Year: 1867

| SdE ACCLueut


Broeklyn-A Passenger Car Break,


Loose on n Down Grade md IL Ter


ribiy Shattered in the Finnl Coli


sion-A Lady Killed-Other Passen


gers Severely Injured.


A young lady met her death and


several persons were more or less cut


and bruised, yesterday morning, by one


of these accidents which not unfPequent.


ly happen to horse cars whick pass


down steep grades with heavy loads


The accident yesterday morning occur


red on car No. Ia of the Fifth avenue
and Atlantic street line. 1t was pass
ing down Atlantic street, towards the
| ferry with thirty-seven passengers, part
of whom were ladies, and in conse-
quence of the heavy load considerable
force had to be used on the brake to
check its speed. When reaching the
corner of Hicks street, however, the
brake gave way, and the car being en-
tirely loose its motion became very
rapid. The conductor tried in vain to
check its progress with the brake on the
rear platform, and called upon the pass
engers to assist him. All the strength
they could apply did not have the least
effect, and it is believed that, as we'll as
the forward brake, had broken or was
out of order. The passengers soon be-
came thoroughly aware of their peril
GUS position, aud the greater the ve-
lOcity of the car the more terrified they
became. The horses were not at first
detached, and the car ran upon their
heels, causing them to kick and dash
forward in frightful manner. Ulti-
mately they became loosened, probably
through their kicking and plnnging,
and the car, uncontrolled, went down
the grade faster than steam could have
taken it. Some of the passengers jump.
ed from the platform, some clung to the
car with tenacity only possible when
death seemed to them inevitable, while
Others shrieked at the top Of their voices.
Those who jumped from the car were
the less fortunate. A young lady NAM
ed Miss Emma Leiding, residing in
Fourteenth street, near Sixth avenue,
was among several who jumped of.
The motion of the car was so great that
she was thrown violently upon the cob
BILE stones and sustained n fracture of
the skull. She was picked up and died
while being conveyed to the Long ISL
and College Hospital, which is but a
short distance from the scene of the ac-
cidcnt. Others who jumped off were
badly bruised, but not seriously injured.
The car was but few seconds in reach
ing the foot of the hill, distance of
about six blocks. The track at this
point passes from Atlantic into Furman
street, but the car was going with too
great force to- follow it, and ran off,
striking an awning post on the opposite
side Of the street, which it smashed to
splinters and then landed upon the side
walk, throwing the passengers in pro-
miscuous heap upon the floor, the plat
form and the street. Doubtless great
er number would have been killed out
right or fatally injured but for the fact
that the crowd in the car was so great
that it was almost impossible for them
to move. One man had his hand terri
bly, cut, and several others were bruised,
but they all considered themselves eX-
tremely fortunate to escape with their
lives, and without any broken bones.
The car was pretty well smashed up.
The top was broken off and it was other
wise shattered. The Coroner empanell-
ed Il jury yesterday afternoon and view
ed the body of Miss Leiding. The in
quest will probably be held on Monday.