Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-05-06
NENT THROUGH A bridge
Terrible Fight for Life in a
Submerged Car.
4sAuSED BY A BROKEN AXLE

INJURED, Some SeriousIy-Firem
Help in the Work of Rescuing.
Portland, Or. April ga frightful
street-car accident occurred at 6:45 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 a score of people.
Car 81, of the City 81 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 a bridge at high speed, and
dashing over the roadway through the
frail wooden guards, built for the pro-
,oe.ion Of pedestrians, and plunged into
a slough of water twenty feet below.
Conductor Guthrie left Mount Tabor
station with his car at 6:35. 1t 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 q minute before the terrible catas-
trophe. There is an easy grade for sew
eral blocks until East Ninth street is
reached, and it has been the custom to
speed the cars -along at more than
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 off the track, and it's
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
tion, 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 off 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
Ike rats in a cage, and the marvel is
tnat any were able to escape horrible
Death. The Car with its human freight
lay on its side, but did not at once 90
to the bottom. There was breathing
space for the frantic humanity within,
and a terrible struggle at once began to
reach the windows. There was grab
oing for 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
mad jumped while the car was flying in
The air were slowly and painfully SWIM
ming to the shore; and hats, canes, din
re nV,I Ath 1 l..
articles began to appear on the surface
oil the water.
"a The car remained in its half-sub-
merged condition, very close to the
steep bank for few seconds-long
enough to prevent the certain death of
many of the crazed prisoners-and then
y gave sudden lurch, and the water
pushed in through the windows and
other orifices. 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.
lhe passengers who had been able to
rextrlcate themselves from their,impris-
onment began to help others out
through the shattered windows. These
we're able to make their way to the bank
cver planks run out by rescuers who
PAD already began to assemble.
Passengers who had fortunately es-
caped from the car aided in giving the
alarm, and, within few minutes time,
many persons were rushing to the res
que Some thoughtful person turned
Pm the fire alarm, and the warning bell
Started the East Side battalion to the
scene.
Firemen and others performed gallant
Service in the efforts to save life. New
'on Hanson, lad of 16, was taken out
.Rllve, but died in q short tiua