West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-03

THE CAR PLUNGED INTO THE WATER.
The chauffeur and the unlucky pas
senger were both fished out of the wa
ter. The auto remained at the bottom
of the East river.
There were three men besides the
chauffeur I'm the car when II boarded
the ferry at the foot of Broadway,
Brooklyn. The machine was run
through TO the bow OF the vessel
Although the engine I'm the automo-
bile was still. working, the power, of
course, had been turned off from the
running gear. Everything went well
until the Maine as 1t started to enter
its slip bumped into the comb, the long
line of piles which extend into the
river and act as guides for incoming
boats.
What happened after that was too
quick for any one to see clearly. In
some manner the power was thrown
on full.
The machine darted at the heavy
chain spread across the front of the
deck Ike football player plunging
into an opposing line. Five men who
were leaning against this chain were
them were thrown over the obstruc-
tion; the others were pushed aside.
Seeing their danger, the three men in
the auto jumped out of the machine
But the chauffeur stayed at his wheel
trying TO shut off the power. His eff
forts were useless.
With a loud snap the heavy chain
parted, and the automobile tore into
the iron lattice gates. The automobile
gained inch by inch as the gates were
forced open. a dozen men shouted to
the chauffeur to jump. Needless Of
their cries, Nolan bent over the con-
trolling gear, tugglng at Il. Women
screamed, horses lined up just behind
the automobile pranced. and men
shouted and offered suggestions.
II will help" shouted John Oleson, a
carpenter of 81G East Twenty-ninth
street. as he caught the rear of the car
and used all his strength trying to pull
II back.
Finally the iron gates parted. Freed
OF this restraint, the car shot forward
ngain and plunged into the water.
Oleson, who had taken a firm grip
on the back OF the auto, was carried
with Nolan and the machine I'm the
plunge. It oil happened so quickly
that Oleson had no time TO release his
hold
Attracted by the cries Of the passen-
gers, Captain Williams OF the Maine
had the power reversed to keep from
running down the men I'm the water
Gasplng and spluttering. Nolan and
Oleson bobbed to the surface within n
few feet Of each other.
Where is the automoblle" cried the
dazed Oleson, who did not seem to
realize just what had happened. Pas
sengers who had crowded on 10 the
front Of the boat were compelled to
laugh In spite Of the seriousness Of the
AFFAIR. a dozen men who were on the
pier, Including several ferry hands,
jumped into the water to aid the two
men. Both OlesOn and Nolan were
able TO swim a little and they struck
out for the pier. Ropes were thrown
overheard, and the rescuers, with the
men on the pier. got the men out.
The ferryboat remained out OF the
slip until the men had been taken
ashore. Dr. Kearns Of Bellevue hOspi-
tal responded TO the call for On ambu-
lonce Nolan was taken there, suffer
ing from contusions, shock and sub
mersion. Oleson had Jared better, and
he was taken home I'm n cab.
One Of the passengers on the ma
chine, evidently the owner, gave OLE
son n twenty dollar bin I'm reward for
his efforts 90 save the auto as we'll as
to pay for his ducklng.