The herald., 1896-11-22
Serious Accident While Rum
ming to a Fire
OLD MAN FATALLY CRUSHED
The Hook and Ladder Truck Passes
Over His Body
Stepped From the Curb In Front OF the
Horses-Died Two Hours Later In
the Receiving Hospital.

-
ly man and veteran of the civil war, was
crushed at 6:45 last evening. at the cor
ner of First and Main streets. being run
over by the apparatus as 1t was respond
ing to an alarm of fire from Fifth and
Main streets. Unheeding, the victim
stepped out from the curb as the huge
truck whirled by, was struck. dashed 20
the pavement, and in an instant had
been mutilated in such terrible man
ner that death ensued two hours later.
The streets were crowded with We
hicles and pedestrians at the hour, but
all made way as the changing OF the hre
bells was heard and the engine came
rushing down the street. Glover was
walking south on Main street, a few feet
north of the northwest corner of First
He had just passed tamale cart drawn
up alongside the curb, and stepped oil
into the street, as though to cross. Sud-
denly mis- attention was attracted Dy the
jangling bells, and he stopped as though
DeWidered.
Down the street came the hook and
ladder truck on the right-hand side,
While almost abreast on the opposite
side Of the street raced engine, No. 1.
Back of the truck came the hose cart
George O'Donnell was driver of the hook
and ladder and saw Glover as he stepped
ly in the path of his team. He shouted
warning and pulled his horses to the left,
while simultaneously several bystanders
saw Glover's danger and yelled for him
to look out.
All the noise seemed to confuse the old
man, and he stopped, looked up and at
tempted to turn, but was too late. The
forward part of the truck hit him on the
left shoulder, whirling him half around
and throwing him to the ground just
back of the front wheels, while mo-
ment later the rear wheels passed di-
rectly over his hips. The apparatus
dashed on, leaving the victim bleeding
and unconscious on the granite pave
ment.
Witnesses of the occurrence immedi-
ately picked up the sufferer and carried
the mangled body into a drug store IN
front of which the accident occurred,
while telephone message was sent for
the patrol wagon. In 1t he was carried
to the receiving hospital and laid on the
operating table, where Dr. Bryant at
tended him.
BY this time Glover had recovered con.
sciousness, but was groaning In the
agony of mortal pain. The clothing was
cut from the mangled limbs and an in
stants examination showed that the
man was fatally hurt. Both limbs had
been splintered and fractured at the
thigh, the pelvis had been crushed like
an eggshell, the lower end of the spine
fractured, and the whole internal organ
ism of the abdomen lacerated and torn
in fearful manner. Besides this, the
right hand was badly cut the head ana
face were bruised and torn, the nose
broken, and altogether the sufferer pre-
sented a most pitiful sight.
Despite the serious nature Of his
wounds Glover was able to talk and
give his name and history He had, he
said. but lately left his home at Gordon.
Neb., to come to this coast intending
to enter the Soldiers Home at Santa
Monica. During the civil war he was
u member of McLain's Colorado battery
and served to the close Back in Ne
braska he left his wife and four chill
dren, two boys and two girls and came
here for his health to enter the home
Since his arrival in the city he has been
stopping at the Good Samaritan lodg-
ing house. His age was given as 81
years.
Pale and with great drops of sweat
standing on his forehead the gray
haired man gasped out this information,
but when told by the doctor to prepare
himself for death pluckily replied that
he was not going to die. His grit served
no purpose. however. as he gradually
sank. Just before he died he was asked
whether he had message to send to his
wife and children and in husky voice
whispered, "Tell them that I am going
to a better place" Then he YEARLY
closed his eyes, a gasp and all was over
The body was removed to the morgue,
and the first death had occurred within
the walls of the new receiving hospi-
tai
Fire Commissioner Joseph Kuhrts
saw the tragedy from the window of
his rooms at First and Main streets,
having looked out to see the apparatus
go by. He said that Driver ODonnell
was in no mannerto blame for the acci-
dent, as Glover stepped out suddenly in
front Of the horses while the warning
shouts and changing bells were sound
ing. John Nefroney, a tailor, was an
other eyewitness and stood directly
back of Glover when he was run over
He saw the old mans danger and tried
to pull him back but was unsuccessful
NJ George O'Donnell, the driver, said that
he did noe see Glover until he stepped
from behind the tamale cart, when he
shouted for him to look out At the
same time he pulled his team as far to
the left as he dared while going at the
speed he was, otherwise the horses
would have trampled the victim under
their feet. He did not consider that he
should be held blamable for the occur
renee. The coroner's inquest will be
held this morning at the rooms of Orr
& Hines and the blame, if any fixed.
THE FIRE THEY RAN TO.
The apparatus at the time of the ac-
cident was responding to an alarm
for blaze in the Walter lodging house,
situated In the Kalisher block at 515h
South Main street Mrs Phelps, occu-
pying rooms and S, had gone out to do
some shopping and on her return found
her room full Of smoke. Looking for the
cause she opened a closet door to find
the interior in flames. She ran to the
corner and an alarm was given by tele-
phone.
When the appara tus arrived there was
no one at the corner to direcet the fire
men where to go and Assistant Chief
Smith was told by bystander it was
at the corner of Fourth and Main. Find
ing no blaze there he was 60 the point
of ordering the apparatus home when
the occupants of the lodging house
came to life and told where the fire was.
stream soon quenched the flames, but
not before one room had been Quilted
and the other badly damaged. Mrs.
Phelps loses all her personal effects and
the damage will be not less than $500