The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-07-25
THE DEADLY HANSON.
Great City Of London Wants . Sab
stitute for the Vehicle That
wounds and Kills

London is sorely in need of pub
lie vehicle to supersede the hanson
cab. The streets Of the metropolis
are more slippery and more crowded
than those of any other city. Horses
drawing hanson cabs are notoriously
prone to stumble on the shiny sur
face of our asphalted and wood-paved
thoroughfares. And when hanson
cab horse falls the passenger has lit
tie chance of escaping injury.
He is generally flung head fore
most over the curtain" on to the
body of the horse, struggling fran
tically on the ground. II the win
dow 10 down he is thrown through
that as well; If the window is up,
the sudden stoppage of the cab fire.
quently brings it sliding downward
with such force that the glass is
shivered into pieces, and the sharp
fragments lacerate his face and head.
An authority who has spent years
in studying the question of street
passenger traffic mentioned several
cases to Daily Mail representative
where hanson cab passengers known
personally to himself have had glass
extracted from the face, head and
legs in consequence Of the horses
merely slipping.
Another fruitful source of accident
is the kicking in of the footboard by
a restive horse. The splinters are
showered into the passengers face;
as in the other cases he has no
means of escape, for If he attempted
10 jump out he would probably be
struck by the lunging hoofs of the
horse.
In fact, no matter what the nature
of the accident, the hanson cab pas
senger is perfectly helpless.
The authorities appear to be real
izing what real danger the hanson
cab is. The latest figures obtainable
from the commissioner of police
show that in 1899 licenses were
granted for $40 fewer hansoms than
in 1898 and 366 fewer than IN 1897.
The covered van, against which an
agitation is afoot, is regarded as the
most deadly vehicle in the streets.
Now, in 1899, the hanson injured
J 1,4O4 persons. compared with 94s hurt
by the covered van. The latter, how
ever, caused 46 deaths, while of the
hansom's victims IS died.
The continent will have none of the
hanson. 1t is practically unknown
in Paris, Berlin and other cities in
France and Germany. The popular
public conveyance in those countries
is the victoria. This style of carriage
has not one of the disadvantages
which we have shown the hanson to
possess. 1t is airy, elegant, safe and
speedy. Moreover, it is cheaper to
buy.
Mr.. Ernest Windover, chairman OF
Messrs. c.. s. Windover & Co., Linn
tied. the carriage builders of Long
acre, informed a representative Of
the Daily Mail that victorias suitable
for public hire, fitted with rubber
tires, could be built for no guineas
each, while hanson costs from 125
to lao guineas. s.as..
THE only drawback the victoria
has, said Mr.. Windoyer, "is that it
occupies three feet more space than
the hans ON. But this slight disad.
vantage is, in my opinion, more than
compensated for by the safety of the
victoria. it's greater comfort and bet
ter appearances"
Another style of vehicle which is
recommended to take the place Of
the hanson is called the brougham
hanson. There are already dozer
on the London streets, and the fact
that they are seldom disengaged IL
sure indication of their popularity
No harm can befall passenger il
this carriage as consequence of thu
horse falling. The driver sits behind
In hot weather a large window in thu
front can be let down, in addition Il
the side windows, while in ordinar.
conditions a small shutter supplies
all the ventilation needed.
But it matters little what type o
carriage is adopted so long as it i
safer to ride in than the presen
hanson, which slays it's score of peo
pie annually and Injuries many hun
dreds.