The New York herald., 1879-03-26
Gross CarelesSness In the Switch Tend
ing at Forty-Second Street.
TERROR-STRICKEN PASSENGERS
Statements Of the Engineers, Or
ficers and Others.
WARNING TO THE COMPANY.

yesterday, Which, though happily causing no
loss Of life, resulted in considerable damage to
person and property, and showed TO what danger
passengers exposed by the present arrange
mcnt of switches at important points.
Two circumstances are equally surprising
one, the extraordinary negligence Of the
employees upon whom the responsibility pri-
marily rests; the other the escape of tho pas
senaers and train hands from q terrible death.
That only seven persons were injured ut all, and
those few but slightly, is little short of q
miracle, and words too severe can hardly be
used in condemnation of the parties by whom
80 many lives were exposed to almost GER
tain destruction. A misplaced switch was
the cause of the catastrophe, and no reason has
been assigned for the gross carelessness of the
man entrusted with itsreare 1t WAS just below
tho Forty-secOnd street and Third avenue sta
ton that train from Harlem colided with one
from South ferry, the switch on the western
track having been left open after the passage of
train for the Grand Central Depot. The south
bound train was jnst leaving one platform as
the north bound train was approaching the
other, SO that neither was moving rapidly when
they collided. Had they been running Mt q high
rate of speed both would doubtless have been
life; or if tho engine of the Harlem train had
struck the side instead of the end Of car, sew
eral persons would almost inevitably have been
killed.
LIST THE INJURED.
The following is list Of those who were injured by
ARNOLD. J. g.. .paanter, No. 203 Third avenue;
bruised and cut about the hands; went homo.
FORD. conductor Of upward bound train; slightly
injured.
GALLAGHER. TERENCE, officer. Of rwenty-hrst
precinct; hands badly acerated by glass; taken
70 Bellevue Hospital and aftcr~ard returned to duty
MULLIGAN, PATRICK. brakeman Of No. l2s East
Eighty second street; severely cut about tho head
wounds dressed at station house; taken homo.
PECK. Mrs. WILLIAM H.. of Atlanta Ga. arm,
eide und shoulder badly bruised.
SUTHERLAND. THOMAS nagmsn; knocked down
end woupdel in The head. So
a boy. uSns unknown, was cut about the fore
head.
HOW 1HE COLLISION OCCURRED.
The story of the collision be briefly told. Tho
South ferry train, drawn by engine No. &C. and tho
Harlem train. drawn by engine No. 1is, both left at
twelve O'Clock. At twenty-one minutes past twelve
they reached the Forty-second street station. A
Grand Central Depot train had just passed into Forty
second street. and the switchhan. Davenport. had
IL
was, fortunately barely half hlied. instead Of
pursuing its course down the west track. was
thus switched on on the crossing leading to the
east track Just et this time the South ferry train
also. fortunately, only half filled with passengers
running up the cast track. and the Harlem train
shot straight at it. The engines OF the two trains
collded with considerable force, although neither
train under full headway. that fro South ferry
having slackcned up to stop at tho station and the
Harlem train having just started. Nevertheless tho
collision one Of such force that. according to
the statement OF Mr.. Ketchum the telegraph opera
tor at Forty-second street. the Harlem train was
dashed back shout twenty feet.
MARROW ESCAPE.
The passengers, some Of whom were violently
thrown to the door by the shock. and who prob
ably. st tho instant Of tho thought thcy
lost, had miraculous escape from all but ap-
parently slight injuries. Tho South ferry train was
N such position that the engine Of the Harlem
train struck its engine and knocked away the front
platform OF the first car. But had the South ferry
train been thirty feet further MP the engine Of the
Harlem train would have crashed through the
wooden side Of the and undoubtedly killed
many passengers. As it was. tho damage was compa-
Sativcly slight. Patrick Mulligan. brakeman. who
stood the front platform Of the South ferry tran
was knocked down and injured about the head and
othcrs sustained injuries which are detailed below
The smokcstack OF the up train engine was knocked
away like straw. aud tho drsw-head Of the down
train car next to the engine was smashed. Tho
windows ana doors OF several cars werc
shattered and tho faces and hands Of SOW
eral passengers cut by tho flying splintcrs
Az the Harlem train was dashed back from tho
switch upon the main track tho car struck the
nagman. Sutherland. who was just crossing tho
track. Fortunately, ho was thrown on tho siding
and not upon tho track IN which case he would have
been crushed beneath the wheels Largo portions OF
Tho wooden guard rails on the switch were knocked
sway and fell to the street.
PROLONGED DETENTION.
Neither Of the engines being entirely disabled tho
Harlem train backed to the station and discharged
It's passengers. The South ferry train also reached
the track station and there let OF ts frightened
snd injured occupants. Tho damaged cars and
sincs wcrc switched on to tho middle track and an
alarm was sent out to stop all trains At
The nearest stations. For nearly an hour
and . half the trains entirely ceased run
ming and tho gstemen stationed at
the stairs AT every station TO give informa-
tion Of the fact. Superintendent Ondcrdonk. in
sponso to tho alarm, hastsned TO tho scene of the
collision and proceeded clear away tho track and
resume the running Of trains. DR.. Frecr. one Of the
accident inspectors Of tho company was also sent
mp to Fortysccond street. whence he tcegraphcd the
following oficial report 70 the oompanys ofico:--
n. GviLvonp. Vice President:
cannot hear that any passengers badly hnrt
srs scratched aud sghty rut by broken glass One
President Dr. FREER.
superintendent ondcr,ionk addressed tho following
oncia telegraph report to General Manager Kicker,
who with all the superior officers and directors Of
the road, remained ut their Offices.
have becn very busy In charge Of the Junction a.
Sutherland the nasman injured and cft for home
fbc accident occurred with engine No. 1is Kiddcr
sinssr going south Tho SWITCH wrong
ke across. collidng with engine No. Clark
einecr, going north. bound for llnrIcm Knxins
Fl badly brukcn engine lu slightly rhs forward plat
Form forward nvrh bound train broken
vard platform ot forward car of south bound train
broken Severs Of Glass broken In both trsipe
brakeman MuIiigan injured about the bead and
su'herIasd In charge o. he sso hurt about sAs