Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-12-29
NEARLY FATAL ACCIDENT.
Mrs. s. L. Kline Narrowly Escapes Death
In Alameda.

Mrs. s. L. Kline Narrowly Escapes Death
In Alameda.
Mr.. S. L. Kline left for San Francisco
Christmas day in answer to telephone
message from his little son, Walter,
telling of an accident sustained by Mrs.
Kline at Alameda.
An associated press dispatch from
Alameda, dated December 10th, has the
following account of the accident:
Mrs. Simon Kline, who lives at 1880
Hayes street, San Francisco, had mar
row escape from being ground beneath
the wheels of broad gauge local train at
Park street last evening while she lay
bleeding and insensible ON the track.
Her accident, which but for lucky
chance would have caused her death in a
horrible manner, was due to the careless
ness of the railroad company in allo wing
a death trap to exist across the track
nexs to spring switch.
Mrs. Kline was returning to the city
from Mills College, where her daughter
is attending school, and got off the
electric car at Park street to walk over to
the depot. It was quite dark and the
AS O'Clock local from the mole was just
coming in when she attempted to cross
the track. She would have had plenty
of time to cross, but in the gloom she
stepped into a narrow trench which
crosses the track next to the spring coil
of the switch which is of the drop
variety and scarcely visible.
Sinking in tile mud at the bottom Of
the trap Mrs. Kline was thrown violent
ly across the opposite rail, where she lay
unconscious.
The switchman is stationed ON the
further side of Park street and did not
notice her perilous predicament. A
woman on the platform fortunately saw
Mrs. Kline fall, and when she made no
attempt to rise, ran with great presence
of mind to the rescue, dragging her from
the track just before the incoming train
crossed over the spot. The local was
almost to Park street, and with mo-
ment's delay the mangled body of Mrs.
Kline would have offered mute and
awful evidence of the effects of criminal
carelessness. Her rescuer refused to
divulge her identity.
The injured woman was carried into
neighboring drug store, when it was
found she was suffering from numerous
bruises and concessions on the back,
hip, thigh and forearm, while one wrist
was severely spained. After nearly two
hours she was still unable to move and
was carried on baggage truck to the
8 o'clock train. Her daughter who had
been telephoned for. accompanied her to
her home.
The deadfall which caused Mrs.
Kline's accident is about fifteen feet
from Park street, a dangerous opening
about foot wide on each side Of the
switch coil and extending across the
track.
Miss Hazel Kline said last night that
her mother was in very serious condi-I
ton. Her left side was badly bruised,
her back was strained SO that every
movement caused her intense pain and
her left arm was SO badly injured that
it is entirely useless. DR.. Joseph Byers,
who is attending Mrs. Kline, says he
does not think she is injured internally,
but he cannot be certain as yet.
Mrs. Kline asserts that there was
no light at the Park-street crossing when
the accident occurred. She was crossing
the tracks on the regular crossing for foot
and she was sure that if it
had been in good and safe condition the
accident wonld not have happened.
That the accident was not more serious
was miracle, and Mrs. Kiine's many
friends in this city will be glad to learn of
her fortunate escape.