lady to her home. which was only about q
block distant. When the matter was re-
ported to the railway company's head
quarters they sent DIR. G. w. Card, one OF
the company's staff, to ascertain the
extent of Mrs. Johnson's injury. A cur
sorry examination convinced the doctor
that the injuries were very serious.
Colonel Johnson was then notified and DIR.
Ragen was summoned. Mrs. Johnson's
injuries were found to consist of an OBJ
lique fracture of the right fermur, injury
to the right knee and contusions of the
face and right hand.
MRS. Johnson's injuries are very SER
ious," said DR.. Ragen last evening, after
dressing the broken limb. Though we
have just set her leg she will undoubtedly
be cripple for lie. The fracture is OF
such a nature that the muscles will con-
tract, and the Leg will necessarily shorten
Mrs. johnson was in great agony last
evening, and it will be several weeks be-
fore she will be able to leave her bed.