The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-02
By Two Eye Witnesses.
WEST OF THE BRIDGE

WEST OF THE BRIDGE.
Prof. Wareham Of the high school was
riding east on Douglas avenue on his
bicycle at the time OF the accident,
Prof. Wareham says: 81 was on the
north side of the street on the sidewalk
and was quite near the bridge when I
noticed the car coming from the east.
I paid no particular attention TO it only
that I observed that 1t was well loaded
with people. After it neared the bridge,
I noticed it again and saw II give a
lurch or two and then the two front
wheels were off the track. The car
struck the bridge and I thought for a
time that It would clear the structure.
AS it came to the center of the bridge
It seemed to me that the car veered
around and started almost south. as
near as I am able to estimate. It
slowed up and then one wheel dropped
over and the whole thing went down
with a crash. One man Jumped off be-
fore it went down. but who he was or
what became of him do not know.
There We're several persons on the
bridge at the time the car started off.
One was a little girl in charge of a baby,
and when she saw the car coming she
picked up the baby and ran east and
narrowly, missed getting struck by the
car.
"a man who was at the west end Of
the bridge was struck by the car and
knocked out Of the way. saw him az
ter the affair and he was considerably
bruised and stated that he was trying 10
get away from the car as rapidly as pos
sible, but was unable to do so.
"As soon as I saw the car go over the
side Of the bridge I dropped my wheel
and started for the scene. When I ar
rived, one or two persons were getting
out Of the car but everything seemed
to be in confusion.
81 went 10 the front Of the car and
with the assistance Of a man who came
we commenced to iift the people out.
Some were getting through the windows
and others were not able to get out at
all without assistance OF two or three
persons.
THE motorman was helping 10 get
people out OF the car when I arrived
there and he worked with US unfit ev-
eryone was out.
Almost everyone IN the car were
strangers to me and could not just tel
who they were. One lady was severely
injured about the head and an Cd
man was severely injured IN one limb.
Almost everyone had bruises and cuts
and II seems q miracle that there were
not many Of the people killed Every
time that I helped to Eft some one out
o, the door I would think that the next
person would be a corfse.
"a number q the people were 50 wedz- /
ed IN the car that it took Considerable /
work 70 get them free in order 70 ut /
them out As soon as We could get peo- /
PIE out they were carried, ~ unable 70 +
walk. 20 the Sidewalk and left there TN
til assistance came or course IN ny
work Il was impossible tor me 10 know /
just how serious were the Injuries OF the +
different persons IN the accident
The car az s. approched ne did not i
appear 20 70 running az a high rae OF
speed and had st not let the TRACK 7 1
would have thought nothing q r. In
fact il did not seem 70 ne that the car
vas running AZ rapidly as they usually
O. in the residence portion o. The CITY.
but t1is may have been owing 70 ts.e
heavy load q people.