The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-22
UNDER THE WHEELS
Three-Year-0ld Child Run
Over by a Street Car.
LEFT ARM IS CUT OFF
Child Playing on East Douglas
When Car Approached.

Little Esther Lapham. the S-year-old
daughter OF Mr. and Mrs VIII LApham.
living at Lo1 East Douglas avenue, was
run over yesterday afternoon BY a stree.
car and seriously injured Her left arm
was severed at the elbow and she was
otherwise hurt. The accident occurred az
the junction OF Ida and Douglas avenues
and was witnessed by q number OF pe0-
pie, all Of whom were unable 70 save the
child from the wheels Of the car.
The regular College hill car, No. 1ee,
was making q trip from the hill and WIS
in charge OF Motornan Jerry Brown at
the time Of the accident. The car had
stopped at Ohio street, just east OF Ida,
70 let passengers on. and had not gained
much speed at the time the accident &C.
Cured. 4 number Of children had been
playing around in the street all after-
noon, but no particular attention was
paid to them as it was a usual occur
renee At the time OF The accident there
were number Of them on the north side
Of the street and the little child attempt
ed TO join them. When the car was ap-
preaching q number OF buggies were 60
ing east The child evidently became
frightened and to escape the buggies at
tempted to cross over the track ahead OF
the car. The car struck the child with
considerable force, knocking her 10 the
ground between the rails, after which
the car pa sed over her body. One OF the
rear wheels passed over the left arm,
which was lying across the track. She
was Immediately picked Up ard carried
70 her home.
Dr.. Hoffman was called and the child
was taken to the city hospital, where the
arm was amputated just below the shoul-
der last night. It IS thought that the
little girl viii recover, although there are
some bruises on her head. probably the
result OF being struck by some Of the
fixtures on the car.
The LaDhams have only lived in their
present home about three months but
during that time the little girl has al
ways played around with other children
with no thought Of danger. VIII lap
ham, the father, is at present in Fort
Scott attending the race meet there. He
has been away from home for some time
with a string of horses which he has
been campaigning.
Jerry Brown, who had charge Of the
car. felt very sorry about the accident,
and said:
81 did all in my power TO stop the car.
but the little girl was so close before I
saw her that it was impossible. was
making a return trip from College hill
when the accident occurred and had just
stopped at Ohio avenue 10 let on passen-
gers. The car was not running fast at
the time and the power was thrown IF
as we approached Ida avenue. as there
were a number of ladies' on the north side
OF the street who were walking out TO
board the car. I looked on both sides
of the street and all of the time the
crack in front Of Us was clear On the
south side OF the street a number OF bug
gtes were going east and as the car be-
gan TO slow down, I saw the child about
four feet in front Of me. The power was
already of and 7 threw on the brake as
hard as possible, but the child was too
close to sop the car before the accident
occurred. As soon as I stopped the car
the child was picked up and carried
home"
The accident was a bad one and so far
as learned it was due to no carelessness.
The company deeply regrets the occur
~1rra