New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-24
BRAKES THAT would NOT WORK.


AN ENGINE THAT GOT BEYOND CONTROL
CRASHING INTO TUE BUMPING-BLOCKs AT THE CITY
RAIL- ELEVATED NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THROWN
powN-wHAT TIE ENGINEER AND OTHER OFF
Gals say.
"Heaveu help u.s. What's the mather7" cried
thick-waiSted Irishwonan she tumbled head
foremost from one side of car to the other on the
Third Avenue Elevated Road, as n train crashed
against the humping blocks at the City Hall Statlon
at half past 10 o'clock yesterday morning. AT the
SAINT instant there was writing mass OF arms ana
legs on the floor in the middle OF the car which
looked like pile of struggling football players
The loud crash which resembled an explosion.
was followed by the cracking of glass in the win
dows and men aud women as soon as they could
free themselves made rush for the doors. This
was in the car Immediately behind the engine SIM
liar scenes took place IN the second car. where, III
addition TO the enforced scramble the floor, sew
eral p 5sen gers taken by surprise that their
heads were violently projected through the win
dows. IL the third and fourth the shock was
not so great yet severe enough to produce conlu-
zion and fright on the part Of women and children
When the first fright was and those inside
had picked themselves up they were loudly as
sured by railroad employees on the platform outside
that nothing of any consequence had happened. al
the time the train came to stop ~ such an uncer-
emonious manner most of the passengers were on
were standing in the aisles on account OF the
crowded condition of the train, 1t was owing to
this that there was such q general tumble, each man
Knocking his neghbor down like nlhe-pn.
Some Of those who were in their seats Jared worse
than those hurled to the floor by being thrown
against the sides of the One man was at the
front door Of the first in the act of opening 1T TO
20 out when the shock he was seriously hurt
about the head 1t was some minutes before he
FL IN Others
this car received bruises and slight cuts from fall
ing against the woodwork against window
glass In one Of the rear coaches Mary Deuiker,
a middle-agcd woman, who lives at Thrd-avc.
and One-hundrcd and sixty 20 lghth-st., had her
forehead cut by beng flung IRON ner seat againsta
window In addition TO hor I'M ny she was so
severely shocked that she taken into the wait
ing-roon OF the station ana there cared for by pO-
lieeman Another passenger had his right hand so
cut with glass that blood lowed freely IRON Tie
wound.
bnmpinp blocks that they were broken down and
left hanging by splints. The rail guards, where the
engine soPped M ftSd a o t tra c hY tbe
cussion The engine itself was some what battered
an front, aud the tender was crushed out OF shape
by tie front passenger coach jumping upon IT,.
large hole was in the watcrta IN the tender
ana the water which IL contained ran out INTO the
street below The cars apparently sustained no
damage, except the breaking o glass IN some OF the
ii came in as usualv said J. H. Johnson the en-
gineer. with the regular slow-up speed. But when
put my brake ~ bring the train 20 dead stop
it failed me. Then threw the engine back, and
ran out sand ON the track THIS didn't stop her in
time ana are pumped against the blocks. That's
nll there is tn H."
fran Dispatcher Gilroy when he heard the noise
ran down the platform to ascertain what the trouble
was He was disposed TO consider the accident
something that could not have been prevented and
rs of little consequence
+" The vacuum brake in working order" he
Baid, when the train left Chatham square, and
the train went past window ut the far end OF the
TAFT uln "A
Ing in. When the engineer found the brake ana not
serve him he reversed his engine and ran his sand
pun But the rails slippery and the engine was
too near the Ounplngblo 10 be brought to stop,
and so she went against them with a sort OF bang
Such things Will happen. Take the surface roads.
There is hardly day that the trains not bump
ing into something other 1t s really remarkable
that there Is little trouble OF thus kind. where
khere are three or fonr hundred trains going
out and coming In in a day. Trains on the Third
the brakes have also sometimes refused to work
But there never has been any serious result don't
nee how any blame is TO DO attached TO the engineer
"a he did all be could. The were not injured
Mt all there being not single bolt out OF place.
There was practically no delay OF traffic. Trans
were running as usual IN lew minutes;
f. X Hahn, the general manager, said that he had
Received report of the accident except bret dis
patch over the wires. Until an examination was
made he would not be able 10 give al opinion re-
yardiug il. thorough Investigation into the
saSa 81 the accident wonld at once be made lie
Rlsc said that he did not know of an instance where
The sir brakes had become dsordered as " refuse
10 do their work
The crushed engine taken TO the companys
Jepair shops uptown 10 be patched up.
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