The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-03-26

Grade This Side of BraddOck
Heights, Despite the Warm
ing of the COmpany-At the
Curve just Beyond Fulmer's
Crossing the Car Left the
Track, Dashed Into a Trolley
Pole and the Unfortunate
man was Hurled Into Eternity.
Mr.. Harvey Miller, the courteous
and efficient conductor on sthe Fred
erick and Middletown Electric Rail
road, was instantly killed Wednesday
afternoon last, by the wrecking of
heavily loaded freight car at the
curve short distance beyond Full
mer's Crossing, about two and half
: miles from this city.
The details of this unfortunate event
are most distressing to relate, and only
more strongly emphasizes the fact that
extreme caution is always, the safest
course to pursue, even when conditions
and the experience of Others seem to
warranta different conclusion. Only
day or two before Mr.. Miller had
done the rash act of coasting down the
mountain in the same manner and
that time brought the car as far as the
fatal spot where he met his untimely
end. Others before him had also
successfully accomplished the perious
ride, and probably without one thought
of danger and with full confidence
in his ability to manage the Car as
he had done before he made the at
tempt with the sad results stated
above.
The electric motor car left the Middle
town depot on schedule time, three
o'clock Wednesday afternoon. On the
way out from Frederick, Miller had re-
maiaed at the top of the mountain to
help load gondola car with 200 bushels
of wheat. When the motor car reached
the spot the conductor announced his
intention of coasting down the grade on
the gondola and asked one of the pas
sengers if he would accompany him.
The offer was declined and against the
advice of Motorman Mantz, he jumped
aboard and started. AT this point the
road makes a very steep descent and
| . hn cd a inl raf tn IF
speed and was soon lost to sight of
those aboard the passenger car which
followed soon after. 1t IS supposed
that Miller did not attempt to close the
brakes, and that in rushing around the
curve the wheels jumped the track,
the car struck pole alongside the
road and he was dashed against a
sharp pointed fence rail with such force
that death was the almost instant re-
suit. He fingered only few moments
after the shock.
Mr.. Fulmer who lives near, was the
only eye witness of the accident. He
was sitting on the roof of his house
watching the car come down. Miller
was sitting in front on a bag of wheat
with his legs astrlde the brake, appar-
emily unconcerned and seeming to en-
Joy the exciting situation. Then came
the crash.
By this time the motor car had
reached the scene and tender hands
rendered what comfort and aid was
possible under the circumstances. EX-
animation revealed a frightful wound
in the back, which of itself was
enough to produce death. Word was
sent to Frederick at once for a physician
and special car carried DIR. Franklin
B. Smith quickly to the spot When
he arrived the end had come. Mlller's
body was then taken to his late home
in this city, where loving wife was
wont to greet HIM after his work was
over and bid him Godspeed at day.
break with kiss and CHEEKY smile.
Her agony under the trying ordeal
which she has been called upon to bear
must he bitter In the extreme and in
her affiiction, she and the family of the
unfortunate man have the heartfelt
sympathy of the entire community.
The officials of the company express
regret that the affair should have hap
pened Miller had been hard-work-
ing, trusted employee and labored for
the success of the road in every way.
From the president of the road, Mr..
George William Smith, we learn that
no orders had ever been given, or per-
mission implied or expressed to bring
the freight cars down the mountain
uncoupled from the motor Car. Whilst
it was not considered especially dam
gerous and the thing had been done
several times, it was wholly without
the sanction of the officials. Mr.. Smith
said he had on several occasions no.
ticed this disposition on the part of the
employees and had personally given
orders for strict compliance with the
regulations of the company and speci-
ally cautioned Miller about his fearless
ness in coupling cars and placing him.
self in danger of other kinds. He said
that it was the evident intention of
Miller to run the car as far as he could
in the direction of Frederick that day,
and that when he examined the car
after the sad accident, the breaks were
unchanged, showing that he bad not
thought of danger. Mr.. Smith said
that every precaution had been taken
by the company to prevent mishaps
and to render travel on the electric
road safe and comfortable to the pub
lie. Experiments had been made in
handling freight cars both with and
without the direct aid of the motor car.
1t was proven that a loaded car attach
ed to the motor car and with brakes
clamped, could bring the entire COM
plement down the steepest grades III
perfect safety, and that the motor cal
alone was capable of handling heavy
freight Car by means of its brakes and
in extreme cases with the aid of the re
versed current. The speed of the cars
on the road is limited to about a mile
in five minntas or the eight miles {