The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-11
1CORt ARE INJURED
IN TROLLEY CRASH
and " Splintcrcd When IL Strikes
Hull Street Conveyance.

Upwards of score of persons were
injured some of whom miraculousiy
escaped death, when lakewood and
Lsbroad car No. 1874. in charge of Mo-
norman II. X. Blount, easthound on
Eighth street, left the tracks as u
nesred Main street shortly after z
o'clock yesterday morning and crash :
s. into Hull street car No. 1924, IN
charge of Motorr1an r. S. Wilson.
which was proceeding east on Main
street.
The front of the Hull street car was
crushed in and the impact sriintere1
virtually the entire structure OF the
lakewood and BROAD trolley. OF sixty
Passengers aboard the last named car,
seventeen We're more or less seriously
injured Both motormen stuck to
their posts
The theory was advanced by an OF
iic'al of the company that the rails
were ''sweaty." which caused the
wheels TO leave them. Another is that
the control of the car became unman-
ageahic On advice of company rep
resentatives. Motorman Blount de-
clined to talk. He was placed under
arrest. charged with operating his car
car los slv and reck lessly. Both Blount
ana his conductor, II. J. Griffin. es-
caned practically unscratched.
The car is said to have been going
al considerable speed when 1t left the
rails. struck the other trolley.
careened around and brought UP
iengthwise across Eighth street Just to
The south Of tho Main street car
tracks The right side Of the car.
from center to front. was reduced to
kindling Debris from the wreckage
was scattered in every direction. An
fenc~mous crowd Immediately gain
cred and the police we're compelled to
stretch ropes across the street to keep
the curious at "A safe distance.
Passengers Catapulntcd.
ON tho rls.ht side of the car the
portion most damaged. were longtitu-
dina seats Passengers seated On
them were rntapulsted 90 The opposite
side landing in the laps OF passengers
occupyins what are known ms two
seats Had the car been equipped
throughout with seats Of the two
seat type. i. Is believed that many OF
the passengers would have been
trapped between them and crushed 10
death
Tsa widest confusion prevailed.
Women screamed and several Of them
swonnef and rfen struggled 10 FIRE"
themselves of the wrcckare mum :
ber we've rescued through shattero
wird+,ss4 on the free side nf The car
orc9a's of the COMPANY were on
the srer@ vi hin few minutes amer
the acc tten's policeman George J@n
pi,ites WIS nj Seventh and Cary STEERS
vhen the ace dent occurred, lie
feara thn crash and Immediately hur-
rIeti to the scene Taking In the stua-
ton AZ a glance he telerhoned for inc
CIV nmtenla ncc aud patrol wagons
from ,,o.h TIA, First aud Second dis
.rlnusiv Injured were taken into
4 umpf's hotet where first aid was
atr,, 4n.~tered and where they re
sas,fn,d ante removed 10 hospitals.
Those injured.
r-',e - iu-~d are;
Mrs 4 \ Moore .7o7 South Belv'-
de~r s'r ei rroken ankle.
Policeman ]. T. wyatt, 62f South
r'esivi.i. re- street. Eack and shoulders
snrr'nea and bruised.
W. D. Minor 30s South Harrison
s.r&~t shoulders -hrrised.
so+orr,an r. s Wilson. 1905 Hun
stree. sou.h Richmond, Face and
he iacrrated and bruised
q 'Tait.ker. 22s Twenty -sfxth
street Newport News. Back srrained
ana side hurt.
Miss Maria Lynch. 2oa Third ave
me- Highland Park -.
Miss Blanche Sauuels. 3o3 west
Car street.
Mrs q prentixs sos South Linden
stree, bruises ard slight decorations,
.FYs Macy Gillian, a South
sna snfYrTin, nom shock.
Miss Madeline Gillian. TIA South
laurel street. Arm slightly cut.
F. $. Tslley. III Gladstone avenue,
Hahland Park Face slightly cut and
sid. bruised
Thomas Suhlett. Jr,, 500 Third ave-
nue. Highland Park
W. J. Gentry, Glen Allen. Hurs
about face and hands
I Mccartney,
Rosa Mason. colored. 1904 ST John
street, Scratched and bruised
James I.aunders. colored, 1908
North Fifth street.
William Hayes. coiored. To4 East
Bates street.
Ean Hampton. colorcd. . West Clay
street
Motorman Il Arrested.
AT the direction of Captain Thoinas
/ McMahon. of the First district, MO-
forman Blount was placed under ar
rest,
OF the injured. eight found II neces-
sary 10 remain at Grace hospital for
treatment Others went home after
r~ceiving emergency treatment, -four
natlents were taken to Memorial hos
piai
A number of mems and womene
hats and other wearing apparel was
left In the wrecked car and was re-
covered later. j.
steel girder comprising part or
,he frame of the car Is believed to
nave saved II from utter demolition,
or being cut in two by the heavier car.
Although the forward trucks OF the
uuII street car were thrown from the
tracks Motormar Wilson is the only
cre who was severely injured.
Notorman Blount ts sad TO be one
~ he mcst experienced motormen in
ne ernnlcv Of the company He Is
understood 10 have been in the service
rnv;arh Of fifteen wears and Is ronstd-
ered trustworthy and reliable.
The Hun street car is OF recent
tvne Of steel car and to this fact Is
attributed its ESCAPE from more seri-
Gus damage. Desnite the fact that the
-nrward nart received The full impact
~ the other car only the superstruc-
tnre was damaged. Aside from re-
catvinr 4 severe shaking up. few II
.nv % its passengers were injured
SERIOUSLY enough TO be removed 20
1 hospitals.
Roth Of the Main street tracks wera