New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-31

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| of her husband leaves her utterly destitute with
her four small children.
TALK WITH SUPERINTENDENT MARTIN.
| Superintendent Martin showed considerable OK.
citement when seen by TRIBUNE reporter about 9
| o'clock. He said:
ct is impossible to say how the accident oc.
Cured We'had much greater crowds on The Bridge
on last Sunday and on the day following the open.
| ing At the time Of the accident there was not
large crowd except within hundred feet of the
stairway Of the New-York anchorage. l bad word
through one of the from tins point of the Bridge
not more than five minutes before the accident oc-
Cured. He said there was not large crowd on the
Bridge. few minutes later was told of the acct
dent, and found what you know"
at ia thought by some Of the police that a crowd
of pickpockets caused the accident"
eve cannot say. that and l do not want to
charge any one with the responsibility. Just now
/ met young man who / think is reporter.
He told me he was In the crowd at the time of tho
accident and that it caused by party of young
men who went to forcing their way through this
portion of the passage. When they came to the
steps they CRIED We are the Smith Association.
and we are going through Just above the platform
an old lady, who was coming up the stairway, was
forced back and fell down; young woman who
crowd that was behind rushed forward to see what
was the matter falling on those who were pushing
their way ND the steps, till all became excited aud
wild; then came the panic"
How are you to prevent such accidents In the
future, Mr.. Martin 2" asked the reporter.
They might happen at any moment on the steps
with the crowd that Is passing at the rate of two
hundred minute. After the first day, when saw
how narrow the passage was determined to have
railing put up to divide at this point those who
were coming to New-York from those who wero
going to Brooklyn. This l shall have done
mediately."
Gould this not have been done IN readiness for
the crowd Of todayp
ct was not thought to be of immediate neces-
sity, but means simply for greater precautlon
On tho occasion of the great crowds last Sunday
the side gates to the roadways were thrown open to
those passing over from New-York, and that gave
immediate relief. There u.s. think, no danger
whatever at this point when the travel is all 10 one
direction, unless there should be
panic when the danger would come
from such causes as are always found where .
crowd passes over a stairway These side gates
were thrown open at the New-York entrance the
instant it became known there was any difficulty.
and since then tho travel from Brooklyn only has
been permitted to pass over the centre roadway"
"Will you maintain that rule ~
Probably until railing is placed along the
passage as / have mentioned. but the
crowd, are now thinning down every day.
and we do not expect to have again
any such crush as we have had several days since
the Bridge was opened 1 think 1t will be necessary
to have the railing in the middle Of the pathway
only at the steps and where the pathway is mar
rowed by the cables"
1t has been suggested that efficient body OK
policemen ight have prevented the panic"
That may be so. A force ofNew-York or Brook
Ign police would be efficient in such emergencies.
and if any necessity should again arise of guarding
against such crowds the policemen Of the two cities
may be called on"
Cannot permanent arrangements be made for
diverting traffic from the pathway to the roadways
or the side in case of necessity 7"
THAT will not be possible after the railroad is
Completed said Mr. Martin. THE tracks will DO
in constant and the passengers cannot be allowed
them at ALL"
At this point of the conversation Mr.. Martin and
the reporter had reached the steps from the anchor
age 70 the Bridge proper where the accident oc-
Cured.
"You see," said Mr.. Martin, that the steps
are we'll built and we'll proportional. that per-
fall"
Two young girls who were descending tn stairs
as this remark was made slipped and fell two or
three steps.