Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-05
The Far-Sfde Rule Responsible.
% the Editor Of The Evening Star.

10 the EullOr OF Inc ENeuiLS
I was a passenger going north on the
motor car No. 1856 of the 7th street line
Wednesday morning that so narrowly es-
capped colliding. with hose carriage and
engine of the fire department., as noted in
Yesterdays Star 1t was not until we had
passed Rhode Island avenue and were well
upon street that the cries of men on the
sidewalk attracted the attention Of the
mot ornan, who, although he had not seen
nor heard the approaching danger. applied
the brakes. The car came to halt not
three feet on the safe side of the hose car
rage as it dashed across the track in front
of the car. With the car thus at stand
still in full view of the steamer, now not
| forty yards away and coming at good
speed. the motorman wisely kept his car
| standing thinking, no doubt, that the hose
carriage having passed successfully that
the engine with its three magnificent
| horses and living human freight would also
| get by without mishap. The driver of the
| engine taking in the situation at glance
| and, of course, not knowing what the
! motorman on the car intended doing. very
| promptly gathered in his horses and put
| down the brakes as hard and as quickly as
| possible with the intention of rounding the
| corner and thus, If possible, take the only
| absolutely safe course open to him OF going
| around ard to the rear Of the car.
| The passengers on the car, especially the
ladies and children. could not have under
| stood this move. and seeing the horses
| with their heavy engine making, as 1t
| were straight for the car, became very
much alarmed. and although there was no
| panic among the passengers, their faces
| plainly showed the fright they felt. and the
| safe outcome OF so per1lous posltlon was
a great relief to us all.
| i regret to see by the article in The Star
thai the flremen try to lay any blame on the
motorman instead of where 1T of right be-
longs Uhe present method of stopping or
| the far side) The firemen, as well as the
| motorman and conductor. acted heroically
| under this trying ordeal, each one. nc
doubt, having before him wildly pictured
the accident under like conditions only two
| days previous at 9th and X streets, where
so many brave men were injured. Too
much cannot be said in praise of men who
| acted thus in an emergency each one DONG
his hest for the preservation of those whose
lives and limbs depended upon cool heat
| and steady hand. Our motorman full!
realized the danger in which he was VIII
| so many lives depending upon his judgmen
in the emergency, and was apparently coo
. and collected, and what is more. acted de
liberately.
/ do not understand all Of the induce
ments that led the Commissioners to chang
the old regulation of stopping on the nea
side to the present method of crossing tn
intersecting street before stopping. but
: strongly appeals to me that mistake ha
| been made and the sooner 1t Is rectifed tn
better If no other argument was used !
| seems to mo the accident of Monday at Ut
| and r streets and the very narrowly avert
a ed accident Of yesterday morning at 7th an
i. | r streets would be sufficient at least 70
reopening this question with a view to 1t
: settlement along the lines Of greater safet
It as well as convenience to the public.
o With the experience of both methods G
8 stopping cars before them more inteil
s gent decision could be arrived at by GU
Commissioners. JOHN B. TORBERT.