The evening times., 1898-09-19
FLAMES IN A TROLLEY CAR
Panic Among Passengers Cross
ing the Brooklyn Bridge.
THE R0ADBED IN DANGER
Flames Break Through the Floor of
ing-Futfle Efforts to Stop tEs
blaze with sand-Excitement ON
the Great Structure.

New York Sept. ia Brooklyn trolley
car took fire from a burned fuse on the
Brooklyn bridge at 1880 O'Clock last
night. There was panic among the
passengers, and some of them had mar
row escapes from burning. They rushed
pellmell into the street in time to save
themselves, but the car was almost
total wreck. The blazing car was showed
along over the wooden roadway to the
the water tank, the flames increasing
with amazing rapidity. The woodwork
on the bridge got a good scorching before
the fire was put out.
1t left the New York entrance to the
bridge at 10:45 o'clock. Every seat was
filled. and several women were among
the passengers. The car was one of the
double track kind. with a motor direct
ly under the rear seat. There the trouble
originated.
AS the car passed the ticket Office for
wagons, well out on the south railway
the agent there, David Penyse, discover
ed the smoke pouring up between the
passengers on the rear seat. They had
just discovered it, too-noticed it was
getting warm-but thought it was only
the ordinary fuse burning, which gener-
ally ends in smoke.
Penyse saw that the fire was something
out of the ordinary. The motorman
Robert Ward. is an old acquaintance of
his and he yelled:
Hold on, Bob; your car is on fire."
Ward stopped just where the stone ap-
proach leaves of and the wooden road
way begins. He jumped of and ran to
the rear of the car. Two men on the
rear seat got OFF to let him In He lifted
fhs fran in he nf -
the flames burst out instantly, as high
as the roof of the car
Ward was startled and fell off the car
in a hurry. Every woman passenger
screamed and scrambled TO the roadway.
and the men followed suit. In an instant
the car was vacant and the flames were
licking the varnish off the ceiling and
the paper advertising signs began to
blaze
A dozen trolley inspectors were on the
scene in short time and they ran round
looking for the sand box. They carried
sand in their hats, but it only seemed TO
intensity the blaze.
Policeman Murray came down the
span from the bridge tower on the double
quick.
Better have that rear car push her
out to the tower, where We can get soms
water" he said.
Sand will put it out said Ward
Man. there amt enough sand on this
bridge to put out that fire. You'll burn
up the whole bridge If you don't put out
the fire quick. You've got TO have water"
''That'N spoil the motor putting water
on when it's so hot" replied Ward, as he
ran for another hatful of sand.
Yes; you can't put water on hot
motor, no how" agreed a wise inspector
ITO h with your motor" shouted
Policeman Murray, what's a motor to
our bridge. You shove that car out TO
the tower or I'll make trouble for you
right here. Get aboard there, now" He
drew his club TO enforce his orders and
Ward jumped on his car and Coney
Island car was hooked on after all the
passengers had deserted
Now. move quick and look out for the
roadway" ordered Murray. He jumped
on the rear car and the blazing car shot
ahead. A crowd of pedestrians ran along
the promenade shouting excitedly at the
strange spectacle.
Meanwhile the floor and seats were
blazing fiercely, the rear end of the car
being one mass of flames
1t stopped at the tower and a hose was
run out from the tank and the buckets
which were never used before were
bI ought into play. Water was poured on
the motor and floor and the fire was soon
extinguished. Then the car was showed
over to Brooklyn and sidetracked- The
passengers climbed on the next cars and
the big blockade was soon at an end