New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-19
RAILWAY NEWS.
,C1pENT on THE ELEVATED LINE.

A NEGLIGENT swIrCH-rENDER-wHAr CAUSED
SLIGHT ALARM on TIE SECOND AvrNUE LINE.
An accident occurred on the Second Avenue Ele-
waited Railroad yesterday morning, which although
it caused neither loss Of life noF personal Injury,
might have been serious under less favorable cir
cumstances.
Az tie ndred-and-twentieth-st. station OF
the road which is the present terminus of the line.
the trains arrive and leave the easterly track.
A short distance below the station there three
tracks. switch having been built between the
main tracks At this point the downtown trains
are transferred TO their proper track on the west
side of the street after they have left the station.
At 7:20 a. m. yesterday a train OF three
cars started down town from this station. It was
going nj slow rate Of speed After il had crossed
the switch and bad proceeded about sixty seventy
feet beyond. IL was discovered that the last trnck
of the rear was upon the siding while the
forward truck on the proper track. An en-
glne was standing on the SIDING al the time await
irg the departure of the down train IN order 10
move up to the station for the ncXI train.
The tram was immediately stopped but not be-
fnra ria. rrucl, winch waa uDnn the siding had
struck the engine standing there. BY the force OF
the blow and fhe unnatural strain ur0n t FROM the
remainder o. the train. tie truck was forced from
tine track and plunged infO the street below. ) ne
ear settled down upon the guard rails with Slight
sbOci The DIS 'ance between the switch track aud
the main track j. between four and liya feet.
Several passengers were IN the rear Car ut the
time t Is SAID. but they entered the forward part
OF the tram wnen they 81 " the danger brake
man stood upon ne rear platform aud pulled the
alarm ncil-coTd for she ncer 10 sf0p as soon rs
be saw the difficulty Dut tor some reason the con
nectiOn Of the bell rope defective aud me en-
guear received no signal. The delay TO the train
only about five miuutes rs The re1r car was ILL.,
coupled AID the tram proc edcd down town. \
new truck Wa obtained ana placed under the car
and while this work being done the trains were
arted from the OnrLundTeti-ald-o,e ycntb-st. STA
ton.
The name of the swltchman ut the point whore
the accident occurred DOdc. lie ls about thirty
five wears age. and has been ploYed "a switch
man by the Elevated Railroad Company for over
year. Hc an old railroad cmpiCye, 81 j. said. lie
was standing wirhiu fifteen feet Of the switch when
be pulled The lever.
Robert stewart superintendent of the Eastern Di-
vision Of the Elevated RaIli oads. said g. a Tribune
reporter last evening Inere can be no doubt but
chat tine switchman, III his haste 10 change the
switch Tor tne zine that was on the siding, re-
vcrSed the lever before Jne last true. of she rear
car had PASSED over the switch. Everything goes
to show tins, alth0uga understand that he denies
il. He was Immediately SUSPENDED pending exam
nauOu. and another swItci man put IN DIS place.
Il 10 proved that ms fault, OF course he VIII
be- discharged, In - fortunate tHat 30 horse-car
was underneath when the truck fell, Tor 10 struck
in the middle OF the street. lie damage IS only TO
the truck, and VIII NOT be- over $50 problo'y.'