Year: 1870

ALMOST A FRiGHlFlL


A few minutes before II o'clock last
night, as Car No. %, of the West Baltimore
or" Red :" line, was passing Howard street,
the bell from steam engine was heard on
the latter street signalling the approach
of train of cars going in tie direction OF
the Camden station, and moment later
the engine, followed by long train of bur-
den cars, crossed the track of the City Pas
senger railway, forming perfect barrier
against the passage Of the street car.


To avoid an accident, the conductor OF
the latter pulled the bell as signal to stop,
and the driver at once proceeded to stop
the car. Turning the brake with all his
force, he pulled tightly on the reins of the
horses, but one Of them, spirited animal,
becoming frightened at the lights from the
engine and ringing of the bell, kicked and
plunged violently, and partly dragging the
other horse, rapidly nearcd the train, not
withstanding the fact that the driver was
bearing heavily on the brake.


In addition to the heavy grade at this
point, the slippery track, from the rain,
and plunging horses accelerated the speed
of the car, and it soon became evident to
those witnessing the scene that collision
was unavoidable.


There were about fifteen or twenty pas
scngcrs in the car, of whom probably one
third were ladies, and on learning the
perilous situation they were in, and OF
which they we're unaware until coming
within n few feet of the train, the excite
ment was intense, and the scene as an at
tempt was made by the passengers to gain
the street beggars description. The danger
in attempting to escape by the front door
was seen at glance, and o rush was at
once made by the frightened occupants for
the rear, blocking up the door; and on
gaining the platform several persons, among
! them ladies, in their alarm actually threw
themselves into the street, which was
covered with mud, one lady making COM
pletc sommersault over the back of gen.
tlcman, but without receiving any injuries
other than few bruises.


To the driver Of the car, Robert Lyon
too much praise cannot be awarded, as, Al
the risk of his life, he remained ut his pos
securely holding the brake with his righ
hand, while with the left he managed t.
retain q slight check on the horses, but they
still continued their career, and in an In
slant the horses struck one Of the baggage
cars attached to the train, and were thrown
to the right of the track, one falling over
the other. Persons witnessing the inciden
then expected to see the end torn from thu
street car, but by dexterous movemen
after the horses had fallen, and withou
loosening his hold of the reins, the driver
managed to secure the brake, and stopped tn
car when within .felo inches Of the train
The escape was regarded us miraculou
one, and wholly due to the wonderful pre-
scnce of mind of the driver, who appa
rently overlooked the fact of his own dan
ger, but only sought to avert the frightfu
accident that must have followed COLI
sion. In few moments considerable
crowd had gathered around the car, ant
the horses, on being taken up, were fount
to be uninjured, and after the splicing o
the reins, which had been broken, the col
proceeded on its route. Not more than fiv'
minutes elapsed from the time the traiI
was observed until it had passed; bu
during that brief time the scene enacted
was one of thrilling interest, happily ter
minating without injury to any one.