Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-04
FOUR PASSENGERS AND
MEMBERS OF CREW
ABOARD
ALL ARE INJURED
FROZEN BRAKES PREVENT AIR
WORKING AS CAR GAME DOWN
HIlL-STRIkES CURVE AND
PLUNGES OVER EMBANKMEN-.

Spring Valley, III, Jan. 4.-CSpe.
cial. Frozen brakes are blamed for
an accident occurring on the Chicago
Ottawa ana Peoria in this city today,
when No AZ, one Of the oldstyle cars,
was plunged off the west approach
TO the high bridge here down thirty
nve-foot incline, badly injuriug two
passengers, while two others suf-
fered minor hurts Members Of the
crew stuck to their posts and escaped
with only a few bruises and a bad
shaking up.
The injured
Miss Lucy Mussatti, Spring Valley
Several scalp wounds; badly cut on
face by flying glass Miss Mus
sattis, private secretary to w Z.
Fitch, La Sale laundryman.
Miss Madeline Pearson, Spring Val
iey--Badly shaken UP and bruised
about body.
Frank paladinskl. Spring Valley
Back injured.
Fred Jacobs, Spring Valley Minor
- bruises about head and body
Motorman Fred Hildebrand, L. Sale
Bruises on body.
Conductor Thomas McGrath, La Sale
bruised about head and body.
Blame Cold Weather.
Moterman Fred HiItabrand who was
driving the car, in a statement issued
after the accident, said that his
brakes refused to WORK when he ap-
piled them as the ear was rumblng
down the hill on Greenwood street
The cold weather. he said, put the
air out of commission, and when Che
car gained momentum on the incline
he worked frantiCally to get the
brakes to act without success. At
the foot of the hill is a sharp turn,
swinging onto the high trestle bridge
that spans the valley below. The
car. travelling at thirty-dve miles an
hour, crashed against the curve, par
italy executed it without topping
over, and then lef. the tracks. It
dove forward down the steep grade
The fall threw it. onto its side and
from then on little is remembered by
the passengers except they We're
tossed and jostled about like dice in
a box, until the car brought up at the
bottom OF the grade, a mass Of spin
tered kindling wood
Motorman Hildebrand helpless
against the impending catastrophe
never attempted to leave his pace, or
lump to safety. although he knew an
accident was inevitable. Conductor
McGrath and the passengers were
unaware OF Whai was taking place. al
though they realized the car was gath
ering momentum at every foot until
II reached a clip of thirty-fve miles
an hour before the curve was reached
Comes With Crash.
With a resounding crash the car
dove into the curve with such force
nothing could save it from leaving
the tracks. The front trucks got
partially around the curve, but the
speed coupled with the weight of the
car threw them off the tracks and the
car. with IFS passengers, started down
the hill, rolling and tumbing as it
went.
One in Hospital.
OnIy one of the passengers-M Miss
Nussati was injured severely
enough 10 arrant iler removal TO the
Spring Valley Hospital She was re
moved there, where a close eXamina-
tion disclosed none of her injuries
were serious enough to necessitate
any fears for her recovery. All the
Others, including members OF the
crew. were able to return to theil
homes without assistance.
Accident This Morning.
The car was bound from Spring
Valley to La Sale with people who &c
from that city to the latter to work
II was due to leave Spring Valley n
S.45 o'clock. but was travelling few
minutes late.
Smashed to splinters, the car is {
complete loss to the interurban.