New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-20
A CRASH IN NINTH AVENUE.
TWO ELEVATED TRAINS IN COLLISION.

TWO ELEVATED TRAINS IN COLLISION.
SEVERAL PASSENGERS INJURED, But NO ONE KILLED
MARROW ESCAPE FROM A FATAL ACCIDENT
AN ENGINEER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WITH
THE GENERAL MANAGER.
Those who live in the vicinity OF the elevated rail-
road station mt Fourteeuth-st. and Ninth-aye. were
startled about $3.50 q. ~ yesterday by loud crash,
followed by the sound OF escaping steam. People
rushed from heRdJOlnIng houses aud soon a large
crowd had gathered In the street near the station
IL ascertained that collision had occurred
between two trains bound uptown on the elevated
road, but that no one was seriously injured. A re-
porter OF The TRIBUNE, who arrived at the scene Of
the accident soon after 1t occurred learned that nn
uptown train had been standing Mt the station for
minutes, to enable the eng neer TO make some
repairs which were necessary before gong on. Tho
train consisted OF three cars, aud was drawn by ell
gne No. 81 While,t This train was delayed, another
train came around the chrve at Little Twelfth ST.,
only one block distant, and crashed into the forward
Iain throwing the passengers from their seats and
doing much damage. The engine of tho second
train smashed the rear platform OF the forward
train, the headlight projecting INTO tho car.
All of the other platforms and cOuplers on both
was sufficient 10 shove the whole tram along the
track for several feet. Tho boiler on engine No. 90
had been so firmly wedged in tho wreck oil the plat
form that It found impossible to extrcate 1t,
and the whole was cnvelOped IN q cloud OF steam
which was escaping from ono Of the broken pipes
The tender had also been crushed m by the sudden
shock and the water Ill tue tanks Iel INTO the seet
below
The accident caused delay on the road Of over
half an hour, and many trans were blocked oelow
the curve. Finally, however the cars aud engine
No. b5 were hauled off on the switch ~ Fourteenth
St. by engine No 81, which was not damaged, and
travel WAS resumed. The tram who had RatA
cred on the platform unwilling 10 give any
information about the accident. Edward BELL, the
engineer of the rear tram pointed TO tho Wrc!k ana
said that that was all the Information he could give
about IT, The reporter more successful with the
fireman Of the same engine No 80. who SAID that
when the train reached the curve ne was IN charge
of tho engine. Bell, the engineer, being busy with
the injector did not look out of the window. See.
ing tram near the station aud no iagman IN sight
he supposed that 1t was Just starting: Thinking
thai there was no danger he gave tho train full
Roadway, as was always done when not over 100
feet distant from the station. II
his mistake. and saw that the onward tram was
stationary. Calling to Engineer Bell no quickly
shut off steam and applied the vacuum brakes.
Bnt il too late. for the Roadway was too great
to be overcome before the crash occurred.
For few moments great excitement prevailed
among the passengers VINO were entirely unpTepared
for tie sudden and violent shock. There were not
more than thirty forty persons, including several
women, board the two trains, owing 10 the early
hour. The women rushed from the tram screaming,
while the Kissing steam from the locomotive added
10 the general confusion. No one was seriously III
jured, although many received bumps and bruises,
aud the general opinion seemed tO prevail among
them that the accident was the result OF the most
culpable negligence on the part of the employees
Mrs. Cornell, Of No. 470 Hicks-st Brooklyn, had
her ankle spraincd, and for some tlmo was unable
10 leave the station. She said that she had Deen
thrown several feet by the shock. Mrs. Ryan, oI
much frightened, but not otherwise Injured. VIII
ian A.. PurdOn, of No. 1872 Greenwch-st', told the
reporter that ho sitting IN the forward car Oh
the stationary train when the collision occurred,
and had been Knocked over several OF The seats
and was badly cut on the side of the head. He
thouqLt at first that tho train would leave the
track rs the car swayed violently. Ho
said that he had observed that the
tram men had all gathered at the upper end OF the
platform and seemed to be chatting together and
having good Tune while the delay continued. No
one seemed to take any notice OF the approaching
train and no hagman was sent to the corner TO
give notice of the danger In fact he thought thai
the utmost carelessness aud unconcern had Deen
displayed by all thoemployeI on the train. audit
was inexcusabe that such an accident should occur
in broad ght, passenger III tho rear car SAID
that he was reading newspaper ana dld not sec tDe
other train as IL came up when he was suddenly
Hurried several feet aud found himself lying on the
floor with fragments of glass aud wood scattered
| about him and the train filled with steam
The reporter then had an interview with Colonel
F. K Ham, the General Manager to sec what action
| the company wOnld take IN regard TO the matter.
Mr. Hahn said there would be prompt Investigation
as such an accident could not occur without mex
| cusable neglig ence somewhere.
1.-THE engiueeT0 he said, has charge OF tue train,
and IL 10 his business To look out for trains ahead
| and NOT to come within 200 feet Of theuh When
approaching o station not IN sight the engineer 10
| required to keep his train under positive CONTROL
rule which seems To have been broken IN this Case
They are also required to run their engInes person