New-York tribune., 1902-07-14
FIFTY HURT IN CAR CRASH.
PIMA WAY CAR BREAKS POLE-PANIC AS TT SPEEDS DOWN
WEST FARMS INCLINE.
FIRE AND SMOKE ADD TO TERROR-WOMEN TRAMPI ED

too paralyzed with fear to think of jumping or
thought that instant death would be the result
or leap. They held tightly to the side OF
the car, some attempting to get inside while
those who had managed TO spring from their
seats sought to get to- the running board.
PASSENGERS HURLED HEADLONG.
Calming in speed each moment, the long car
plunged down the slope with the struggling
mass of humanity screaming frantically and
struggling some to get inside and others out
Side. In few moments after the brake chain
snapped the had reached the bottom of the
grade, but instead of rounding the curve to the
LETT, II jumped the track and bumped over the
ground. dashing the westbound tracks
and plunging into an electric light pole thirty
feet away
With terrible crash the car struck the pole,
the impact sending the panic stricken passen-
gers in all directions Some were hurled heao,
long over the seats; little children VINO mao
crouched under the seats were flung several
feet. while more than "A score were thrown TO
the ground As the car crashed into the pole'
swapping il III two. the motor box belched
volume of flame. followed by myriad of cleo
trio sparks, which increased the terror of the
passengers. While scores of them lay in the
car and on the ground. stunned by the shock.
the electric sparks sputtered around them. ailo
smoke issuing from the bottom of the car en-
veloped them. Some thought the car was ailre'
but it only the insulation burning. THOSE
who We're pinned TO the floor OF the car now
ever unable to move even make an attempt
to escape begged piteousy to be extrica ted,
thinking that fire was 10 add to their suHer-
ings.
The news of the accident spread quickly, and
soon there an immense crowd at the scene
Policemen and others first turned their atten-
tion getting the passengers from the demol-
ished car, while others sent in hurry calls TO
Fordham Hospital for surgeons. The work of
rescue went on rapidly, and as there was no.
body who had been crushed under the car.
every passenger was soon carried away from the
wreck. There nearly fifty men, women
nd children who less injured, Dut
fortunately there were few serious cases.
MEN TROD ON WOMEN
Those who were able to regain their feet were
carried to nearby houses and stores. which were
converted into inprovised hospitals and there
their injuries were dressed. Physicians in the
neighborhood were called, and half dozen
helped the ambulance surgeons from Fordham
Hospital.
one woman, with an infant in her arms. was
pinned to the floor with several men and boys
tramping over her PROSTATE form in their efforts
10 escape Policemen beat the back and
rescued the woman and child. The children
Jared the worst, for the men and boys thought
of nothing but saving themselves, the ponce
The policemen had considerable difficulty in
restoring order and many of the passengers
would not have been injured, probab bly,, had not
the men been persistent in their efforts to
reach the ground AS it was, when they sought
TO escape they climbed over women and chill
dren, and in this manner many were injured
The passengers who had escaped injury ran in
-dren who had become separated from them in
the confusion, and after they had got from the
car in safety rushed in all directions in quest Of
their little ones.
The demolished car which stood thirty feet
away from the westbound tracks, had in its
flight across the rails ripped them so that traffic
was impeded and long line of cars was conse-
quently held UP.
A crowded car west bound. had just crossed
the curve and passed up Southern Boulevard a
few minutes before the Tremont-ave. car sped
down the incline The slope for two blocks
above the square is at angle of about thirty
degrees. There are fOotpaths on the sides of
the tracks. and ii is regarded as an extremely
dangerous point.
Several persons who saw the accident exoner-
ated Lindenthal from blame. They say the
brake chain snapped before the descent was
begun and that he could not have avoided the
plunge down the slope
At Fordham Hospital ii said that the
Moss the only dangerously in
jured and that there might be a chance for
her recovery. Three of the injured were kept
at the hospital, while who were treated
there were permitted to go to their homes.