, 1870-05-19

.. From The Ntts York Herald, Nay1T-
An accident occurred yesterday afternoon,
at quarter past 8, on the Greenwich street
elevated railroad, which might llave been at
tended with fatal consequences but which,
owing to miraculous interposition OF fate,
wns but tri6ing in its effects It seems that
the directors OF this novel scheme were desiT-
GUS Of testing the speed and strength OF tho
car with ten tons of pig iron, and, proceeding
up town at good rate Of speed, came to
Houston street, where the propeTmE
rope for tho lower section south
OF that street terminates The propu1sive
power is then taken up again BY smother
just up to the street the cars generally Cross
the span without fresh power. a sharp curve
occurs on the southeast corner, and the pas
senGer car, containing about fifteen people,
passed over eafely enough; but the freight
strain on the span Of about eighty feet, and it
was precipitated to the street, dragging with
it the passenger car. This, luckily, alighted
''plrnb" on its wheels, only two Of the occu-
pants sustaining injuries, aud those Of slight
nature. The persons injured wero Joseph Il.
Morrill,. Of No. 474 Third avenue, and Thomas
Flyn. of No. 418 East Tenth street, employees Of
the company, who walked home without assist
ancc. Frank Mckenna, track master, who was
riding on the freight-car ut tho time, WAS not
so fortunate, having sustained such severe in
dence- The track for distance of 175 feet
was torn down, shatteringa a lamp post, destroy
ing tie drum around which tho rope revolrcs,
and breaking or bcading tho transverse ARMS
OF the pillars which support tho track. In coz
sequence OF the extreme heat OF the sun, most
of the pedestrians were at the time passing on
the west side OF tho street, where tlero was
shade. consequently no accident happened, cs-
pccialIy as the train fell outward from the
buildings within few feet Of the horse
k..~n ~
travel. One Of the most miraculous escapes Of
this curious chapter OF catastrophes was that
of Peter Reid, OF No. 1876 West Tweuty-eighth
aheet, driver and owner Of 3 grocery wagon,
who Was under the span when the track COM
menced to give way. but tho hisll.spi1ited
ward in time to save its master from instant
death, as the falling chr almost Grazed ls
back and completely demolished tho wagon,
scattering the eggs and groceries, Some Ice
carriers wero on the opposite side of the
machine1J Of ills experimental road is very
complicated, and in order to understand the
accident an explanation IL necessary Of its
method Of working The track is supported
by iron columns, which branch at the top. Un-
derneath this there is an endless chain, with
projections placed at intervals. When this
Chain is running these projections strike under
meath the car against - Chuck" and thus the
car is driven forward SeEera1 disconnected
stationary engines at intervals along the line
drive these endless chains, and juat at this
other. Tho span Of eighty feet across Houston
street WIS attempted to be run without any
fresh propulsion. An acute currc, as before
mentioned, occurs at this point, and tho slack
ing Of speed over wide span, probably with a
view OF testing it, occaaioned the result, which
cd cars surface ones, thnt the strength of this
part Of the line was not up to their e1pecta-
tons. Dr. Undcrhill, who was one OF the if
teen passengers on this gravitating convey
ance, is etockholdcr, and no doubt felt cheer
fn oves thS ts, ice result t, o. nltsmp.
an eighty foot span- The deJrss was soon re-
moved. and strong force of police came i'm
mediately on tbs scene, and, clearing away the
crowd, enabled the wotkmen to attend to tiloir
freight which IT contained, almost covering It
like a bonnet, and IVES completely smashed
The passenger car il only slightly injured, but
If it had fallen on the side the passeugers
would now be subjects for CoroueIs inquest,
as desccn: OF twenty feet is not conducive
hood say that every timo the train passes the
pillars shake, showing unmistaknllo signs OF a
heavy strain It YVES stute1 that the column
on tho south side wns in an uDsaf 10 condition,
and had to be taken up two or three times.
The employees were very reticent, ard said the
Directors would furnish the press with d true
account.
The officers of the ro.d arc in nowise dis
couraged By the occurrence, as they claim th4t
it was with the express view OF finding the
weak places On the line that they made this
experiment, and with five times the weight OF
any load OF passengers which 3 ca1 could car
~. Tho officers were careful also, yesterday,
to warn persons in the ri:inlty during the pas
sage of This car, when approaching . place
deemed 1ial1o to fracture. All those who were
occupants Of the car wero employees and
81 ts fare he i
vii be repaired in few days, and tho tests,
with ten tons weight, will be continued until
the road rcsists the stEain successfully from
one cud to tho other