Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-08-12
WAGON STRUCK BY A CAR
A Serious Accident at Fourth and Tat
nall Streets at Noon.
MOTORMAN HAD A LEG BROKEN
The Passengers Shaken Up,
But Not Injured.
A GOLORED DRIVER SLIGHTLY HURT

A fow minutes before noon 'yeater-
day cur No. 15l of the Maryland avenue
line, which was east bound, crushed
into one of the Charles Warner Go. %
coal wagons at Fourth md Tatnall
streets. The motormar, George i. Price
of No. 90l Franklin street, had his loft
leg broken 10 two pluces and his left
thigh badly injured, and Jamos Scott.
the driver OF the coal wagon, was thrown
I'll and had his lett hand badly cut
There were about Is people in the car
and several were slightly injured, but
none seriously. One man complained OF
his leg. A woman tainted, hut was
restored to consciousness in short time.
William Davis and james Harris. both
colored, who were riding on the coal
wagon with Scott, escaped With Hhak'
ing up. Ono WIS thrown oil anu tho
Other jumped.
When the car etruck the wagon the
horses, which were attached to the lat
ter vehicle broke loose and ran at u
break neck speed up Tatnall street.
They we're caught at Seventh aud Tat.
nall and wero returned to the driver,
who remained with hrs wagon at Fourth
Htrert. They were not much hurt.
The car, which was running down
the hill, had attained considerable
headway when the motorman noticed
the coal wagon proceeding up Tatnall
street. lie rang his hell and nude an
effort to stop, but-waa unable to do more
than alacken his speed on account OF
the steep hill. The mniorman evidently
thought the driver OF the coal team
f,,, Il 10 M
Fourth street on the lover side of the
track, and was not expecting him to
cross the track in front of his car.
hut tho driver continued on across
the trauk. and tho crash came Just aa
the wagon was fairly on buth rails, and
tho tar struck Ii midway between the
wheuls. 1t was thrown to one side, the
only damage done 10 il Icing the break
ing Of the single trees The front end
of the cur was badly wreckeh. The iron
work WIS broken and twisted, while
tho glass was shattcrd and the wood
work badly damaged. The box contain
ing the feed wires and tho Levers were
knocked out OF position ard thrown
backward.
Tho motorman stood mRnfully TO his
post, and the car front and other ma
| terial In front of him were forced back
| on him, throwing him violently against
| the front seat. He remained In that
position only a short time. as help was
soon at hand and hs wac cared for. A
squad OF policemen soon arrived on the
scene, and they looked after the Injured
man until the patrol wagon could be
secured, and ne was taken In the wagon
| 20 the homeopathic Hospital.
Tho car WAS sorry sight, while tbore
were no outward evidences Of the ACCT
dent on tho wagon, with tho exception
OF fUw scratches None OF tho men
ON the wagon complained Of any injury
except Driver Scott, and his Injuries
were trifling.
When the car struck the wagon the
coal, which was IN bags. was hcuttored
in all directions. The front of the car
was literally coverod with II. while
there was large quantity In the street.
After the horses had been returned e
Driver Scott, they we're again attached
to the tongue OF thu wagon, and he re
manned there with them, deciding not Il
proceed, as tho wagon could not bt
drawn away On account OF the condition
OF the tongue
Police Captain Chambers was at the
scene of the accident short time aftel
il happened and assisted his men ma
terially in keeping the crowd hack ~
that the injured man could be giveI
proper attention.
After the patrol wagon had starteC
off to tho hospital with M0tormar
Price, the police commenced an investi
CATION into the cause al the accidant
and being informed that Drivsr Scot
of tho coal team had been warned o
the approach OF the car, Officers Taylo
anu Scott placed him under arrest ant
sent him TO the police station, WHERE
no was charged with negligence.
Driver Scott, in talking of tho affair
said that he thought the car woulC
stop. and therefore did not consider ht
was guilty of any negligence. lie sai(
no was not driving fast, and this state
ment was corrohorated by ono of tn,
mon who was with him. But som,
people who saw the accident told thI
police thut they thought the acGden
could have been avoided il Scott hal
eithor stopped ON tho south side Of thu
track or had turned east or west.
Assistant Manager Harvey d. Vande
grift and Edward T, Lea Of the Cit,
Railway Go. were notified aud reached
the place where the accident occurred
short time afterward, and they dii
what they could to ascertain who hat
been injured and what could be done
They sent for wreck cur No. ID, which
arrived about II. 10 o'clock and haule,
tho disabled chr to the company
shops at Delaware avenue and du Pom
etrest.
Until the damaged car mad been re
moved passengers on the Fourth stree
and Mar. land avenue cars were trans
ferred around the wreck. The tract
was cleared up in about an hour afte