New-York tribune., 1900-07-22
BOLT HITS A TROLLEY CAR.
FLAMES ENvELOP IT AND MANY PER
SONS ARE BURNED OR SHOCKED.
THE TERRIBLE CRASH DISABLEs THE
TELEPHONES IN A NEARBY APART
MENT HOUSE.

Something happened to a rorthbound Madi-
son-ave. electric car at Eighty -third-st. in the
thunderstorm last evening. Some witnesses say
lightning hit the car. Others say the fuse blew
out, but it is probable that both things hap
pened. All agreed that the car was enveloped
in flame for moment. Many persons were in
jured. The police obtained the names Of the
following:
and sBods Ta 9d home G6 by eads
NAR l. w. f9rsy0ne years old Of No loI west One
slight burns. Taken home in cab
hAFX M old . Sf @ No oBBS. 91 Wst & 9Hs
burns Taken home in a cab.
5ssPa9 TaSsn S6ms Sy S tnS %
s 5t Mrs APes aiTysht yes5s % old Of No
terian Hospital
dar5 wsyt years p old Of No 2s
burns on hands and face. Taken to the Presbyteran
scHREIBnR Mame thirteen old Of No 2s East
burned. shock Taken to the Presbyterian Hospital.
Mrs. schreiber and her two children were In
the fifth seat from the rear, on the inside Mrs.
Schneider received a terrific shock 1t hurled
her against the upright which supports the roof
and she found lying heIplessIy on the guard
rail- in danger of falling to the street Her chill
dren were thrown almost upon her, but recov-
cred almost instantly.
fai
declined to give their names. Several of the
passengers other than those named were
| scorched by the flames. but did not wish their
names recorded.
To add to the terror of the scene, the rain
came down in torrents and drenched everybody.
. There was a second stroke of lightning a few
seconds later. 1t damaged the telephones in
the apartment house at No. 11O9 Madison-ave
the one where the temporary hospital was
| IL -,
could not be used again.
The occupants of neghboring houses all de-
scribed the crash as terrific. and were much
alarmed. A large crowd gathered despite the
storm to see what had happened.
Inc car was an open one. 1t was crowded
with people. The motorman ]. Ayers and
the conductor Edward NJ. McKienue Michael
Lawlor, the elevator man in the apartment
house at Nos. 1,1O9 and ILL Madison ave-
tells the best story of what happened. He said:
AS the car neared Eghty-third-st the motorman
seemed to be shutting off power and putting on the
brake for 1t slowed up. Just then there was a
dea1en!ng crash and bolt of zigZag lightning
came Gown and hit the car squqrely It burned out
1ame and smoke for an instant. It was something
Ike IKE the explosion Of large gun. The motorman
Some Of the women jumped. Two of them lay in a
off notced one Woman and nd 4T two one chdren1 mar 9g
helpless against the inside guardrail did not
Called on the Presbyterian Hospital for an ambu
lance After called the ambulance had the In
jured persons carried into the hallway of the
apartment house until they either taken
home to the hospital.
Dr. Jacob Lewengood was sitting with the mem
bers of his family his soop at No. l,11S Madison
ave. watching the preliminary lightning display
when the accident happened. His version differs
That there was crash, and that lightning hit
somewhere, he says was true, but ne did not think
i hit the the car He heard the small pun as the dds fuse
from view by sheet of flame and smoke. When
/ the car was seen moment later, IL had been
stopped short distance away, and he noticed
that several persons were hurt Two women lay
n SVyOO on he yybi Ia pt
less in the car. The passengers were in a panic
DR.. LeWengood got his emergency case and ran
10 help the injured By his advice, and with the
aid of Policeman Drum and neighbors and those of
the passengers not hurt, the victims carried
into the apartment house. Ambuances arrived in
a few minutes, and DR.. Jackson and the doctors
who with them from the Presbyterian Hos
pital. set about caring for the injured persons.