Evening star., 1901-09-27
TRUCK BREAKS DOWN
Driver John ]. Sullivan's Narrow
Escape From Death.
TILLERMAN'S PROMPT ACT SAVES HIM
Defective Axle Causes Accident to
Fire Apparatus.
ALLEGATIONS SET FORTH

ALLEGATIONS SET FORTH
While responding to an alarm Of fire
turned in about $40 o'clock this morning
the extra truck being used by truck A
company broke down on I'd street northeast
between East Capitol and streets. John
J. Sullivan, the driver, was thrown from
the vehicle, and It was only because OF
the prompt action on the part OF Edward
None. the tiiierman, that repetition Of
the accident which caused the death Of
fireman. Benjamin Greenup. in May, 1855.
was avoided.
When the front axle Of the truck broke
off at the wheel the front of the vehicle
went down. Sullivan was dragged over
the asphalt pavement distance of at
least two hundred feet, finally falling al
most directly in front OF the rear wheel.
By quick turn of the wheel by the fire.
life was no doubt saved, and he escaped
with but few scratches and bruises.
Truck A Is in the shop being repaired,
and the extra truck, the only one of its
kind in use, was doing the service tempo
rarily. There was bad defect in the front
axle, which was not discovered until after
the accident occurred On the way to the
fire the truck passed along East Capitol
u
signal to turn north at I'd street In MAX
inss this turn the strain on the axle was SO
great that 1t completed the break which
resulted In the accident. The wheel left
the vehicle and rolled in the direction OF
the sidewalk. The driver held to the reins
while being dragged, and Foreman Samuel
Henry, who was on the seat with him, also
grabbed the lines. Sullivan was unable to
stop the three horses, and finally released
his hold on the reins, and then 1t was that
he fell in front OF the rear wheel. and for
an instant was in danger of losing his life
Then it was also that Fireman Nohe be-
came the hero Of the affair and prevented
fatality.
TflIerman's PrOmptness.
Seated at the wheel, Fireman Nohe
watched the driver as the latter was be-
ing dragged, and when Sullivan let go the
lines and fell Nohe did the trick" al
though even after the truck had been
stopped about half way between A and
B streets the tillerman was afraid to look
in the direction where Sullivan lay, fear
ing his work had not been successful.
Fireman Thomas OBrien, who was on
the running board just behind the broken
axle, jumped from the truck and made an
effort to stop the horses. Those who were
on other portions of the vehicle remained
at their posts until Foreman Henry sue
ceeded in stopping the spirited animals.
The foremans ankle was slightly sprained.
moned and the injured driver was taken TO
Providence Hospital. He was given treat
ment by the surgeons, who found no evil
dence of any internal injury. After his
bruises and scratches were dressed nc was
removed to his home, No. 1902 9th street
northeast. This is not Sullivans first ac-
cfdent. More than a year ago he slipped
on the ice and broke his leg.
The fire for which the alarm was turned
in occurred at the house of Robert Adams,
No. 200 Maryland avenue northeast, and it
was caused by a defective fiue. Damage to
the amount of about SIS was done. The
property is insured -s-.----
Official Report Made.
Mr.. Robert W., Dutton. chief engineer of
the fire department, this afternoon sub
mitted a detailed report to the District
Commissioners regarding the accident,
The report states:
II have the honor to report that in re-
spending this morning to box 636 the arm
Of the front axle of reserve truck A broke,
the forward part Of the apparatus to the
ground. Driver ]. ]. Sullivan was pitched
off, and but for the GOODNESS and presence
of mind of Acting Tillerman E. H. Nohe,
away from him. Driver Sullivan would
probably have been crushed to death.
Foreman s. R. Henry was thrown off. but
managed to secure the reins and brought
Sullivan was taken to Providence Hospital
and given medical attention. 1t was found.
l am glad to report, that he escaped with
a few bruises. ! am also glad to state that
the only other man injured was Foreman
Henry, who was fortunate enough to get
off with slightly sprained ankle.
Truck Merely a Substitute.
Reserve truck A has been in the depart
ment about twenty-three years, and is only
used when a regular truck is out Of service.
Regular truck A was sent to the shop re-
Gently for general overhauling. and the
old truck replaced it. Foreman Henry and
the other officers of the company report
that the apparatus was carefully examined
upon Its being placed in service, and also
after every run with it. and no weakness,
they state, was discovered In the axle. The
machinist of the department reports that
the break was due to capitalization in the
steel. He and the officers of the company
regard the accident as one Of those un-
avoidable ones, such one as Is liable to
happen to any company at any time.
ut should be stated In this connection
that rule Of the department requires off,
GERS In command of companies to carefully
examine the apparatus after every run. AS
the very lives of the officers and men de-
pend upon proper observance Of this rule
IT. r,,i,1 Is hardly necessary to state that 1t is
department Is also inspected as often as
possible by the machinist Of the department.
Orders have been given to rush the
work on regular truck A. but it will be a
week or ten days before It can be finished.
The old truck has also been sent to the
shop for repairs to the axle. Meantime,
the southeastern section of the city being
without a truck, truck E has been trans
ferred there from Georgetown and trucks
and E will cover the northwestern Sec
tfon. Today's accident Is good example,
1t respectfully submitted, of the depart
ments weakness. especially in reserve ap-
paratus, and confirmation of the state-
ment that the department should be double
it's present size
Another Truck Provided.
AS soon as Chief Dutton heard Of the at
fair he hastened to the scene of the acci-
dent and then called on the injured man.
He also gave an order to have truck q
sent from Georgetown to truck A house.
Truck company will respond to alarms
sent in from the section west OF hook