New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-23
A COLLISION IN A TUNNEL.

OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR IT.
An axle in the forward truck Of an engine that
drawing train of down the track OF tho
New-York Central and Hudson River Railroad
broke early yesterday morning. The ac-
cident was ia itself Insignificant. but
it caused an accumulation Of troubles
that eliminated few hours later in a collision IN
the Fourth Avenue Tunnel The Portchester special,
forced off the main line upon the track Of the Har
lem rapid transit train IN the narrow vest tunnel.
while waiting for a clear track ahead was run INTO
by Harlem train. The last OF
the Portchester train and the Harlem
locomotive wrecked. one passenger was
killed outright. another was so severely injured
that he died before ughtfall, and twenty one per-
were hurt more less seriously. Thar several
hundred persons were not killed was marvellous.
The locomotive whose axle broke was attached 20
the Montreal express which was due at the Grand
Central Depot about s n. m. The break occurred
short distance south Of Decentralization
ffth-st. The forward truck was thereby thrown
from tie track and. the train not being able 70
proceed, the main track was blockadcd. F.G. Ward.
the depot-mas'er at took measures 10 clear the
track aud az the time 10 bring the rapidly ac-
cumuiating trains into the depot. Between 9
and a. II. fifteen or eighteen trains were switched
OF into the track leading into the west tunnel and
brought into the depot safely th0ugl tardily.
Meanwhile a gang of men were repairing the
injured locomotive, and by 8 o'clock IL was moved
out of the way. The last train be forced off tho
track by il the Portchester special of the New
York, New-Haven and Hartford road, which left
POrtchester al 7:20 a. N. and was due in the depot
here at S:25. In obedience TO signals this train
stopped at red-and-tweuty- -ifth-st, and
was switched upon the Harlem track. At One
Ninety eehth-sta.it received
signals first 10 stop and wait for clear track and
afterward TO proceed. At Eighty-sIxth-st. 1t was
stopped by signal and torpcdoes. While waiting
for orders 10 proceed. Harlem train which had
passed Nnety-eighth-sr at three minutes after 9
O'Clock, fourteen minutes after the P0rtchester
special, came laundering through The darkness and
its locomotive went crashing into the last car
of the stationary train. About a Of people
were in this ,ar, nearly all Of them residents Of
Mount Vernon the lastslatlon at which the special
received passengers The Harlem train had started
from Williamsbridge at $40 a. II was due at
s:45 had suffered httle inconvenience from the
blockade, and was on its usuaI track.
The Eighty-sixth street station Is a regular stop
ping place Of the Harlem train and rs speed had
been checked preparatory 70 the expected fu STOP
Neverthe heess The force OF the collision was so great
that the locomotive and tender were carried
| through the car which was reduced to a
terrible wreck. The rear truck was
thrust forward the floor torn 20
sphnters, and the sides were thrown against tho
walls Of the tunnel The escape Of any OF the pas
sengers was miracle. Two were horribly crushed
by the locomotive. Madame Eugene Aubert, .
teacher Of French in the Twelfth Street Public
school andI the wife Of the professor Of French as
the Normal school, was killed outright; Will
| lam Howe, Of the firm of 5. ". BOOcOck
| s. Co., was badly injured that
he died seven hours later. Miss Elizabeth A. Crom-
melin. another school-teacher. had an arm broken,
and her left leg was badly crushed that amputa-
tion Cas necessary. A number Of persons
hurled against the tunnel walls pitched with ths
debris Of the wreck into the bitches alongside the
tracks. The shock eNdnguished the lights i'll all
the cars and the daraness intensified the excite
ment The wreck was confined to the car and
the locomotive. Neither train left the track.
HOW THE NEWS SPREAD.
The news Of the accident was sent AZ once 10 ths
neighbOung police and ire stations and scores Of
policemen and hremen were promptly on hand 10
take part in the work of rescue. They
found the tranmen and passengers from
the unmjured cars houndermg through
the darkness and mud endeavoring TO
extricate the injured In moment more the
ambulances began 10 arrive and ali the peo-
pie in the vicinity were In a fever Of excitement.
such the peculiar circumstances Of the col
llson that for a long time the extent Of the calamity
was not known even to the workers. To
the outsiders. who crowded around tho
railing over the opening into the middle
section Of the tunnel, every incident was magnined
into tenfOd Importance and by the time the intel
ligence reached the business quarter n was blled
with hesrt-sickenng details. The number OF the
dead was reported as high as thirty aud there was
even wild talk of hundreds.
ARRANGEMENTS AT FOETY-sECOND-sE
Owing to the police having telegraphed for tho
ambulances 10 90 the OF the accident there
were none at the Grand Central Depot TO receive
the injured people who were brought down Ia tho
baggage-car Of the sing Sing train. A
man rushed into the Grand Union
Hotel, opposite the depot, at 1910,
and asked If there accommodations for the in
iured. William d. Garrison, the manager. at once
turned the readng-rOom into hospital. Cots were
spread in 1t for the men-tour il number-and
rooms were provided for the three injured women.
Medical help was at once summoned, over dozen
physicians being present. Or. d. ". '. " hlte who
helped to rescue and care for the iuluTed InIne-
dlaely after the accident, caInr down with the IN
iured aud took charge of them. He was assisted by
DR.. Rdnuey, who performed the necessary amputs-
tons, and DR.. Miller who remained III attendance
all night 4 skilled nurse was also present
Before the last passenger on the wrecaed car OF
the POrtchester train had been gotten out OF tho
debris of the wrecA, the special tram from sing
sing had arrived 10 he nam tunnel AZ ID, aignty-
sixth street station. Here, having been Tagged, 10
stopped 10 take on the unAurt Passengers OF the
New-ilaven and the Harlem trains, we'll as most
OF the wOunIed persons. IL then Proceeded 10 tbs
Grand Central Depot A locomotive brought
down the side tunnel 10 the rear OF the Harlem train
which WAS hauled put of the side tunnel and sent,
down on the main track 10 the depot. Wreoking
party who had been summoned from toe depot then
set ~ work TO clear away the wreck. Axes were
used 10 dcmoisn the New-Hayen ear entirely and
II was late IN the afternoon beiOre this work was
finished and the track IN the side tunne. freed OF
ob,tructions When Conductor Slacks rapid
transit TRAIN ran out IN the evening, several "i tho
cushioned seats OF ID. ruined New-tiaNon ar
were standing IN the baggage of tho
fr,in the cushions being Degrimed with