The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-11
STREET CAR RUNS AWAY.
It Plunges Down Main Street
With Frightful Velocity.
MRS. GILSTON JUMPS OFF
b Strikes on Her Head and Il
Seriously Injured-No Other Passen-
gers Hurt-A Boy Turns the
Trolley and Makes Trouble.

Several hundred people at the corner
OF Main and Park streets and along
Lower Main were treated to the horrify-
ing spectacle OF seeing a street car with
several passengers run away last even
ing at Z o'clock. Mrs. J. S. Gilston Of
65s Colorado street, in jumping from
h car. was thrown violently TO the
pavement and badly injured. She sus-
tained a severe scalp wound at the back
Of the head and is suffering from con-
cussion of the brain, but how seriously
her injury will terminate, owing to the
nature. canno be told at this time. The
other six passengers. as well as those
on the street who witnessed the acct
dent, were given n terrible scare. but
no one else was hurt and Mrs. Gllston
would not nav had she remained or
the car.
The accident was due to the meddle-
someness of a boy. There is a gang of
boys who hang around the corner of
Main and Park streets where the South
Main street cars start from. and as a
car comes up the hill. make a rush to
turn the trolley. The practice has been
allowed to go on for the reason that
these tough boys are almost irrepressi-
BILE aud because of the dislike of the
street car people to have the boys ar
rested. The police pay no attention and
II a street car man touches a boy there
is always a howl from the parents. The
Z o'clock car came up the hill last even
ing with seven passengers. four ladies
and three men. AS IL was o 10 stop.
and before the brakes were fully set, n
boy grabbed the trolley rope and pulled
the trolley Off the wire. The track
was slippery. as n fine snow was fall
ing, and the m the trolley was
off the car commenced TO slide back.
Motorman Fred Wathey set his brake,
but 1t apparently had no effect, for In
an instant the car was shooting down
the hill will terrific velocity.
The boy when he saw the car
TO go down the hill. let go the rope and
ran, with the rope dangling in the air at
the side of the car, the trolley only hav-
ing been carried half way around when
the boy let go of IL. and the car going so
fast that neither of the carmen could get
of and get II and get back on again, there
was nothing 10 do but TO let the car go
and trust that II would stay on the track.
When Motorman Wathey saw there was
no stopping the car he ran from the rear
platform, where he had been standing
when IL started. through TO the front end
'fha '' ~ 'hAs hhAahA6 ~ ''fa' - AHAH
his bell violently to warn people and
leans.
Meantime there was an extraordinary
scene within and without the car. The
streets were thronged with people at that
hour. who could do nothing but stand and
watch the car go. as Il seemed. to destruc-
ton. for at the momentum II was going
II seemed "A certainty II would never stay
on the track Inside one or two of the
passengers displayed remarkable courage
and sat still. realizing the danger and
knowing there was only one thing to do
hope for good luck. The others lost their
heads and there was great confusion.
In the rush for the door which came as
soon as II was seen the car was running
away. Mrs. Gilston and her husband got
before Conductor Spafford could stop
them. The husband landed safely, but
when Mrs. Gilston jumped she was
thrown with great violence on the stone
pavement. She was picked up unconscious
and carried into "A drug store near by.
Restoratives were applied and she soon
revived and was taken home. Or. +. II.
Moore was called and found the scalp had
been laid open in an ugly wound and that
she was suffering greatly from concus-
sion. lie was unable to say last evening
how gravely she was hurt, as II was too
to determine.
The car men succeeded I'm keeping the
rest of the passengers I'm the car. which
they stopped just before Platinum street.
where the line turns west. was reached.
the fact that the car ran with all
the brakes slightly set. some idea may
be had OF the speed at which II ran. The
passengers being assured by the car men
that there was no danger as long as the
trolley was on. rode back up town.
thanking their lucky stars the runaway
lid not terminate any more seriously for
them.