The San Francisco call., 1908-05-11
Fuse Blows Out in Fillmore
Street and Flames Endau-
ger Passengers
MOtOrman Burned and Unable
Check Speed of the
Burning Car
Men and Women Flee for Safety
and One Unconscious VIC
tim Is Robbed

Six persons were badly injured, one
so seriously that he viii probably ole,
IN wild scramble for safety that fol
lowed the blowing out OF fuse in the
controller box of Fillmore sueetcar
No. l348 after Motoman Al Madison
had fed the current too suddenly as
the car was crossing Ellis street.
northbound. shortly after 2:1s o'clock
yesterday afternoon. Those injured
were:
William H. Peterson of Sacramento,
skull fractured; may die.
Miss Jeanette Henry, tainted on
front platform and badly seorched by
flames.
Motorman Al Madison, badly burned
on face and hands.
c. /. Carey Of 1898 Forty fifth ave-
nue.: Morris Oppenheim. an attorney Of
SOC Pacific building, and J. Cohen Of
1915 Ellis street. hurt by jumping. In
5uries not serious.
At the hospital ii was discovered
that Peterson had been robbed of a
$500 diamond shirt stud while uncon-
scious.
with his hands terribly burned by
the electric flames that shot from both
sides OF the controller box and enveI-
oped the whole front platform in seeth-
ing fire. AIotorman Madison. in his ex-
citement. was unable TO set the air
brakes and jumped. With no restrain
Ing hand the car raced on up Fillmore.
Frightened passengers were fighting to
get out Of the way of the fire and
Jumping at every few feet.
william H. Peterson, a candy manu-
facturer Of Seventh and streets, Sac
ramento. was caught in the rush Of
frantic men and women and tumbled
backwards to the street, his head strik-
ing the paving stones with terrific vio-
lence. He was a large, heavy man,
more than 80 years old, and the con-
cussion stunned him into insensibility.
J. S. Potter, chauffeur Of a passing au-
tomobile, with the assistance OF by
ISLANDERS. lifted him into his machine
and raced at top speed to the central
emergency hospital. where DR.. Charles
B. Pinkham found that his skull was
fractured. Peterson's injuries were so
serious that son in Sacramento was
telegraphed TO come at once to his side.
On the front platform when the fuse
exploded was Miss jeanette Henry.
who tainted from fright. Famed by
the breeze caused by the speed Of
her unconscious body when Police Ser
geant John Morrissey, seeing her. peril.
grabbed handrail and pulled himself
aboard. He threw on the air and
brought the car TO a stop at OFarrell
itreet, but not before his own hands
were badly burned. with Policeman
Tom O-Connen he carried Miss Henry
TO a drugstore. where she revived. and
was sent later to the emergency hospi-
tai She was severely scorched and suf-
fering from the shock.
C. /. Carey, Morris Oppenheim and ].
Cohen were among those who flung
themselves to the street during the
ears wild fight. All were more or less
injured
LUCKILY rev passengers We're on the
ear at the time or many more would
nave been hurt in the panic. It was
necessary to turn a hose on the plat
form to exunguish the flames.
v After Peterson had been taken to the
hospital. DR.. Pinkham an old friend of
.he injured man. discovered that some
miscreant, while pretending to assist
aim, had wrenched from his shirt
bosom a diamond stud valued at 5000.