New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-15
HAVING IT'S OWN WAY.
THE NASSAU TROLLEY COMPANY
RECKLESS RUNNING OF CARS.
A PROMINENT FACTOR IN THE DEATH AND ACCi-
DENT 1Lsrs-EvIls OF THE PRESENT sYs-
TEN OF HANDLING AN ENORMOUS

TEN OF HANDLING AN ENORMOUS
NUMBER or PEOPLE.
The people Of Brooklyn are not little surprised
at the wholly reckless manner in which the Mas
sau Electric Railroad Company is killing and
manning human beings.
When that aggregation OF WillOughby-st inan-
cjers. which was known as the Flynn Syndicate
had entire control OF this trolley system, nothing
particular in the way Of good behavior was ex-
pected Of IT, But when the Johnson brothers
stepped in and took charge OF affairs the nope
was expressed that at last Brooklyn was to have
model railroad one that should serve the peo-
pie The result has not been only disappoint-
n.nt. but such as TO make Brooklyn stand aghast
and excaim. Where wnl it end?'
Five-cent fares for long rides undoubtedly
blessing They should be unmixed blessing
but under the rule of the Johnsons they threaten
10 become a nuisance. The rush Of the populace
20 take advantage OF this cheap method OF get
ting 10 the Atlantics edge has been terrific dur
ing the hot weather and instead of properly pro-
viding for the great crowds seeking transporta-
ton and instead of controlling the conduct Of
the rufflan element that has taken advantage
likewise of the cheap fares, and Of limiting the
number Of passengers car to the requirements
of comfort and decency. these railroad managers
nckels as possible.
II President johnson were to offer a prize to
the rnotorman who could run into or over the
most animate and inanimate objects during the
year II is doubtful whether he could largely in
crease the number OF accidents on his line. The
police are kept constantly busy recording the
various STYLES Of collisions that his motormen
produce Now 1t is an ice wagon, from which the
precious contents are scattered. to be melted by
the SUM- then it is a load of watermelons; then a
truck is smashed. and a horse or two killed. y
recent object run down by one of President john
sons merry motormen a huge furniture van.
which was crawling. sna-like. along Ocean-ave.
IT would seem that the motormen on this line
prefer large objects TO small ones, II one may
judge by an incident in Ffth-ave the other day
in which boy was leading horse across the
track The motorman permitted the boy to pass.
and then struck the horse with such violence that
The animal killed instantly.
Brooklyn Aldermen have shown remarkable
consideration for trolley companies since the
trolley was first introduced. The Democratic
cold thirteen Board passed no trolley legsla-
ton of any sort. except 10 give away fran
chises with lavish hand. The Republican
boards have done a little and would have done
more except for the combination that has been
formed between the Democratic members ana
the more practical" of the Republican mem
bers. Corporation Counsel Burr can complain
Justly Of the ridiculous inadequacy Of the troll
ley ordinances now in existence Yet there is
feeling among the people that he ought to use
these ordinances. inadequate as they are, more
persistently and freely in effort to curb the
rio,ous course of the trolley companies, and
especially Of the Nassau company
STARTLING RECORD.
The record # the Nassau company's accidents
for 1896 promises to be startling one. AT the
head Of the list in importance stands the
tragedy on the Thirt y-ninth-st. decline. in which
two were killed and a score manned for life or
injured 10 less degree Since that accident,
for which the company has paid many dollars
rather than to go into court. because there was
absolutely no excuse on the part of the rail-
road company. it may be of interest TO note
that a small switch has been constructed about
One-third of the way down the declivity. This
switch is always open. except when specially
closed for a car to pass, so thai the cars
descending the hill are required stop at that
point and fix the switch for passage. If a car
should get away from the motorman before
this switch reached. it would be turned
sharply To the right and come to a stop at the
curbstone. There is another safety switch
about two-thirds Of the way down the Hill.
Without enumerating the many victims that
have been added to the death list on this sys-
tenn and the thousands Of minor accidents.
collision of two weeks ago, in which eight peo-
pie were injured in Bath Beach. near Avenue
p. may be mentioned. In this case a truck
loaded with beer was struck. and one of the
horses attached to the truck was killed IN
stantly. and the other had to he shot Mrs
Nellie Yale Nelson. the actress. was one or
those who suffered from the accident William
Picker lost his life on the night of August I,
being run down in Fifth-ave. between Fifty
third and Fifty-fourth SITS This was said by
witnesses TO he Il wholly ineXcusable taking OF
life. and the result of a speed so great 'hat
the motorman had no proper control OF the car
Not day goes by that long story could not
be written giving merely the details OF the
petty crimes of this corporation.
ONE DAYS SCORE.
Here for instance. is part of the record for
recent day
William II. Bacharach, fortythree years old,
Of No. 179 Smith-st., while attempting to board
car No. 442 of the Seventh-ave line Of the Mas
sau Company. at Flatbush-ave and Bergen-st'
was hurled 10 the pavement and had leg
broken.
George Dumpror. twenty-four years old or NO
1.704 St. Marks-ave. while on car No l.l3O or
the Nassau Company's Canarse line, put MS
head out Of car window and IT was struck ny
a truck near Rockaway-ave. and Belmont-st. He
attended by ambulance surgeon. ~
John Henck and John Bergles. OF NO 20
Humboldt ave- while riding the front plat
form of No % Of the Nassau line, were
thrown TO the ground while the car vas round
ing the curve at Thirty seventh-st. and Thir-
teenth-ave. They were attended by ambu-
lance surgeon.
Daniel McCarty, fifteen years old of Douglass
st., near Classon-ave.. while on the front plat
form of car No. 20 Of the Nassau line, was
thrown to the ground while the car was round
ing the curve at Marcy ave. and South Ninth-st.
and received scalp and face wounds.
David Goldstein. a sailor. thirty years old, Of
No. 100 Columbus-st, was thrown off car No
102 of the Nassau line JohnsOn-st.. and re
ceived confusion of the thigh.
James jenkins twenty-s years old Of Rock
VILE Centre, Long Island, driving wagon
in Broadway toward the ferry. when the front
wheel was struck by car No. IA Of the Nassau
line. jenkins thrown off under the horses
feet and was bruised about the head and neck.
AS The Tribune has had occasion to point out
arnA tnr