Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-07-12
CARS WILD LEAP,
Carried - to Death Three Score 9th.
era Injured, Many Fatally.


era Injured. Many Fatally.
Tacoma, July 5.-Nearly 100 people
passengers on car bound for this city
were plunged down gulch ut Twenty
sixth and G streets, shortly after
o'clock yesterday morning. Those who
were standing on the platform dropped
on only to be crushed and wounded by
the heavy body Of the coach, while 9th
srs inside were killed and manned he
fore they knew what had happened.
The car jumped the track and wal
smashed to kindling wood in tho bot.
tom OF the chasm over 100 feet below.
The dead will number nearly three
score, for there are many of the injured
who will never recover and who are
expected to die at any moment and
there are at least so Of the passengers
OF the car now in the various hospitals
and under the care OF their own physi.
clans.
The car which carried its human
freight into deep ravine instead of to
the city was No. l8, of the United
Traction Company's cars, and was on
the Edison line. 1t left Edison at
about y O'Clock, in charge of F.. L..
Boehn, motorman, and J. d. Calhoun
conductor. The car, which is one ..
the big box.like affairs, Was crowded
to the doors, and every inch OF space
on the platforms was taken. Men
hung on the ratings, and were glad to
be able to get a ride to the city, for,
like those inside, they we're anxious to
arrive early, SO as not to miss any OF
the Independence day exercises.
The car ran moderately along, the
passengers chatting with each other,
for they were nearly all acquainted, and
everything was pleasant until it reach.
ed the crest OF the hill just beyond
Tacoma avenue. From this point the
stories differ. One is that the motor
man, after starting down the hill.
turned on his current instead Of shut.
ting it of. and when the car had gained
such a momentum as to threaten to get
away from him, he turned off the cur.
rent, but it was then too late, for the
FAR was going at lightning speed, and
there was nothing to bring it to
'tandstill, for the incline il steep.
Passengers on the front platform, who
law the sharp curve on the bridge as it
caves DeLin street, endeavored to
Jump. Several OF them succeeded, and
cached the ground in afety, but 9th.
rs were AS badly injured as they might
ave been had they remained Oh the
ar to the bottom OF the chasm.
Where the car went off there is as
harp curve, at the foot OF steep
rade. AS the car struck the curve,
instead of following the rails, it whirled
ompletely over and pitched from the
ridge, striking Oh its top, the heavy ,
'ucks and body OF the car crashing ,
10 frail upper works to splinters and :
nashing down upon the mass of men, +
omen and children, with which the
n was loaded.
1t was one OF the most appalling &C. ,
dents that has ever occurred in this =
ty, and 1t came at time when it was 9
asst expected. Here were happy PEG. n
nd other places, coming w i".','~ Z
II of ioy and patriotism to spend the
,urth of July. Their journey was '
,arlv at an end when death irterfered, t
I'd claimed them AZ his own IN most 9
;ohtful manner. Crushed, manned {
nd mangled. the uniortuuates were 4
RAGGED from beneath the wreck OF the
ar. and kind hands ministered to
nem until conveyances could be had to
arry them to hospitals and to the homes
: their friends. The dead were lalo
n the grass, but there were few Ill the
rowds OF spectators and rescuers VINO
altered at the scene at that time VINO
new which were dead and which were
wing. Such spectacle OF battered,
nutilated bodies is seldom seen. n
namber of the First Washington vol
,nteers. who has played part on
nanv battle fields III the Philippines
aid he had never witnessed such
light. ---