The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-07-12
CARS WILD LEAF.
Carried 80 to Death-Three Score 9th
ers Injured, Many Fatally.

CARS WILD LEAP.
Carried 80 to Death-Three Score 9th.
ers Injured. Many Fatally.
Tacoma, July 5.-Nearly 100 people
passengers on car bound for this city,
were plunged down Q guleh at Twenty
sixth and G streets, shortly after
O'Clock yesterday morning. Those who
were standing on the platform dropped
of 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 wal
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 60 Of the passengers
of the car now in the various hospitali
and under the care of their own physi'
clans.
The car which carried its human
freight into deep ravine instead of Il
the city was No. ll6, OF the United
Traction Company's cars, and was OF
the Edison line. 1t left Edison al
about 8 O'Clock, in charge Of +. l.
Boehn, motorman, and ]. d. Calhoun,
conductor. The car, which is one o.
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 te
be able to get ride to the city, for
like those inside, they were anxious K
arrive early, SO as not to miss any OF
the Independence day exercises.
The car ran moderately along, thu
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 th'
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 q momentum as to threaten to gel
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
standstill, for the incline is steep
Passengers on the front platform, WHIT
saw the sharp curve on the bridge az i
leaves DeLin street, endeavored Il
jump. Several of them succeeded, ant
reached the ground in safety. but 9th
ers were as badly injured as they nigh
have been had they remained on the
car to the bottom of the chasm.
Where the car went of there is al
sharp curve, at the foot of q steep
grade. As the car struck the curve,
instead of following the rails, it whirlet
completely over and pitched from the
bridge. striking on its top, the heav!
trucks and body of the car crashing
the frail upper works to splinters ant
smashing down upon the mass of men
women and children, with which tn
car was loaded.
1t was one of the most appalling &C
cidents that has ever occurred in thii
city, and it came at time when it wa
least expected. Here were happy peo
pie, residents of the nearby towns. Ed.
ison, Lakeview, Psrkland, Lake Parl
and other places, coming 10 Tacom,
full of joy and patriotism to spend th'
Fourth of July. Their journey wal
nearly at an end when death interfered
and claimed them as his own in mos
frightful manner. Crushed, maimet
and mangled. the unfortuuates wer'
dragged from beneath the wreck of tn,
car. and kind hands ministered I,
them until oonveyances could be had Il
carry them to-hosptals and to the home
of their friends. The dead were lait
on the grass, but there were few in th'
crowds of spectators and Tescuers wht
gathered at the scene at that time VIII,
knew which were dead and which wer,
living. Such q 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 (,
sight.