New-York tribune., 1896-08-25
WILD FLIGHT DOWN A MOUNTAIN.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF OVER 100 PERSONS on
RUNAWAY TROILEY-CAR


RUNAWAY TROTLEY-CAR
Frederick Md. Aug 2-One hundred and TWEEN
ty persons had fearful ride down the Catoctin
Mountain grade in a trolley-car, which was beyond
the moorman's control. last night. At Mercer s
curve the car jumped the track and went down
an embankment. turning over on its side with a
crash. and finally coming TO stop against a
fence. The passengers had a marvellous escape;
no killed. and only three were seriously
injured Necessarily all the occupants of the car
more or less bruised and cut and thirty Of
them reported injury.
The new electric railway between Frederick and
Braddock Heights. at the top of the Catoctin
Mountain. opened for traffic last Monday.
Everything worked smoothly until last night. open
No. TO- with a seating capacity of forty-eight.
but with the aisles and platforms crowded until
10 passengers and few company employees were
crowded thereon. started from the top of the
mountain about $50 o'clock Few of those on
board had ever witnessed such a scene of nature
a the view OF the heights presented, with a set
ting radiant sun. Scarcely had the started
down the mountain with it's human freight when
the motorman lost control Of it. AS quickly as pos
sble four men manned and applied the brakes. but
the rear brakes failed to make connections and
onward sped the car. propelled by It's own mo-
mentum and increasing In speed every second AS
the flew onward it attained speed of at least
fifty miles an hour according to the statement Of
MotOrman Mantz. The shrieking Of the passengers
added to the horror of the situation Among the
passengers old people and young mothers
and fathers with happy little children on their
laps and few parents held babies In their arms.
Seats cracked and broke down. The glass in the
doors was broken and fell with crash. Hats
whrled from the heads of the passengers.
and every moment the danger increased.
mile from tie summit a trestle 400 feet long
and forty-fve feet high spanning ravine. was
to he crossed Those board Of the car who
knew of it turned white with fear and clinched
their teeth with determination. I'VE Will 90 over
that for sure they cried. I'VE will all be killed.
But down and over the dangerous point the flying
car sped crossing it safely. only to meet the ex-
pected disaster below The experience of those on
board during these moments of suspense and trep-
idation surpassed desc ription With death staring
them in the face they could do naught 10 save
themselves or others Men women anu m & t
nravnd q yt 6nncath their breath
The car went cr at fun speed until it struck
Mcrcer's curve which was too sharp Ior the ear
gong at such headway TO round safely As the
car Struck the curve it jumped the track and ran
about 100 yards the cross ties. This mpeded llS
through the ties and ground until the car tum6ed
down embankment about seven feet Gefp me J. ne
car went Oil its side with a crash ana a'tno. mo.
stood on its top. fence near by prevented II from
The rroans and screams Of the frightened and
jni,Scd men. women and children were feariuI Dut
running it is mracul9us that every l, l' 'on COM M
board not killed The car was IAN a,inGs' & nre
twisted the woodwork was smashed the rooi was
iammed in and the seats were broken INTO KIND
ing wood All those who were hurt TO any extent
are residents of Frederick. . J.. .A,.
The news Of the accident quickly sprean IN ,~ls ~
div and hundreds drove or walked out 10 lne lne
wreck and on every face was marx OF i anAieN ~
or dread lest some loved one was badly injured OF
dead Every farmer in the vicinity thrsw ms nous u.s.
omen for the use Of the injured. ana as NE I uh.
forturates were ca .red out they were HhdcIN
lion over 10 porches and into the cool behrooHS
Where the doctors who were early on the scene
corlG edee Anderson travelling salesman for
\ev1York firm had broken hip ana ~ pauI.
snraincd back. Charles Schroedcl Baktr ISr HIdrI
el. U,ore also badly injured. two of them hterhaHy'
thirty others were cut and trulsed