Young Bicyclist Saved From Death

By the Timely Presence of Mind of Motorman Bloomfield

THE CARELESS WHEELMAN

Was Almost Under the Car When the Motorman Brought it to a Stop

What might have resulted in the death of a young bicyclist was narrowly averted about 7 o'clock p.m. Friday at State and William streets by the timely presence of mind of A. E. Bloomfield, a motorman on the city railway.

The car which Bloomfield was driving was going south. It was approaching the switch at the point above named, when a young man, riding a wheel, attempted to pass in front of it. The bicyclist would probably have gotten across the tracks safely, had the tire of his wheel not caught the slightest intersection between the main and the switch rails. The young fellow fell off across the track and the car was almost upon him when motorman Bloomfield, by a heroic effort suddenly reversed the lever of his motor and car with a sudden jolt was stopped. 

The bicyclist picked himself up mounted his wheel and rode off before Bloomfield had an opportunity of getting off his car to secure his name or find out if he had been hurt by his fall.

Among the passengers on the car was Thomas J. Keech, manager of the Michigan Telephone Co. In talking of the occurrence Saturday, he said:

"I have been on many electric cars, but the way in which Mr. Bloomfield handled his motor last night was the best I have ever witnessed. The car was going at a fair rate of speed. It stopped so suddenly that the passengers were all jolted more or less and some of us got out to see what was the matter. The young fellow who had ridden onto the tracks was just picking up his wheel from the street in front of the car but before any of us could speak to him he was gone. Motorman Bloomfield should have an appreciation fo the public for the splendid effort he made to save the young fellow's life."