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Story
January 19, 1913
The Labor Advocate
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Paul McCaffrey pinned under streetcar in Pawtucket, RI, bled for half-hour before rescue; leg amputated, condition critical. Editorial calls for law requiring jacks on cars, citing Wisconsin example and criticizing Rhode Island Company.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
LACK OF PROPER CAR
APPLIANCES CAUSES
UNTOLD AGONY
Paul McCaffrey, of 108 Brook street, Pawtucket, lay pinned beneath the front end of a Brook street car in that city for a half-hour Sunday night, slowly bleeding to death, while a gang of men worked frantically with planks trying to pry the conveyance up so that he could be dragged from beneath.
When he finally reached the Memorial Hospital in an ambulance his left leg was amputated below the knee, and his condition was so serious that no hope was entertained for his recovery.
Had the car been provided with jacks for raising it, the terrible agony, which McCaffrey endured while efforts were made to free him, would have been prevented, and he might have been released in time to save his life.
(One of the first acts introduced by the Wisconsin Socialists when elected to office, was a law compelling the street railway companies to carry a jack on every car so that the car could be quickly raised in case of accident. Will the Rhode Island General Assembly ever dare to pass such a law while the old parties are in control? Not unless forced to do so by force of public opinion.
It is useless to expect the Rhode Island Company to install any device for the safe-guarding of human life unless it is compelled by law to do so. These things cost money, and to the officials of the company the matter of dividends is far more important than the protection of the lives and limbs of human beings.
APPLIANCES CAUSES
UNTOLD AGONY
Paul McCaffrey, of 108 Brook street, Pawtucket, lay pinned beneath the front end of a Brook street car in that city for a half-hour Sunday night, slowly bleeding to death, while a gang of men worked frantically with planks trying to pry the conveyance up so that he could be dragged from beneath.
When he finally reached the Memorial Hospital in an ambulance his left leg was amputated below the knee, and his condition was so serious that no hope was entertained for his recovery.
Had the car been provided with jacks for raising it, the terrible agony, which McCaffrey endured while efforts were made to free him, would have been prevented, and he might have been released in time to save his life.
(One of the first acts introduced by the Wisconsin Socialists when elected to office, was a law compelling the street railway companies to carry a jack on every car so that the car could be quickly raised in case of accident. Will the Rhode Island General Assembly ever dare to pass such a law while the old parties are in control? Not unless forced to do so by force of public opinion.
It is useless to expect the Rhode Island Company to install any device for the safe-guarding of human life unless it is compelled by law to do so. These things cost money, and to the officials of the company the matter of dividends is far more important than the protection of the lives and limbs of human beings.
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Streetcar Accident
Amputation
Legislative Reform
Safety Jacks
Rhode Island Company
What entities or persons were involved?
Paul Mccaffrey
Where did it happen?
Pawtucket, Brook Street
Story Details
Key Persons
Paul Mccaffrey
Location
Pawtucket, Brook Street
Event Date
Sunday Night
Story Details
Paul McCaffrey pinned under streetcar for half-hour, bleeding; leg amputated at Memorial Hospital, recovery hopeless. Lacked jacks; commentary urges RI law like Wisconsin's to compel streetcars to carry jacks for safety.