The New York herald., 1870-05-17
AN AERIAL MAN TRAP.
Tho Perils Of Riding on Rail"-The Green
wich Street Gridiron Lowering Its Car
Tracks-Coming Down to q Dead
Level "-Miraculous Escapes

An accident occurred yesterday afternoon. at
quarter past three the Greenwich street elevated
railroad which might have been attended with fatal
consequences, but which, owing to miraculous
tnterposion OF fate was but trng IN its eject. II
seems that the directors OF this novel scheme were
desirous OF testing the speed ana strength OF the
road, and for this purpose had loaded freight car
with ten tons OF pig tron and proceeding up town at
good rate OF speed came to Houston street, where
the propeling rope for the lower section south
OF that street terminates The propulsive power
Is then taken up again by another "endless''
rope, and by the impetus given just up to
the street the generally cross the span without
fresh power. A sharp curve occurs the southeast
corner, and the passenger car, containing about
ifteen people, passed over safely enough; but the
freight car with It's heavy load OF iron too much
strain on the span or about eighty feet and 1t was
precptaed on the street. dragging with it the pas
senger car. This luckily alighted 'plumb" OF its
wheels, only two Of the occupants sustaining In
jures, and those OF slight nature. Tne persons
injured were Joseph H. Morrill,, OF No. 47i Third ave-
nue. and Thomas Flyn OF No. 41S East Tenth street,
employees OF the company who walked home without
assistance. Frank McKenna. track MASTER who was
riding on the freight at the tme not so for
tunace having sustained such injury as to re-
quire his being carried to his residence The track
lamppost, destroying the drum around which the
rope revOlyes, and breaking or bending the trans
verse arms OF the pillars which support the track. In
consequence Of the extreme heat OF the sun, mot OF
the pedestrians the time passing on the west
side OF the street, wnere there was shade, con O.
fell outward from the buildings within u few
feet OF the horse track, and consequently
not impeding travel. One OF the most miraculous
escapes OF this curious chapter OF catastrophes was
that OF Peter Red, or No. 1856 West Twenty-eghih
81! eet driver and owner OF q grocery wagon, VINO
was under the span when the track commenced 10
give way, but the high spirited hcrse taking fright
at the noise bounded forward just Ia time to save us
master from Instant DEATH as the falling car almost
grazed his back and completely demolished the
wagon scattering the eggs and groceries, some ice ice
ca rers were on me opposite ..rU,or sae OF ae Tae
machinery OF this experimental road Is
very complicated and In order to understand the &C:
cident explanation s necessary OF Its method OF
working. the track is supported by iron columns,
which branch at the top. Underneath this there Is
an endless chain, with projections placedat intervals
When this chain is running these pro ections strike
underneath the car against "chuck" aud thus the
car is driven forwa d. Several disconnected stat on
airy engines ut intervals along the Line drive these
endless chains, and just at this point the @ car
was passing flom one to the other Tne
was attempted to DC run without any fresh
propulsion. An acute curve, as before mentioned,
occurs al this polnt and the Stacking OF speed over
wide span. probably with view Of testing it, oc-
casioned the result which convinced the I'll eciors
by making me elevated rs surface ones tast n, the
expectations. Dr. Unde hill, VINO was one OF The
feen passengers on this gravltatng conveyance ID
stockhoder and no doubt felt cheerful over the re-
suit emptng to rry ten tons OF pig iron over
an eighty FOOT sp n The debris was soon remove J.,
and q strong force Of poice came Immediately
| on the scene ana clearing away the crowd enabled
| tue workmen to attend to, their duties. The
freight ie inverted on the freight which II con-
tanned, almost covering II like a bonnet. and was
| completely smashed. The passenger car Is only
slightly injured, but II 1t had fallen the side the
| passengers would now be subjects for COroner's
inquest, descent OF twenty feet Ia not condu-
| Give to longevity. The dweilers In the neghbOr-
hood say that every time the train the pillars
shake showing unmistakable signs or heavy
| strain. 1t stated that the column on the south
| side was in an unsafe condition. and had to be
| taken up two three times. The employees were
| very retcent and said the directors would furnish
| he press with true sec Junt.
The officers OF the road are in no wise discouraged
by the occurrence, or they claim that 1t Was th the
| xpress view OF finding the weak pla es on the line
that they made this experiment and with five times
| the weight Of any load Of passe ,gers which car
could car " The officers carefIl also yesterdat
t. warn persons in the vicinity during the passage
| OF this Car when approaching place deemed Liable
| to fracture. AL those who were occupants or the
car were employees and friends Of the officers Of the
roai and not pa ssengers Tor The break 1t is
| thought will be repaired In few days, and the
tests, with ten tons weight, Will be continued until
the road resistse the strain successfully from one
end 70 the other.