The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-04
AT BREAK NECK CLIP
FIRE ENGINE SMASHED INTO HAB-
GRESHAM STREET CAR.
ENGINE AND HORSE HURT.
SUPERINTENDENT DECLARES HE
WILL DOCKET MOToRMAN.

Center Pole of Engine Torn 10
SpIinters and One of Chargers In
jured-Engine No. = Was Answer
ing Alarm at BOX 1.-Two Ladies
Narrowly Avoided IDiury-Ccnter
Pole Caught in Rear Portion of
Car as 1t Attempted to Cross in
Front of the Flying HOrses-The
Fire "A Small Que.
Dashing down Oglethorpe avenue
at q break neck speed. Fire Engine
No. 3 smashed into one of the long
summer cars of the Savannah Electric
Company on the Habersham street line
last night tearing the big center pole
of the engine to splinters, and throwing
one of the horses down and injuring
him.
There were no passengers on the
rear end of the car, and no one was
hurt Two ladies standing near the
corner had a narrow escape. having to
run for their lives TO escape the en-
CINE which had been driven somewhat
out of its course in an endeavor to
avoid the accident.
Supt. Mcguire stated after the fire
that he would have Motorman e. w.
DeLoach placed on the docket this
morning for running his car in a reck-
less fashion. He said that he consider
ed the accident attributable to the neg
ligence of the motorman, who should
have known that fire engines have the
right of way, and should have acted
accordingly. The matter has not yet
been Investigated by the Electric COM
pany. The accident was reported to
headquarters. 1t was stated that
there was little damage to the car
struck at Right Angles.
The department was answering an
alarm from box Il, on Ogle-
thorpe avenue and East Broad
street Egine No. 3 was
proceeding down the north side of
Oglethorpe avenue at a lively clip.
When a short distance from Haber-
sham street, Driver kilrOy saw the
approaching car. The car, too, was
running at no slow rate. 1t seemed as
if a general smash-up was unavoida-
BILE. Driver Kilroy swung back on the
reins in an attempt to check the speed
of his chargers. Seeing that he could
not stop his car in time, the motorman
increased his speed.
The long car had gotten almost by
when a loud crash was heard. one of
the frightened animals stumbled and
fell, but was pulled tC his feet quickly
by the driver. The center pole of the
engine had caught in the rear portion
OF the car. There were but two pas
sengers on the car and they were
thoroughly frightened. Slight damage
was done to the car, but the engine
and horses did not fare so lightly.
Engine Drawn by Hand.
The engine proceeded on to the fire,
slowly being drawn by the SINGLE
trees. An examination showed that the
pole was a useless adjunct, and that it
would be dangerous to attempt to re-
turn to the engine house with the en-
CINE in the condition it was in. Con-
sequently the horses were taken out,
and the engine was pushed back to
station house No. by the firemen
and spectators who lent a helping
hand.
The injuries to the horse, hand
some black charger, while not serious,
were such as to require the attention of
a veterinary surgeon. He will be laid
up for a week or more.
1t was stated after the accident that
had the three-horse- been used,
as is the custom, the accident would
probably have been more serious. Ow-
ing to repairs being made on the boil
er, the wo-horse-hitch was used.
Driver shut His Eyes.
Driver Kilroy said that when he saw
the approaching car he thought his last
day had come. He shut his eyes and
swung back on the rens with all his
might, expecting every minute to hear
the crash. He declared that the car
was running at a high rate of speed.
The damage resulting from the fire
itself was not considera BILE. A one
story house. occupied by r. Smalls
colored, at 543 York street. east, was
partially destroyed. the roof and part
of the garnet being burned. The prin-
cipal damage was done by water.