The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-17
Crashed Into a Loaded
Furniture Wagon
ON CONSTITUTION HILL.
Several Persons Injured but Neither
of Them Seriously.
MOToRMAN HAD NARROW ESCAPE

A bad accident was narrowly averted
on Constitution hill at 8 40 o. clock this
morning. and as result of what did
happen several persons wsre more or less
injured. 1t Is not known as vet whether
anv of the injuries are serious or not.
Probably not, II the reports from those
hurt are TO be relied upon.
At the hour mentioned Patrick Brady's
moving wagon. attached to four horses
in charge of driver Jeremiah McGratb,
was mounting tho hill, and electric car
No. 402 on the Prairie avenue and Camp
street route. In charge Of Edmund Lewis,
CONDUCTOR and William Leonard motor
man. was descending the hill. After the
car began 10 gain momentum the motor
man applied the brakes, nut the wheels
slipped on the rails and the car kept il
creasins its speed until, it was bowling
down the hill at the rate Of about twelve
miles an hour. The motorman threw
sand on the tracks, but it had little
effect. The driver of the moving van saw
that the car Was beyond control and he
turned his horses aside In the hope Of
evading collision.
There was not time enough, however.
and the car struck the moving wagon
on the forward wheel The shock was
terrific and for few moments it looked
ms III death would result from the smash
ing blow. The car and the wagon came
together just below the entrance to the
ward room and they slid along tho hill for
few moments ana then came to stand
still.
There was fierce sound Of tearing tim
bers and boards and breaking glass. Pas
sengers in the car scream ed and there Was
time Of terror. The, front platform Of
the car was smashed and the glass on tho
right SIDE was shattered.
The whole top of the moving van wns
overturned and il fell with crash into
the street where it made a pile of debris
IL irst struck the top of the car and
smashed it in and then bounded into The
street.
One man and a woman in the car were
slightly injured. The man had a cut hand
from tie flying glsss and blood triokled
from between his fingers He said that
the injury was inconsequential and did
not seem to mind his share Of the acci-
dent. The woman appeared tn DO suffer
ing somewhat from the shock.
The driver of the van, which was
named "SLore Line, was thrown from
his seat, but fortunately was not injured
Angus h. Snow Of East Providence, a
helper on the moving van. VINO was
seated at the rear end, was thrown head
long over the van ana he fell into the
street. He was Injured on the back, but
wagon, where be sat apparently suffer-
ing some pain after the tronble was all
over. William Gary, who lives on North
Main street. was tossed into ths street
and his tack was injured, but it could
not be determined whether his hurt was
| serious or not.
sarah Barovich was making purchase
| in front Of "a grocery store and part Of
| the living furniture wagon struck her
In the back. She appeared TO be the
| worst sufferer from the accident Her
| husband, who was near Dy. with the
assistance OF friends, took ner into her
home, 362 North Main street, where she
was put to bva. She seemed TO bs
unable 10 help herself and q physician
was sent for. subsequently it was
learned that the injury was not serious.
The motorman had narrow escape. as
| he was right I'm the thick of the trouble.
| Altogether il was almost miraculous that
| no one was killed or manned for life. It
| all happened quickly and the excitement
| occasiuned by the accident was intense.
| The debris was removed from the centre
| of the street and in few moments North
| Main street had resumed its customary
tranQuility.