The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-02

1 O1ce ana were crying, and those moi
wedged in were struggling frantically,
covered with blood, white and ataring
with fright, and as they were helped
4 from the car through the windows the
hearts Of those aiding sickened.
Hauess, with hair disheveled, bleeding
and with bruise-bla ckened faces. CRYING
and covered with mud, the women were
| helped one by one from the car. Mr..
| Wilson lay on the bridge with his face
| to the sky, still. Miss Ferguson, who
had been helped from the wreck and was
bleeding about the head, went down
again to hunt for her grandmother. The
| children were crying piteously and hold
| ing their hands and heads. Mr.. Charles
Cutter summoned the ambulance and Mr..
| Wilson was at once removed. Handker-
| chiefs and parts of torn dresses were
used for bandages, and in very few
| minutes all the injured and shocked vic
| tins were at home. a College Hill car
| conveying most OF them to the corner of
Main and Douglas, whence news Of the
accident spread.
| 1t was day when all Wichita was out
and everybody after the accident was
| busy gathering members Of his family in
and locating them. Hundreds of people
were walking along the new line on Col
lege Hill to the cemeteries, and would
have taken this car had it not been so
| heavily loaded To friends down town
the likelihood of all these people being
on that wrecked car appealed. and it was
late at night before all were located.
1t was the day Of the opening Of the
new Fairmount line as far as the Gene
terry. The line goes east to Jersey ave-
nue. ad then runs up and down the gem
tie hills until it reaches the cemeteries.
Sundays Eagle had announced that the
new road would open and the cars were
packed.
In spite Of the fact that accidents battle
explanation, there were many theories
put forth yesterday; that the car was
running at an unusual speed; that the
motorman had lost his head. when as a
matter Of fact, his brakes were set, and
similar explanations.
The truth seems to be, from all the IN
terviews and survey of the spot, that
the heavy rains had made a weak spot
in the track; that every car which pass
ed made it weaker; that the car which
was wrecked was laden heavily in the
rear, and that when its hind wheels went
down in the weak spot the car was
thrown off the rails and reached the
edge Of the bridge, before it could be
stopped, and went over.
Mr.. AND MRS. RICHARDSON.
Mr.. and Mrs. True Richardson were in
the accident at the bridge ~Sand MEs.
Richardson was quite severely injured.
A reporter for the Eagle called at the
home Of Mr.. Richardson last night. Mrs.
Richardson was suffering from her in
juries on her face and chest. Her face
Is bruised and will give her pain for
some time.
Mr. Richardson in speaking of the acct
dent said: 1--WE were at the rear of the
car. Mrs. Richardson was seated on the
inside and I was standing on the plat
form with a number OF others. I had no
distinct sensation Of riding any faster
than the cars usually run, and even when
we neared the bridge thought nothing Of
1t. When we came to the bridge the car
gave jump and the front end seemed |
to raise up in the air a couple of times
as though the rear was too heavy. After |
it raised the second time I discovered |
that the front wheels were off the track |
and that we were on the bridge. I stay |
ed on the platform, and when the car !
went over 1 still stayed there After the |
car landed l went inside and began 10 |
help take the people out who were in |
need of assistance. At first I took out |
three little children and a woman and |
afterwards assisted others. AT first 1 |
could not find Mrs. Richardson and was
working to reach the place where 1 |
. ,bA Io
sisting to get others out of the car 1 |
saw Mrs. Richardson. She was in the |
car, fat on the floor and it seemed that
her head was under water. I was afraid
that she had drowned, and 1 believe
such would have been the case had she
not been an expert swimmer and knew
the methods used by people in diving
After I could get close to her there WAS
a woman walking around over her body |
hunting for her hat. When I asked her
in certain tone to get off Of Mrs. Rich
ardson, she said, Il wonder where my
hat got to-" The hat didn't interest me,
and 1 soon raised Mrs. Richardson to her
feet. She was calm all OF the time, and
this is what saved her life. Her face
was bruised, as was her BODY from the
people walking on her. I think she will
be all right within a few days, although |
the doctor says that the bruises will give
her trouble for some weeks. have a
number OF sore places on my body from
against the car when il went
Town. The people inside we're showed
back and forth, and It is a wonder that
some Of them were not killed. It was a
terrible sight to see the way in which
he people tried to get out. The persons
who were on the bottom had no sympa-
by from those on top. and it was no
strange sight to see men walking over
women in order to get out OF that car"
CONDUCTOR DROPPED OFF.
Mr.. T. NJ Allen, the conductor in
barge of the car, jumped from the car
ust before it went over the bridge. Mr.
Allen in speaking of of the accident said:
I had just concluded collecting nv fares
or the trip and had not paid attention
o the running of the car. 1t is my i'm
ression that it was not running any
aster than usuel and when 1 went back |
o stand on the platform we were near
ng the bridge at Chisholm creek. The |
ar jumped up in front, as It seemed. |
nd the front wheels were of the track. /
Il first I thought the car would get
Yer the bridge and stop. but the first ,
hing that l knew the car went toward |
he south side OF the bridge and as il
tarted over concluded to drop of and
id so When I got up from where I had
allen the car was down in the creek.
'eople commenced TO get out the doors
nd windows, and did all that I could
D help them cut. Many % them were
ieeding and wounded. and IL seems 10
Re from the manner IN which the car
rent over the side OF the bridge II Is a
-onder that there were not many kIled {
utright.
SUPERINTENDENT NFT SON