New-York tribune., 1906-06-04
MOTORMAN NEW ON LINE
CAUSED TROLLEY WRECK.
Tsro Killed in Rescue Work at East
Providence, r. I.

Providence, June 3-The trolley accident at
yoores Corner IN which eleven persons were
KILLED twenty seriously injured and another
soore slightly hurt. account of which was
given in to-day's Tribune. was probably due
N the fact that the motorman in charge of the
car, ". ]. Laucher. OF olneyville although ex-
perfenced. was unfamiliar with the road over
which ne was travelling for the first time.
raucher was put in charge of the car at the
solicitation Of the passengers, members OF a
Catholic society. who had been to Crescent
PARK for an outing. The car. an open one of
heavy build. was crowded with more than a
hundred young men and women who had been
passing the evening at the park. a pleasure re-
sort on the Providence River six miles below
this city. and were returning 10 their homes in
this city. Olneyville and Thornton. 1t is be-
ueved that two OF the injured viii die
The members Of the party singing gayly
as the car sped along toward Moores Corner.
Az that point the track curves sharply at the
foot of a long but not particularly heavy grade.
Fog prevented clear view of the road. and an
electric arc lamp at the corner is said to have
heen hardly visibls at l a. N. to-day. wheh the
accident happened The notormaD. unable TO
see far IN irons Of the car. and unaware of the
sharp curve below. allowed the car to coast
RAPIDLY down the hill.
The first intimation Of an accident was when
the rnotornan felt the swing into the curve
Realizing the peril. he applied the brakes and
reversed the power in effort TO prevent an
accident The weight OF a number OF men on
the running board and the momentum caused
the great car 10 leave the rails. 1t fell it's
side between tree and guide post, twenty feet
from the tracks.
Seven Of the passengers were pinioned be-
meath the car and instantly killed. The shrieks
and groans Of other passengers gave evidence of
terrible injuries. Immediately those who escaped
with little no injury began the work of rescue.
Within few moments large toist was used as
lever. a pile df stones forming A fulcrum. and
the car was raised from the ground Just enough
10 permit the escape Of its imprisoned passen-
gers Two persons had succeeded in escaping
when the 5oist broke under the weight Of the
car and the heavy vehicle fell back to the
ground, pinioning two passengers and killing
them instantly. The rescuers again raised the
car from the ground. and by building pile Of
heavy stones. kept It off the ground while the
dead and injured were removed.
In the mean time physicians and ambulances
had been summoned from Providence and River
side The home Of Seth Wood. who had been
one of the leaders in the rescue work. was
turned into a temporary hospital. and the vic
tinls Of the wreck were carzied into the house
soon after the arrival Of the physicians from the
Rhode Island and St Joseph hospitals those
slightly injured were set apart and the more
seriously hurt were placed in a special car and
brought 10 the Rhode Island Hospital in this
city. Two of the injured-John Gavin and
George Atcherson. both OF whom had susta1 ned
fractured skulls-died within a n hour
The news Of the accident spread rapidly
through OIneyvile and Thornton and relatives
and friends focked 10 the scene, fearing the
worst on account Of the exaggerated rumors.
The notOrman was not arrested. The police
authorities said that the motorman was not
guilty Of negligence in their opinion. inasmuch
IS he unfamiliar with the line and did not
know Of the curve. The car was in charge of
Joseph McQuade, who received serious injuries.
MooTe's Corner has been the scene of several
trolley accidents. The curve is one Of the sharp
esr in the conpanys system.