The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-05-06
MET DEATH IN A CAR
Plunged From a Bridge Into
the Water.

the Water.
THREE KILLED, MANY INJURED
twenty Persons Carried Down, and
All but Few Mir.culously
Escape Drowning.
Portland, Or, April ga frightful
ltreet-car accident occurred at 6:46 yes
terday morning, in this city, on East
Morrison street, between Eighth and
Ninth, involving the death of three
persons and the injury, more or less
severely, Of nearly q score of people.
Car So, Of the City & Suburban line,
running between Mount Tabor and the
West Side, in charge of Conductor
Stephen Guthrie, with John g. Kieffer
as motorman, jumped the track while
crossing q bridge at high speed, and
dashing over the roadway through the
frail wooden guards, built for the pro-
lection Of pedestrians, and plunged into
a slough Of water twenty feet below.
Conductor Guthrie left Mount Tabor
station with his Car at 6:35. It was
the hour when many living on that side
of the river and employed on the West
Side, leave their homes for the days
work, and the Car was we'll filled after
leaving Sunnyside. The usual early
morning trip was without incident un-
til minute before the terrible catas-
trophe. There is an easy grade for sew
eral blocks until East Ninth street ID
reached, and it has been the custom to
speed the cars along at more than q
moderate rate. Suddenly, just as the
car reached where there is slight jog
in the track, the ominous humping of
the wheels on the plank roadbed told
that the car was of the track, and ito
speed through some means appeared to
have accelerated. The drive axle of the
front truck had broken. Before the
passengers could realize the danger that
confronted them. the car had swerved
sharply to the left, and, with start
ling crash, the forward trucks struck
the wooden curb, and the car plunged
through the frail sidewalk and guard
rails. into the waters of the slough be-
low, turning half over in the descent
and landing on its side. Motorman
Kieffer, who had remained at his sta
ton, vainly endeavoring to control the
car by the brake, jumped from the front
platform as the Car struck the sidewalk
and man who stood beside escaped the
same way. Some Of the passengers on
the rear platform were thrown of by
the shock, and one or two succeeded in
saving their lives or escaping serious
injury by jumping. There were thirty
one passengers on the car, and as near
as could be ascertained, twenty-one
persons, including Conductor Guthrie,
were aboard when the headlong plunge
was made.
A scene of indescribable confusion
followed. The crash Of the breaking
timbers was mingled with agonizing
shrieks and pitiful cries of the wounded
and struggling passengers in the half
submerged car. They were shut up
like rats in cage, and the marvel 10
that any were able to escape horrible
death. The car with its human freight
lay on it's side, but did not at once go
to the bottom. There was breathing
space for the frantic humanity within,
and terrible struggle at once began to
reach the windows. There was a grab
bling for q hold of some kind, and
rapid and instantaneous smashing of
windows. Heads and arms at once be-
gan to emerge from the wreck, and the
able-bodied climbed to comparative
safety on the outside. One or two who
had jumped while the car was flying in
the air were slowly and painfully SWIM
ming to the shore; and hats, canes, din.
ner baskets, and other small movable
articles began to appear on the surface
Of the water.
The car remained in its half-sub-
merged condition, very close to the
steep bank for few seconds-lOns
enough to prevent the certain death Of
many Of the crazed prisoners-andt then
it gave q sudden lurch, and the water
rushed in through the windows and
other orifces. The upper side sank to
the level of the water and the under
side rested on the uneven bottom. The
water was from six to ten feet deep.
The passengers who had been able to
extricate themselves from their impris-
onment began to help others out
through the shattered windows These
were able to make their way to the bank
over planks run out by rescuers who
had already began to assemble.
Passengers who had fortunately es-
capped from the car aided in giving the
alarm, and, within few minutes time,
many persons were rushing to the res
cue. Some thoughtful person turned
in the fire alarm, and the warning bell
started the HAST Side battalion to the
scene.
Firemen and others performed gallant
service in the efforts to save life. New
ton Hanson, lad Of Is, was taken ont
alive, but died in short time.
Frantic efforts were made by the
flremen to extricate Miss Katherine
Baillie, who could be seen in the
wrecked car with heavy timber across
her body. She was still alive, but was
strangled before the fremen could get
her out.
Tho lifeless body Of Blanchard was
next taken out. He had been drowned.
The dead are:
William W. Blanchard, Of Sunny
side, IS years Of age; assistant miller
ct Acme mills
Katherine Baillie, IS years Of age;