Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-07-06
TROLLEY RUNS AWAY
North Willow Street Pairops
 Have sn Exciting lime.

Runaway cars on the North VII. low street line have gone down the hill at terrific speed but never be- fore did car whizz along as did the sprinkling car this morning when It's chain broke. Starting near High land park it bounded along those rails at terrible rate of speed and did not stop until 1t collided with an- other car near the switch at Johnson street. The only wonder is that no one was killed nor more seriously in- jured.
 Motorman Alexander lost complete control of the car when the chain which holds the brake broke but he stuck to the motor and tried to bring the car to halt by reversing or plugging" 1t. But 1t was Of no avail and the car would undoubtedly have crashed into the building on West Main street had not the rear end collision occurred.
 The crew in charge of the sprink- ling car is accustomed to fill the tank at the hydrant near Clowes's steps. The car was filled as usual this morn- ing but James D. Alexander, the mo- torman, did not notice anything wrong with the car as he started on the trip for the center. In fact at that time the car was all right but shortly after the start was made the chain snapped
 The car was going at fair rate of speed then--when the chain snapped It almost doubled its pace. The mo- torman, when he realized that the brakes would not work tried to re- verse the lever but his did not take. The car tore along past Ludlow and Arch streets and when it struck the
 frog at Woodlawn terrace was go- ing just about as fast as any car had ever travelled in this vicinity.
 The car did not jump the rails at the end of the switch as was expected.
 On its way to Exchange place was the regular Waterville car due in the center at 10:37 in charge of Conduct or Arthur M. Herbert and Edward N. Faber. As the car approached Hill- side avenue man by the name of Gorman shouted to Conductor Her. pert to see what was coming. When the conductor looked around, he saw the water cart coming after like mad. He immediately notified Faber to swing the lever and the race began.
 There were only about half dozen passengers on the car, but four or them were women and children. Herbert had difficulty trying to keep the women from becoming hysteri- cal. Thinking that it would be beta ter to have the passengers up in front If a rear end smashup was to come he succeeded in getting them up there.
 Although the regular car was going some itself it was not to be compared with that bearing down upon 1t. The regular was just talk ing the switch at Johnson street when the water car struck 1t. The crash only increased the speed of the regular car. but 1t was here that Motorman Faber showed some real ability in handling a car and also made 1t evident that he had his head working every minute.
 knowing that the speed of the runaway must have been retarded greatly by the first bump he set all the brakes on his car and brought her to a very quick stop Again did the water car come pumping into the regular and again was the regu. lar showed ahead, but this time only few feet. With brakes locked aad the power reversed when the runa- way struck the regular for the third time, it was stopped. The cars were between Johnson and Grove streets when they came to a standstir.
 NO one was seriously hurt, but the passengers on the front car were bad. " shaken up. Conductor Herbert's wrist was severely bruised and M,- torman Alexander was bumped con- siderably. The regular car was banged up rather badly, but the water car was not injured to any extent. The car was full of water when # began it's record breaking run, but at the finish there was scarcely droD in if