The times., 1899-08-21
TROLLEY CARS COLLIDE
Many Persons Injured Near Norris
tewn, Pa.
One Hundred and Fifty Passengers
Seriously Shaken Up by the Acci-
dent-Notormen Lose Their Heads
and Wave Their Hands at Each
Other Instead of Setting Brakes.

Norristown, Pa, Aug 20.-Two crowded
open trolley cars of the Roxboro,
Chestnut Hill. and Norristown Traction
Company cellided head-on, near Norris
town, about 1890 O'Clock this morning.
Fifteen injured passengers were reported
to the traction officials by the conductors
of the two wrecked cars. The names Of
number of severely injured were not Sc
cured. No one in either car escaped with
out slight bruises Thirteen injured Ias-
sengers were taken to the Charity Hospi-
tai at Norristown, and their injuries at
tended to. A score more had their wounds
dressed at the hospital dispensary, but no
record OF these patients was kept. Dozens
Of others. some seriously and some slightly
injured, were taken TO their homes
Only one OF the 15o passengers who were
mixed up in the collision received injuries
which are particularly alarming. William
Hartsnstein, farmer near West Point, re-
ceived numerous body bruises, but his in
ternal injuries are said by the hospital
surgeons to be alarming. His spine is in
jured and his body seems almost para
lyzed
The question of responsibility is the prob
lem which the traction company officials
held a special session at hoxbero this
evening to determine. What decision, If
any was arrived at by them is not known.
The list of injured brought in by the con-
ductors was also kept secret.
The scene of the accident was about
mile ard a quarter north OF Norrstown,
near kern's siding, on what is known as
Knox's curve. The traffic on Sunday is
unusually heavy, large crowds being car
ried both to and from Philadelphia The
trolley is a ene-track system, but there
are frequent turnouts, and, when twelve
minute schedule is in effect, cars pass
at almost every switch. This morning car
90, in charge of Conductor Hiram Van
Hester and Motorman Frank Mower, left
Norristown few minutes after 10 o'clock
At Kern's siding No. 92 passed car from
Chestnut Hill. Both cars, according TO
system. were then supposed to have an
open block to the next switch For No. g
the next switch was a mile and half to-
ward Philadelphia, at Plymouth, .@...
About 300 yards beyond Kern's switch is
Knox's curve. The read at the curve is
concealed by line of large trees. Just rs
No. 30 was rounding the curve at full
speed the passengers saw coming down the
opposite grade another car at speed even
faster. 1t was car No. 81, in charge Of
Conductor Hitner Heilings and Motorman
John Shields. The two cars were not more
than $50 yards apart when they came into
sight of each other. II was several seconds
before the motorman of either car realized
the situation. Brakes were applied, but
on No. 81, it is said. they refused to work
properly. Both cars were crowded to the
steps, II is also said that before the cars
crashed together the motormen seemed to
lose their nerve and each was wildly mo-
tioning the other back instead of putting
on the brakes.
Just before the collision some one
shouted Jump and everybody made a
scramble to get or In the rush sone fell
others were pushed off. and still others
jumped to the hard roadbed. Some or the
severest bruises were received by. those
who jumped, but those who remained in
the cars Jared little better. Conductor Van
Hoster was thrown from his car by the
force of the collision. and both his legs
were broken. Motorman Shields was
hurled over the platform of his car, re-
ceiying severe bruises, The fender of
each car was crushed and the end of each
car considerably damaged. The front
trucks of both cars were pushed off the
rails and much of the woodwork OF the
steps shattered.
DR.. J. X. Weaver of the Charity Hos
pital, at Norristown, happened to be driv-
ing along the road at the time OF the acci-
dent and he rendered valuable assistance.
1t was found that most of the injured
could be easily cared for but several were
unconscious and others so much hurt that
they had to be handled very tenderly.
Some one hurried to a farm house nearby
and secured a wagon and an ambulance
was quickely ifnprovised. In the mean
time the car which was following No 80
had arrived at Kern's switch, and il was
run down to the wreck and the injured
taken aboard