Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-28
BOY And I GIRLS KILLED
Lackawanna Fast Express Cuts Newark
Trolley in Two.
MANNED SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SNOW.
Brakes Failed On Dangerous Grade and
Allowed Crowded Car to Slip Down the
I'LL on the Icy Rails in Front Of the
Incoming Train Twenty Were Severely
Injured.

Newark. \. J. (Special)-A fast ex-
press on the Lackawanna railroad cut
through trolley car crowded with
school children at the Clifton avenue
crossing. Eight children were killed and
score or more OF them injured. The
motorman OF the car. who stuck TO his
post. will die, and the engineer OF the
express was so badly hurt that there IS
little hope of his recovery
Both the express and the trolley were
on steep grades. going at right angles.
nc express was signalcd and the cross
ing gates were lowered while the trolley
car was half way down the hill. The
motorman shut off the power and ap-
piled the brakes. but almost immediate
" the car began TO slip along the icy
railS II gained tremendous momentum
and at the bottom OF the hill crashed
through the gates directly in the track
OF the oncoming train. The locomotive
plowed its way through the trolley,
throwing the children in every direction.
The accident happened within three
blocks of the High School building, and
Ill the car at the time were nearly 100
pupils As many as thirty others had
managed to throw themselves from the
car before the crash came The trolley
was one of the specials which every day
bring the children to school 1t had more
than its ordinary load owing to the cold.
1t contained every child that could
squeeze inside. and others stood on the
rear platform.
Peter Brady. the motorman. promptly
shut off the power and applied the
brakes. The speed of the car was
checked. gut it continued to move slow
ly down the incline There was no
thought of danger. Then it began to
move faster and faster. The ice covered
rails afforded no hold for the wheels,
and although Brady damned kis brake
harder and then swung on the reverse.
the momentum of the car grew at every
yard, and the car shot down toward the
railroad When it was right at the
gates the express Numbered into view.
Warned by the cries of those afoot
and by their own sense of danger those
on the platforms began TO throw them
selves off into the snow. and as the car
sped along the few remaining feet to-
ward the rails. perhaps one-third escaped
uCdtH OF INJURY III tIllS Wdy, Dut lHSIC
was no time for those within the car to
do more than crush toward the rear
door. The gates were swept aside like
'toothpicks. and before the cracking of
the gates died out the air was filled
with frantic cries of those who saw
death dashing down upon them.
The wreck of the trolley car was COM
plete. The pilot of the engine struck it
almost amidships and turned it partly
around. and then the ponderous engine
CIT ii in two. The upper part of the
trolley was reduced to fragments under
the drivers of the locomotive. One-llalf
OF the car was thrown to one side and
lay on the tracks. The other section was
hurled some distance away. In every
direction lay the injured and dead. The
engine was brought to standstill and
from the train and from nearby houses
men rushed to the rescue. The specta-
Gle was appalling. and many who started
to work had to give up unncrvcd.