Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1900-07-12
CARS WILD LEAF.


Tacoma, July 6.--Nearly 100 people,
passengers on car bound for this city.
were plunged down gulch at Twenty.
sixth and q streets, shortly aftei 8
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.
ers inside were killed and MANNED be-
fore they knew what had happened.
The car jumped the track and was
smashed to kindling wood in the 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 It's human
freight into deep rayine instead OF 70
the city was No. ll6, OF the United
Traction Company's cars, and was on
the Edison line. 1t left Edison at
about 8 O'Clock, in charge of r. T..
Boehn, motorman, and j. d. Calhoun,
conductor. The car, which is one Of
the big box.like affairs, was crowded
TO the doors. and every inch Of space
on the platforms was taken. Men
hung on the railings, and were glad TO
be able to get ride to the city. for,
like those inside. they were anxious TO
arrive early, 80 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 1t 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 1t of. and when the car had gained
such q momentum as to threaten to get
| away from him, he turned of the cur.
rent, but it was then too late, for the
| car was going at lightning speed. and
there was nothing TO bring it to q
standstill, for the incline is steep.
Passengers on the front PLATFORM who
saw the sharp curve on the bridge as it
leaves DeLin street, endeavored 70
jump. Several OF them succeeded, and
reached the ground in safety, but 9TH
ers we're as badly injured as they might
have been had they remained on the
car to the bottom of the chasm.
Where the car went of there is as
sharp curve, at the foot OF q steep
grade. As the car struck the curve,
instead of following the rails, it whirled
completely over and pitched from the
bridge. striking on its top, the heavy
trucks and body Of the car crashing
the frail upper works to rplinters and
smashing down upon the mass of men,
women and children. with which the
car was loaded.
1t was one of the most appalling ac-
cidents that has ever occurred in this
city, and it came at time when it wal
least expected. Here were happy peo
pie, residents Of the nearby towns. Ed
ison, Lakeyiew, Parkland, Lake Parl
and other places, coming 20 Tacoms
full Of JOY and patriotism to spend the
Fourth Of July. Their journey was
nearly at an end when death interfered
and claimed them as his own in most
frightful manner. Crushed. manned
and mangle6. the unfortuuates wers
dragged from beneath the wreck of th'
car, and kind hands ministered Il
them until conveyances could be had Il
carry them to hospitals and to the homes
of their friends. The dead were lai(
on the grass. but there were few in th'
crowds Of spectators and iescuers whe
gathered at the scene at that time wh'
knew which were dead and which vert
living. Such spectacle of battered
mutilated bodies is seldom seen.
member of the First Washington vol
unteers, who has played part OF
many battle fields in the Philippines
said he had never witnessed such |
| siyht