New-York tribune., 1886-01-10
SUPPLEMENT.
PAGES 9 TO 70.
A CRASH IN BLINDING SNOW
TWO ELEVATED TRAINS IN COLLISION.

,IssEyGERs WALKING ALONG THE FOOT-PATH-No
ONE INJURED.
The misf0rtunes of the Manhattan Elevated
galway seem 10 follow fast another No sooner
we're its troubles with the engineers settled on Friday
,hau collision occurred between Second and Third
ave train OF course everybody thought that it was
due to the experence OF the engineer running the rear
train and the report had been freely circulated that
lot of new aud inexperienced hands had been taken on
This was for the engineer at fault II auit
there was, u man who had been made an engineer
IN $780, and trivial misdemeanOr set back to
the position of fireman in the spring OF 1854 ana re-
stored to his engine in the fall of that year
There was another collision yesterday morning
betweep Second Thri-aS and again II
tie secsnd-ave. train that caused the trouble
Engine No. 2Ol drawing a SecOnd-aye. train, drew
out OF the Hanover Square Station about 80 on
#. trip to south Ferry 1t had baiey 200 yards
when it ran into the end OF Tbir1-ave drawn
by engine No. 1872 Engine No. POI
running backward at The time The only
damage it sustained was that Its
coaLbox was badly smashed 1t made the up trip later
On drawing its train usual. The platform Of the
Thri-ave. tram splintered and badly smashed
When the weather is foggy and when from any other
reason preeanon ia necessary TO guard against pos
silhe accidents block signals used, that engin
eer the condition of the road in front of hiIn
On account OF the storm the block signals
we're operated at the time of the accident Because OF
the binding ant the exhaust steam from his en-
gne the engineer of No. POI vas unable TO see the
signal and lie not ahead of time supposed every
thing in of him clear This was not the case,
however Owing 10 the storm there had been some delay
at South Ferry in switching the engines, and number
OF trains in front of No. 20l had been slowed
up. The train drawn by No. 1872 standing Oh the
track.
Fortunately no one was hurt, hut many were badly
frightened. There hot great many passengers In
either Of the trains the down trip at that hour of
the day the great majority of those who travel
by these two lines get Of by the time Chat
ham Square is reached. 1t not only
those who these two traus. however
who frightened Passengers who were on following
trains heard that smashup had occurred, and not
outstanding the assurances OF the brakemen great
numbers Of them got oil the before they had reached
their destinations. Persons who were on the
trains Immediately following the Sdamaged ones
insisted being let of mmediately many OF them walk
Ing by foOtpath the side OF the track TO the station
them. This, of itself was difficult and un
pleasant undertaking. as the wind was blowing a gale
and the binding. A large number
of who were on the trains were go
nervous however, that they ventured TO walk
rather than sit in the car. The accident caused a
blockade Of forty minutes and great many pass gers
who were intending to so to stations below Chatham
Square found themselves landed at the City all Station
as all South Ferry trains run to that point tor
nearly half an hour. Five other downtown trains
switched cd at Grsndst aud immediately sent on their
Colonel Hahn. the general manager. said TO TRIBUNE
reporter - IL unavoidable. have examined INTO
IL thoroughly and eXOUeTae everybody from btme. The
engineer OF No POI OF the Oldest the road lie
has been in eHpoy 1873. aud has both
the Thlr1 and Second Avenue lines. The snow was
SO binding at the time that 1t was almost
impossible to and the exhaust steam OF mis-
added 10 the density OF the cloud that envelOpcd nn
OF course be could have the signal accident
would have occurred The biocs system OF signalling is
the best known TO railroad men,"
III they cannot be seen in storm like this OF
what aid they TO engineer. under
suoh circumstances |" Colonel Hahn asked.
True under those circumstances they useless.
he REPLIED but II is seldom that this occurs. II IL had
not been for the combination Of circumstances or the
snow and exhausted steam at that moment making an
impenetrable cloud. everything would nave been all
right. IL not serious anyway"
In weather like this do you run at as short intervals
as at other times 8"
"Just the same"
What precautions do you take F"
"Only the block signal system OF signalling We do
everything 10 prevent accidents, AID record
Is good one"
Many the engineers say bat the clause which reads
"That engineer snail be censnred for failing TO
time IN foggy weather, thereby endangering lives OF
pie and destruction OF property has been done la The
past which they wanted inserted III their agreement
with the company would have covered just such
this The company hat struck out because II
claimed that making the engineers keep time was the
Safe