The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-17
New Fire Apparatus Overturned
During Run Today.
Narrow Escape From Death by
Driver Cunningham.
HIT BAD PAVEMENT.
Paving Between Car Tracks
Spilled Hose Chemical.
Firemen, Horses and Wagon
Thrown in Struggling Heap.

While swerving around the corner of
Fourth and Quincy streets a little af
ter O'Clock this morning, the new COM
bination hose chemical fire wagon from
the headquarters' station struck the
brick paving between the street car
tracks and without warning to the dri-
yer and flremen in charge it turned
completely over. throwing the driver to
the pavement and pulling the horses in
struggling mass on, the slippery ice
The brass connecting pipes on the
chemical tank, together with the dash
board, the lanterns and the left side
Of the wagon were bent and broken
and it has been necessary to send the
pipes and tank apparatus back to the
Hale factory in Kansas City where the
wagon was recently constructed.
Driver Frank Cunningham was
thrown from the wagon to the pave
n1ent and he was picked up by the fire.
men about Is feet from the scene of
the accident He received a number OF
bruises from the contact with the pave
ment but it is not thought that any
of the injuries will prove serious. The
fall was a bad one but came when the
horses were not going at full speed.
The cause of the accident is divided
between the condition of the pavement
between the street car tracks and the
slippery icy surface OF the street When
the turn was made on Fourth street
Driver Cunningham slowed the horses
down as much as possible but the
wagon kept going.
It slid from one side to another and
finally swerved around until the rear
end was on a parallel with the front
and the horses We're at right angles to
the wagon Both wheels were, given
the brakes as tightly as possible but
they would not hold against the ice and
smooth snow.
Captain Joseph Waide1fch, who came
down from station No. and substi-
tuted on the wagon during the absence
Of the regular men, was on the rear
steps at the time of the skidding. He
swung to the ground at once with one
foot and dragging his boots on the
ground he attempted to right the wagon
and keep it from swaying and tipping.
For a time the captain was able to
hold the wagon upright and with
thud the back wheels hit the pavement
between the street car tracks. This
stopped the side sliding and the captain
attempted once more to steady the big
combination hose-chenaical. But before
anything could be accomplished the
front wheels hit the upright bricks and
the mass of frame steel and brass gave
a lurch then tipped and smashed to
the pavement.
! Captain waidelieh, dropped from the,
wagon and with both feet on the
ground he attempted to hold the wagon
but it was too heavyAfor human hand
at that time and 1t lurched over. Driv-s
er Cunningham was on the seat at
tempting to hold the horses, apply the
brakes and keep his equilibrium at
the same time but the spill came too
soon for him and he was thrown out
into the street.
It was considered lucky accident
by Chief Wilmarth. If the speed had
been faster at the time the danger to
both men, horses and wagon would
have been fatal.
fire was in a two story coY1 T1ir,
ton restaurant and dwelling house. 400
East Fourth avenue. The fire had
started by the overturning of an oil
stove in the upstairs bedroom. 1t was
extinguished quickly by the chemical
wagon that had responded from sta
ton No. and the damage will amount
to about SIS
The property is owned by Joseph
SDrout and the contents by w. A.
Moody.