The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-06
ELEVATED RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
Two Trains Collide on the Incline of the
Brooklyn Bridge-A Scene of Terror.

New YORK, Dec 5-Two trains on the bridge
railroad ran into each other at quarter after
o'clock this morning and in the smash-up six
persons were badly injured The failure of the
grip the cause of the accident 1t happened
at the hour when the cars are most crowded by
the stream setting toward New York, and run
with the least headway. The rain increased the
crush at the Brooklyn entrance, and when two
train started out from the Brooklyn ter
minus, it was loaded to its utmost capacity The
platforms of both cars packed. The train
had gone to within a hundred and fifty
yards of the Brooklyn tower, when the
grip the cable gave out and it
came to stop; then, despite the efforts of the
brakemen, the train began to back down the in
cline, at first slowly, then with increased speed,
until it swept round the curve near the Brooklyn
end at terrific speed. Another train had just
left the Brooklyn platform and caught on to the
cable when the preceding train was seen to dis
play danger signals 1t stopped promptly, and
began to back towards the station. But it was
late. The disabled train came thunder
ing down the incline. diminishing
the distance between them with
trains saw the danger, and rose to their feet in
alarm. A scene of terror sued. Escape was
impossible. In instant the second train was
overtaken. and the two crashed together.
Shrieks of pain and horror arose from the surg
ing mass of struggling men and women, while
the police and train hands. with the passengers
waiting on the platform. ran to the rescue The
entrances to the bridge were barred and none
were admitted to increase the crowd and con
fusion. Ambulances and police were summoned
and responded promptly.
The platforms Of the were smashed, and
the ends OF the greatly damaged Con-
ductor +. E. Myers, who was standing on the
rear platform of the second train, was jammed
in between the broken ends of the cars, and had
to be cut out of the wreck. Victor Schaumburg,
young clerk, was similarly imprisoned. and
was extricated with much difficulty. His left
ankle was broken and his foot nearly cut off.
When all who needed help were attended to,
the police presented the following list of casu
alties:
F. e. Myers, conductor, 557 Gates avenue.
Brooklyn, breast crushed and severe internal
injuries, general bruises; John Dwyer, back
sprained, ribs broken and breast badly bruised;
Victor Schaumburg leg broken foot nearly cut
off, severe internal injuries; F. Baker, left ankle
broken, chest crushed. general bruises, taken to
hospital; Charles r. NJ Bristow nose broken
A number of others received minor bruises,
but hurried to New York or their homes by way
of the ferry. The wreck was soon cleared away
half an hour
An investigation by the bridge authorities
shows the accident to have been caussd by the
failure of the grip of the train that was nearing
the Brooklyn tower at the time. On wet days
the cable is slippery and does not work we'll
The trains at the hour at which, the accident
occurred, run on headway of a minute and
half and were carrying 900 passengers an
hour The train following the first had reached
the Brooklyn anchorage when signals of danger
dlSDiay6d from al 90
its grip the cable and backed down.
The third train, with three cars, had
just left the Brooklyn terminus, and was unable
to get out of the way in time. The second train
ran into it. and it was upon that that the casual
ties occurred. After the first collision, the first
train crashed into the wreck, but beyond smash
ing the front platform of the already disabled
second train, it did not add to the damage.
This is the first serious accident that has oc-
Cured on the bridge railroad The officers state
that it has carried 38, 500, 900 passengers since
the opening of the bridge, aud not one life has
yet been lost on it.