The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-19
Mrs. B. C, Chapman Danger
ou8Iy Injured In Remarka-
BILE Accident In EnSley
CONGREGATION LEAVING
WHEN ALARM SOUNDED
Horses Got Beyond Drivers Control
and Dashed Into Church Door
Just after the Benediction
Had Been Pronounced.

Ensley. July 1S.-(Special)- unusual
and deplorable accident happened about
u o'clock this morning when the hose
wagon of the local fire department ran
into the entrance of the Methodist church
on the corner of Avenue G and Tween
tieth street, seriously injuring Mrs. B. c.
Chapman of 1916 Avenue G.
The accident happened just after the
benediction had been pronounced and the
people were leaving the church. Had the
affair happened a few minutes later a
score of people might have been injured.
Just a few minutes before u o'clock the
fire alarm was turned in from Avenue
] and Twenty-fourth street. The truck
wagon got out quickly and started for
the fire, but some delay was caused by
one of the hose wagon horses baking
when being harnessed up.
The hose wagon started out and with
the horses running at top speed turned
down Nineteenth street.
When nearing Avenue G the horses
attempted to turn up the avenue and
the driver, Charles Morrison, endeavored
to pull them back on the street, but
because of the speed at which they were
going they ran on the sidewalk in front
of the church.
Just at this moment Mrs. Chapman
stepped out of the door and was struck
on the chin by the pole of the wagon.
She was dashed violently against the
church building and it is feared her skull
is fractured The pole crashed into the
door jamb of the church, smashing it
up considerably. The greatest excite
ment prevailed for a few minutes, the
shrieks of the women and children add
ing much to the confusion.
The force of the impact with the church
building stopped the horse and Mrs.
Chapman was picked up and rushed to
the Cunningham hospital for treatment
where it was found she had sustained
a severe conclusion of the skull, broken
rib and was otherwise severely bruised
At late hour she was resting well I'M
der the circumstances. The attending ply
sicians are watching developments before
giving out the full extent Of her in
juries.
Much indignation was expressed at the
time of the accident and the driver of
the wagon was censured There were
others, however, who were eye-witnesses
who hold the driver blameless and at
tribute the affair to accidental causes
pure and simple. Morrison, who is fore
man of the paid fire department was
placed under bond and will be given a
hearing tomorrow.
Mrs. Chapman is a most estimable won1-
an and is the mother of three children
of tender years. Her husband is en-
ployed at the steel plant. She has a
host of friends who deplore the sad af-
fair and who hope she may recover. She
is receiving all the care that skilled ply
sicians, loving husband and devoted
friends can give her and hopes are en-
tertained for her recovery.
Foreman Morrison stated that no one
deplored the accident more than HIM
self and that he did all in his power to
prevent it, He asks the people to with
hold their judgment until all the facts
are investigated and made known, and
states that In six years service during
which time he has driven the wagon to
all the fires no accident has occurred
before The fire for which the call was
made was extinguished with small loss.
Two More Furnaces Started.
AS an indication of the increasing ac-
tivity of the iron and steel market two
more open-hearth furnaces at the steel
plant have been religlted and when put
in operation the open-hearth department
will be running at it's full capacity. The
furnaces will be making steel by Tues
day.
No. blast furnace is making a record,
both as to quantity and quality. No.
blast furnace is drying out and can be
started on short notice. A force of work
men Is employed remodeing the top OF
No. furnace and the presumption is that
mill ha