Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-10
COAL CARS RUN
.AMUCK ON R|NES HILL
THURSDAY MORNING
Race Down to Water
Street and Crash into
Coal Team, Wrecking
It and Also Two Au-
tos Narrow Escape
from Serious Accident

The term runaway" usually asso-
ciates in ones mind with a wild dash
that some frightened horse may make
through tho city streets with the re-
sultant damage that may result to the
vehicle which he is hauling behind
him or to those with which he may
collide, but the widest runaway which
has taken place in Augusta for some
time was that of yesterday morning
ing a loaded coal car on the Lewis
ton, Augusta & Waterville Street
Railway came down over Rines hill
on the run and continued for some
little distance up Water street, scatter
ing destruction in its wake. 1t was
only by rare good luck that the dam
age done. which included the partial
wrecking Of three vehicles and the in
juring of a horse, was not greater
The power car. in charge of Motor
man James Trask, was hauling a car
load of soft coal from Hallowell to the
mills of the American Wooden Co. at
North Nassalhoro, the messenger on
the latter car being Fred Heffernan.
The cars had reached the top of Rlnes
hill in safety but when the descent of
the hill was commenced the cars began
to gain speed and the motorman was
unable to check or stop them. In this
interval Mr.. Trask realizing the dan
ger to vehicles and people along Wa
ter street. repeatedly sounded a warn
ing by blowing whistle of the car.
As tho cars rushed along lower Wa
ter street they overlook q coal team
belonging to the Stone & Cooper Coal
Co, which was driven by Bert Trask
and was engaged in hauling soft coal
from cars on a Maine Central siding
to the company's sheds on the wharf
Crashing into the coal team at a point
about in front of the entrance of Ma
sonic Temple. the runaways wrecked
the front end of the cart and throw
ing the horse to the pavement dragged
the team nearly to the south end Of the
federal building. strewinc the coal
from the cart for the entire distance
Young Trask jumped from the coal
team and thus saved himself, but the
shafts Of the cart were broken short
off and the cart was otherwise dam
rged Nearly every strap was torn
from the horse. and regaining his feet
quickly he started on the run up Water
street he turned down into the drive
way leading to the steamboat wharf
and was there captured. The horse was
somewhat cut about the legs. and it
was feared vess-rdav afternoon that
he had sustained injuries to his back.
The runaway cars pushed tho wreck
Ct tho coal cart along for a distance
Of about % yards and in travel
ling that distance turned the cart
completely around so that il headed
down street. Along the east side Of the
stree. several automobiles were stand
ing end against one of these. new
Overland owned by Fred c. Pooler OF
Skowhegan. was caught between the
wreck Of the coal cart and the side
walk curling. Both mud guards Of the
left hand side of the car Were wiped
off and the running board on that side
was also dana ged 1p addition 70 this
the front axle of the car was sprung.
Just north Of the Pooler car was a
Buick runabout owned by L. L. Well
man and arainst this the cars pushed
the wreck Of the coal cart, stavinr the
right rear wheel and otherwise iniur-
Ing that end Of the car. II was about
AZ that poirt that the runaway cars
were brought 70 a standstill, Copsd-
ering the number Of peonle. teams and
autos which were on lower Water
street ~ ttat time II Is remarkable
that some one was not injured or kill
ed ~