New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-12
THREE COLLISIONS IN A FOG.

prATU OF THE rNGlNEFi,-A FIREMAN INJURED
RUNNING INTO THE TRAINS IN ADVANCE
SIGNALS THAT WE'RE NOT sEEN OR NOT liRkphD
TROUBLE on THE THIRD AVENUE LINE
Three collisions occurred yesterday on the
elevated railroads on the east side OF the city'
two in Secoad-ave. and one in Third Fave. ln
one of the collisions on the Second Avenue
Line Engineer Edward NJ. Cooper was thrown
to the street and killed, and the fireman. r.
Nicholson, was slightly injured. Several cars
and one engine were damaged, and delay OF
an hour was caused in travel. The accidents
were due in great part TO the dense fos which
covered the track and prevented the engineers
from seeing the trains before them.
GREAT DISASTERS BARELY AVOIDED.
A train of three cars drawn by engine No. 81, IN
charge OF W. Thomas engineer. and T. Bellis tire
man. left the northern end of the Second Avenue
Elevated Road at 700 a. m yesterday. The cars
wore crowded with men on their way 10 business
INIT the engineer was compelled to move the tram
slowly on account of tho fog, which was so dense
that even the outlines of an object few feet away
cond hardly be distinguished. The moisture which
had settled the rails rendered the motion OF the
train irregular and difficult, and consequently the
engineer started of at a slower rate ct speed
than usual Alter he had gone some distance down
an hour and continued at that speed.
Thrve minutes later another train was started
from the northern end, drawn by engine No POI. IN
charge of G. w. Randall, engineer, and ). Qulrks'
fireman. This train also moved slowly on account
of the fog but travelled faster than the preceding
tram. When near One hundredth-st, Randall. the
engineer discovered the train ahead only short
distance away, and shut Oh steam Immediately, bat
it was too late TO avoid collision. BY his prompt
4 rtal
engine struck the rear of the train before it
powerful blow vet the damage was only
triiiiBg. The passengers jumped from their
seats in great confuslon but the excitement was
soon GAINED. The platform of the rear car was
broken. and Slight damage was done to engine No.
POI. The first train then continued on It's way
down town. and at thc station at Sixty-fifthst the
damaged ear was taken on. The passengers left the
train al Eighty-sxth-st.
THE SECOND ACCIDENT.
When The collision occurred Randall stopped his
train at One-hundredth-s to examine the damage
to the engine The conductor OF the train, in order
to follow out the rules of the company, sent
brakeman to display red dag on the platform of
the rear car as signal of danger to
the engineer eff the train behind. He
also sent brakeman named Hoe along
the walk at the side OF the track to the engi-
neer of the coming tram The next train was drawn
by engine No. 30, and left the starting point
three minutes later than tie preceding one. Edward
Nj. Cooper was tue engineer, and f. Nicholson the
fireman. The fog had become so thick by this time
that Cooper did not any of the warning signals,
and II is also believed that he did not obey the
rules in relation to speed In fog. The engine ran
into the train that had stopped with great force be-
fore Cooper could do anything to prevent the col
Ison after he perceived the danger.
The shock was so great that Cooper was thrown
from his seat and he fell between the tracks to the
street. distance Of about thirty feet Water from
the boiler also poured him, scalding
him badly, and a short time aiterwaId he died
Nicholson the fireman, was more fortunate.
He saw the danger in time to escape
to the first car of the train. The
excitement among the passengers in both trains was
great They rushed from the rear OF the first tram
to the cars ahead, ara i'll the second tram they
sourht safety IN the rear cars. They all ESCAPED
without injury. A soon as the excitement Lad sub
sided. the tram with engine No. 20, IN front went
to the depot at Sxty-ffth-s so THAI the cars could
be repaired. The passengers were transferred at
Eighty-sIXth-st AZ the scene OF the COLLISION the
damaged tran blocked the track for about an hour
Nearly all the passengers jumped to thc WOODEN
walk at he side of the track and walked TO the
nearest station, which was at EIgaty-slXt-st. For
hour the trains were not run above that station
THE DAMAGE CAUSED
The platforms of the train drawn by engine No.
61 were only slightly damaged, and engine No. POI
bolts were broken The platforms of the cars
drawn BY the latter engine were IN a bad condition.
The ROOFS over them were broken, the iron guards
were bent in fantastic SHAPES, and the doors were
smashed in. In tact cars Nos III and 176 showed
the effects of a collision the shock of which must
have been tremendous.
TIE ENGINEERS FALL
Cooper fell on bis back into the street below and
did not sir. lie was picked up By worknen, and
Foreman Andrew Didnow, of the knickeTbecker
Gas Company. carried him to a drugstore near by,
from which he removed by Officer Vail to tho
Twenty-third Precinct Station. The unfortunate
man was unconscious when the station was reached
and died in ten minutes, Just before the arrival of
the Ambulance Surgeon. His skull was fractured
and his breast, face and arms were terribly
scaldcd.
Cooper boarded at No. rs Summit-st Brooklyn,
with his aunt. lie was rot mar led. He was
formerly employed q railroad In Massachusetts,
aud his service the elevated roads is reported To
have been very faithful. Yesterday was the first
accident be is said to have pad during his TWO years
Du1ng the morning the station was visited by
many engineers VINO WISHED 10 view the remains Of
their former associate They SAID they would make
provision for the funeral themselves and hoped the
relatives of the dead engineer wond leave everv-
thing TO them. The coroner took charge OF the dead
mans clothes, in which were SO III gold and a
diamond stud.
TALK WITH THE FIREMAN.
Fireman Clark Nicholson, who was badly scalded
abont the bands and arms. and severely bruised
about the legs aud body, found at his house,
No Broadway.
1.-The fog very thick" he said "as we were
going up the grade. and it was impossible to see
ahead anv distance. We were running about twelve
miles an boar and remarked that should keep
our eyes open on account of the fog. When we
reached Ninety-second-st., could the rear
of the train about a quarter of block
ahead. Before accident could be prevented
our train ran INTO the last car OF
the train drawn by engine No. COL
was jammed between the cab and the coal-box
against which the steam was blown. but got out