Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-12-12
CAR. AND t.
FREIGHT
A.' TRAIN II |
Come Together Last
Night at Crossing
on State Street
Street Car Loses the Front
VeStibule but Makes Siren
EOuS Attempt TO
Dump the Train

Last night, while the depot car No.
s, was on its way to the barn, on
East State street, after returning
from the 6:19 train, it was run into
by a freight train at the corner of
18th and State streets, while crossing
the Southern Pacific tracks, and bad.
| ly wrecked. Fortunately the motor.
man was the only person in danger,
and he escaped practically unhurt.
The car was following the regular
| State-street car out TO the car barns.
and. on reaching the Southern Pa
cific tracks. both stopped to allow a
freight train to pass. The engine and
half a dozen cars passed by going
north, and the motormen in charge Of
the two cars, believing II was a train
on the way to Portland, started across
the track. The State-street car made
the crossing, but when the depot car
reached the track, the freight which
was merely switching backed up at
rapid rate OF speed, and struck the
street car, demolishing the front YES
tibule, by shattering It into klndling.
wood, and throwing II or the track.
Herbert McDonough, the motorman
in charge Of the car stuck to his post
when the collision occurred, I'm an eff
fort to back his car off the track but
when the freight struck, and the yes.
tibule was shattered, he sprang back
into the car just as he was struck on
the side of the head by a piece of
timber. and was thrown 10 the floor
He was soon able to extricate himself
from his unpleasant position, and es-
capped from the car. and his injuries
amounted to very little.
The crew of the freight train at
once came to the assistance of the
street car men, and the wrecked car
was pulled of the track Manager
Springer, who was quickly notified,
repaired TO the scene. and took charge
of the work Of placing the car back
on the track, and in less than an hour
from the time the wreck occurred the
shattered car was taken to the barns,
whore 1t will be repaired.
Conductor Chester Van Fleet was on
the car at the time, making out his
trip report, and he also escaped all
injury.
The blame for the accident does
nv lNoA hil INC liiOAoiiudht do Nnt tram
was believed TO be going out of town.
and backed up without ringing the
bell blowing the whistle, or displaying
a light at the rear end. (according to
the statement of the street car mem
and their fault was practically ac-
knowledged by the engineer who took
the names OF the street car men, and
did all in his power to assist in getting
the wreck back on the track.
McDonough was trained as a motor
man last summer, but at that time did
not accept a regular position with the
company, and only took a regular run
on the depot line yesterday morning
His first days experience was not a
pleasant one, and he stated last night
that he thought Of quitting the work
which, TO him, appeared too danger
Gus, especially as a fatality had oc.
CURED In his family from a street car
accident some time ago. His brother,
William McDonOugh, a boy of 10, was
killed on the little line seven years
ago, street car running over him
near the fair grounds one Sunday af
ternoon. r. p. Buzzell was the motor.
man In charge OF the car at that time
McDonough is son OF Mrs. Olive
Wilson, OF North Liberty street.