Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-20
RUNAWAY CAR
Motorman Lying Unconscious
 on Front Platform.

It looked for time as though there
 would be cause for tears in Nauga-
 tuck last evening for about 6:25 a
 car bound for Derby thundered along
 South Main street, with number of
 passengers on board and no one at
 the motor. The motorman was lying
 unconscious beside the motor box,
 the conductor evidently had become
 so excited that he knew not what to
 do and the only cool person on the car, man named Flaherty from Sey-
 mour, was on the front platform loudly shouting for pedestrians and teamsters to steer clear of the tracks. When those on the car saw that the car was on a mad tear they became wildly excited and one after another started to jump, although they re- alized they were likely to be serious
 ly injured. The motorman on the car, Frank Coger of Derby, had in some way become unconscious after the crews had changed cars near the North Main street switch. Although some say that Motorman Coger was seen to drop to the floor others de- clare that no comment was made about it. At least Conductor William Snyder, also of Derby. did not become alarmed about it at the time. It is the rule for all cars to stop at the corner of Main and Maple streets, which is about 800 feet beyond the swatch where the crews change cars. Of course the passengers expected to have the car stop at that point and when 1t did not do so, people began to realize that something was wrong, especially because by this time Flah- erty was at the motor endeavoring to bring the car to halt. But instead of bringing the rolling stock to a standstill, he only seemed to add fuel to the flames. The car shot on faster than before and a small panic en- sued.
 The children with their mothers on the car started to yell, the men were more or less excited and were rushing to the front of the car, that is, those who had not jumped off, people from the street were shouting all kinds of advice, but meanwhile the car rolled on unmindful of all the heartaches 1t was causing. It quickly approached the curve near Hotchkiss street which though not very sharp should be taken at slow rate of speed. Some of the passengers thought that this curve spelled dis aster and were almost horror stricken thinking that the car surely would be derailed at this point. But near Hotchkiss street there is a slight as- cent. This tended to lessen the speed of the car and at this point also some one struck the keynote which was to bring the car to a standstill.
 Pull off your pole" yelled some one to Snyder, and the conductor act ing on the advice immediately pro- ceeded to do so. It had the desired effect, and the runaway was brought under control.
 Not one of the passengers was hurt although some of them had suffered considerably from fright. Conductor William Snyder was almost exhaust ed from the ordeal he had passed through and he was taken in charge by several bystanders.
 But the one who needed attention was the motorman who lay stiff on the floor of the car. There was a slight cut near his right temple, but this was the only mark that could be seen on his body. In an uncon- scious condition he was carried into the Commercial house where he was to by Dr Walter A. Reilly. | The man did not return to his senses until after 9 o'clock. Although he changing cars he had not very vivid impression of what happened after.
 It Is understood that after Coger had changed cars he was leaning out of his car watching the crew of an- other car as motormen often do. AL though his car was not travelling so very fast, nevertheless 1t was going with such force that when his head | collided with pole. he went down like a log and did not regain con- sclousness until later in the evening while being tended in the Commercial house. It was an accident that does not happen often and considering the number of people on the streets in at the time last evening. t is indeed surprising that no fatal ty occurred. The car travelled about ,OO0 feet.