The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-16
CAR IS
HIT BY
TRAIN
Street Car Completely De-
molished by Train
No. 10
PASSENGERS ALL ESCAPED
Fireman Who Jumped From
Cab Is Seriously
Injured
PASSENGERS ALL ESCAPED

A number Of passengers on the
night had a narrow escape from death
when the car on which they were rid
ing was struck and completely de-
molished by train No. 10 on the Thir-
teenth street crossing at a little after
10 o'clock.
Power Failed
The train was at a safe distance, I'M
der ordinary circumstances, and the
car was crossing the tracks when for
some reason the power failed. There
are four tracks at that point, and it
ape arS that the car raj for some dis
tance after the power failed. stopping
squarely on the north track, the main
track. The lights went out when the
power was cut off and the car was in
darkness.
Conductors Good Work.
From what could be learned of the
accident, it appears that the cause of
the failure of the power was the slip
ping off of the trolley pole from the
wire. The conductor, according to
those who saw the accident tried
hard to get the pole on the wire again
before the train reached them but was
unsuccessful.
Trainmen Saw Car.
Evidently the engineer and fireman
on the train saw the car, for they had
a brilliant electric headlight, and, in
spite Of the fact that there were no
lights on the car, probably saw it, for
they began whistling when about a
quarter Of a mile away. They prob
ably supposed that the car would move
out of the way in plenty of time and
so did not attempt to stop until quite
close.
Passengers Get Out.
The passengers were alive to the
danger, and, in response to the con-
ductor's warning, the whistle, and the
brilliant headlight, they fastened out
Of the car. There were not many
passengers on board, and they We're
all able to make their escape before
the train struck the car.
Car Smashed to KindIing.
The engineer applied the brakes
vigorously when he saw that the cal
was stalled on the track, but it was
too late to stop, and the engine hit
the front end of. the car with terrific
force. The front v%estibule,, with the
stove, was torn from the car and
carried about $50 feet down the track
on the left side, the wreckage catching
fire from the stove.
The remainder of the car was
thrown to the right Of the track, and
was turned clear around. Had any OF
the passengers remained on the car
they could not have escaped instant
death. The front end of the engine
was somewhat smashed, but not badly,
The train ran for some distance before
if cOUl5 he SfOnna6.
Fireman Injured in Jump.
When Fireman Carl Sutherland saw
that a collision was unavoidable, he
leaped from the cab in the darkness
and struck a telegraph pole. A search
was made for him after the accident,
and he was found unconscious. He
was taken in an ambulance to a local
hospital.
A fracture of the skull is feared,
and it was said today that he had
been delirious most Of the time since
the accident. He sustained severe
bruises of the back. but it is not yet
juries. No n else was injured.
Passengers on Train Felt Shock.
Passengers on the train stated that
they distinctly felt the" shock when
the train struck the car. They noticed
first the sharp jerk when the air
brakes were applied, and her felt the
heavy jar of the collision, though the
train did not stop for several hundred
feet after it hit the car.