Salt Lake Tribune | 1904-05-29 | Page 20 | Fire in a Street Car Caused a Commotion

FIRE IN A STREET CAR CAUSED A COMMOTION A fire on car number 37. which runs on the East First South line, created a sensation among a number of passengers pas-sengers returning to town from the university at a late hour last night. Passengers were chatting about old times when suddenly some streaks of smoke began to arise from the center of the car. In a moment the floor timbers were crackling and sparkling In every direction. The passengers made a rush for the door. The amazed carmen did not know exactly what was the matter. They stood around and looked on with the passengers. All the while the fire spread furiously. One of the spectators advised the conductor con-ductor to run his car down to the reservoir reser-voir at the foot of tho hill. This suggestion sug-gestion met with approval and down tho hill at. lightning speed went the burning car. A bucket brigade was quickly formed and beforo long the threatening flames were extinguished. A subsequent examination proved that the controller had boon short circuited, cir-cuited, with the result that the wlrca had bcn heated to the Ignition polnL The wires quickly transferred their sparks to the wooden tfloor and the result re-sult was a burning car. It was Immediately Imme-diately taken to the repair shop and will not be ready for use until a couple of the floor timbers have been exchanged.