This Day in History: September 22nd, 1913

This Day in History: September 22nd, 1913

BOB-TAIL CAR SPLINTERED IN COLLISION
Public Service Fast Line Car Wrecks One at Oak Hill—
Motormen Jumped from Cars to Save Their Lives—No Serious Injuries.

Through what apparently seems to be a misunderstanding between the crews of two cars following each other into this city yesterday morning at about 6:45 o’clock, the last one a bob-tail, in charge of Mr. Herbold of New Brunswick, collided head-on with one of the Public Service Fast Line cars, in charge of Motorman Amiel Kaiser, of Milltown, and conductor William Rosseau of New Brunswick, at the foot of Oak Hill, just outside of the Borough limits of Milltown, resulting in severe damages to both of the cars. In fact, the smaller car is now only fit for scrap, while the latter will be sent to Newark for repairs. There were no serious personal injuries.

The fast line car, with six or seven passengers aboard, had just left O’Rourke’s switch, bound for Milltown, and it was at the foot of the steep incline at the foot of Oak Hill that it met the city car, on which there was a motorman and a conductor in addition to the motorman running the car.

Both motormen, evidently realizing the danger ahead, jumped, Kaiser of the fast line jumping on the stone road to safety and Herbold, of the bob-tail, jumping into the ditch, both escaping with a severe shaking up, while the motorman and conductor that were penned inside of the car hardly knew what to do when they realized the danger ahead and fortunately escaped without injury. The passengers, (all men) on the fast line were uninjured as the weight of this car was so much greater than the completely wrecked one.

The crew in charge of the car that passed the fast line at O’Rourke’s switch and whom the motorman of the bob-tail claims he notified he would follow, (although the former contradicts), did not notify the crew of the fast line car, thus causing a head-on collision in broad daylight. Mr. Arnold of New Brunswick, and Mr. Law, of Deans, were in charge of the Codwise Avenue car that passed the fast line at O’Rourke’s switch. When one of the crew was regarding the accident, he stated that it was contrary to the company’s rules to make any statement. He did, however, say that the rails were very slippery owing to the damp weather.

In about forty minutes from the time of the accident, the wrecking crew delivered the wrecked cars to the barns at Milltown. The Public Service officials immediately started an investigation of the case.


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