New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-09
HO0D00 TRAILS
PATROL; 4 HURT
Fire Insurance Auto, with
Sinister Past, Hits
StreetCar.

The hoodoo OF Pire Insurance Patrol
No. 2 rode on the compsnys auto truck
last night, when it crashed into Third
Avenue surface car at Fourteenth
Street, probably fatally injuring two,
less seriously injuring two others and
creating a panic in the crowded car.
In the police records the incident
will stand as an ordinary accident, due
TO rush hour congestion. To the fire
insurance men, however. the affair is
another evidence Of the hoodoo that
has attached to the big auto truck.
Just one of the proofs they point TO IS
the fact that Captain reter Cornwell,
who for thirty years has responded 70
fire alarms without an accident of any
sort, lies dying at Bellevue Hospital.
The truck was responding 70 an
alarm for a fire tina, was reported as
destroying the homo Of DR.. William
Richter, POI East Nineteenth Street, at
$3.50 o'clock in the evening. As 1t was
being driven rapidly east in Fourteenth
Street. John Kemman, the driver, sud-
denly saw Third Avenue car. crowded
TO the doors, crossing the street ahead
Of him.
II was too late 70 escape collision,
but the driver succeeded in sweTing
the iive-ton truck 20 the left, with the
result that il was driven, sideways, into
the front Of the car, with shock that
threatened 20 overtur.. both vehicles.
Captain Cornwell, who was standing on
the running board. was pinned between
the truck and the car, both legs beng
crushed. Five other men. who were
standing beside him, succeeded in lift
ing themselves IN above the portion
OF the car that was struck.
Kemman WAS thrown from his seat
over the steering gear and on 20 the
pavement ahead OF the streetchr.
Men and women who were ismmed
into the car struggled toward the
door. But for once the s.raphangers
proved 20 be a life-saving agency. No
bodv was able 20 reach the doors, and
nv the time there was a possibility or
making headway the danger was past.
Meanwhile the crowd had congre-
eat.d about the scene o. the accident
70 such an extent that It was neces-
sarv 20 summon additional police 70
tsen the curiosity seekers IN cheek
while n search was made in the car for
injured The result was that James
= Franc, 52s West Fifty-nrst Street
Tdysrd Rothwell. 3O7 East 15sth
street. and Leo Pluquette, 80 South
sixth Street, were reported hurt.
This Is the third time Fire insurance
Patrol No. 2's heavy auto truck has
stidded into accidents, while It has hg-
.urod IN more narrow escapes than any
otber vehicle in the more dangerous
service Of the regular Fire Department
Tc.. than q year ago Il oollided win
an electric light pole, but without seri-
~. injury 20 its occupants. A rev
months ego Il executed an eccentric
rurve in the street and collided with
Denutv Fire Chief Binns. That time,
700. the results we're not serious.
Until he began riding the gasolene,
drawn vehicle Captain CornweN Ioked
those who spoke Of the possibility OF
accident- He had driven through the
streets AZ top speed unscatched so often
that he had come 70 believe that he was
accident proof. The men had come 70 be
so certain Of this that they preferred
TO ride with him and enjoy the same
mmunity-which is one OF the reasons
they attribute last nights accident 20
the trucks hoodoo.