Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-12
Cause Accident on Trolley
Line Monday Morning.
Cars Collide on Water Street
Al Early Hour.
Nos. 10 and 20 Badly Smashed.
No One Hurt.

BE cause OF the slippery ran, Que 10
the dampneSS of the atmosphere and
the leaves which had collected during
the night on Rines hill and it's APP
proaches collision of three cars of
tire Lewiston, Augusta 4 Watervlle
street Railway occurred at about $40
Monday morning on the turnout in
front Of the federal building on Water
street, and while luckily there We're no
casualties resulting from the collision,
the three cars We're wrecked to the eX-
tent that they We're put temporarily out
of business. Had the accident hap
pened at any other time during the day
the results could hardly be estimated.
The cause of the trouble, as stated
above, is said to have been solely due
to the condition OF the track. The cars,
six in all. had started from the barn at
the usual hour to begin their regular
runs for the day, the first to leave be-
ing that which goes through to Wa,
terville. This was followed by another
car which runs through to Webber
pond and returns in season to leave
Augusta for Lewiston at $50 and both
cars made the descent of the hill and,
the remainder Of the trip all right.
Following them was another car,
which runs up Water street to Bridges
street, where it waits until about 500
A. NJ, when it leaves Augusta for Lew
iston. 1t was this car that first hadt
any difficulty on the hill. The car wass
in charge of Conductor Randlette ands
Motorman Richards, and was backing
down in order that it might not have.
to turn around before beginning the
run to Lewiston. When the car began
the descent Of the hill it began to slide,
gaining momentum as il nearcd the
foot of the hill. When the car reached
Water street, according to the accounts
OF the few who saw it, it was going
some. and dill not stop until it mad
passed the Bridge street switch.
Shortly after the passage of the hill
by the above ear two more cars came
along, the first Icing the local car No.
Il. which leaves Augusta al $40 FOL
North Parish church, and car No. 90.
the OBI osseecontCe, which leaves All
suata for Winthrop at Go A. NJ. CarNo
- was i'll charge o. Conductor Hunt
iHStor and Motorman HUNTINGTON. and
is said to have been under control, but
No. %, which was in charge OF Con-
duttor Dudley and Motorman Pierce,
was only partially under control and
was running fast enough so that 1t
overlook No II at the switch in front
of Masonic Temple. AS both cars were
moving however no damage resulted
from the contact and they were
brought to a stand near the north end
Of the federal building
> The car that did the damage was No.
49, the MaranacOok, which was comine
up to the city to start on it's run tc
Togus at 610 A. NJ. This car was ir.
charge of Conductor Sanderson anc
NotOrclan Jones, and came along well
until an attempt was made at Swan
street to slow her down, according tt.
ore OF the rules of the road. The track
was so slippery however, that the
wheels would not hold and she started
down the hill.
How fast the car came down the Hill
is not Known, but the speed must have
been something terrific for on reachine
The siding she crashed into the cars
Standing there with sufficient force to
go clear through the vestibule of No
20. sweeping that part of the car clean
with the exception OF the platform
~ i'itN vi TIE dow sent No. q
against No T. smashing a portion of
It's vestibulc and throwing down the
controller. The forward vestibule of
the runaway car was demolished To
some extent but not so badly as that
OF No. 20. None of the cars left the
IRONS and We're able later to return 70
the car barn under their own power
lucky feature in connection with
the accident was that no one was in.
Jured. Owing to the earliness of the
hour there We're but two passengers II,
the car. one each in No. 10 and No 20
the former being a young lady. who
mad presence of mind to remain in he,
scat AMI not risk life and limb by iump
| ihS. The crew Of No. 10 stuck to tbei,
| posts, the mOtOrman OF No 10 stoppins
| BACK into the Cur just before the crash
came.
Car No. II was the least injured o.
| the three, and the damage was slight
Car No. 20 was badly stove above the
| foor of the rear vestibule and No. 10
| shared similar fate and some glass
was broken in all three The cars We're
removed by o'clock and the DELAY o.
trafflc on account of the accident was
| slight.