The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1895-09-07


Poweriess to Avert RAT Woodlawn
Station the Wild Engine Runs Into
the Rear of the Couey Island Train
New York, Sept 3.-More than one
hundred persons were seriously injured
and nearly a score may die as the result
Of an accident on the New York and
Sea Beach Railway yesterday afternoon
at Woodlawn Park. L. 1.
An engine crashed into an empty
train near Bay Ridge. The cab was
smashed and the engineer covered with
wreckage. When he extricated himself
he found that he could not control the
lever and he jumped
The engine ran three miles without a
guiding hand and dashed into the last
ear Of train loaded with excursion
lists bound for Coney Island.
Nobody was instantly killed. but SO
many were hurt that every vehicle in
the neighborhood was utilized as an
ambulance and the Brooklyn hospitals
were filled with the MANNED and dying.
Engine No. 8, which caused the acct
dent, has been used mainly for switch
ing In the yard at Bay Ridge. 1t was
In charge of Engineer Frank JanSon,
who is described by the officials of the
Sea Beach Railway Company as an ex-
perienced and competent engineer.
There had been hard work for No. s
since early in the morning. The crowds
bound for Coney Island We're phenom-
enally large-indeed, the ticket takers
declare that they had never before had
such a rush during the present season.
The weather was perfect for the holt
day, and the great labor organizations,
instead of giving their usual parade
In the city, were holding mammoth pic
MICS. Trains of seventeen cars were be-
ing started as rapidly as possible from
the Bay Ridge terminus. There is a
steep hill just beyond the station, and
No. 6 was called upon TO help the long
trains to the summit.
A train, pulled by engine No 5, lett
Bay Ridge at eleven miRutes after 8
o'clock, under charge Of Engineer Nal
lon. No. was coupled on the rear end.
and pulled and pushed the heavy cars
over the hill. Janson then reversed his
lever and started back for the yard. He
was going very fast, and when he put
on the brakes he found they would not
work There was an empty train being
switched on the tracks between Second
and Third avenues, and JanSon saw
that a collision was inevitable. He
pulled on the lever with all hts strength,
but he could not make 1T move
The engine crashed into vacant car,
and then shot forward. Jansou had
probably reversed too late 80 prevent
The accident. The framework OF the
CAB was crushed In, and the engineer
was pinioned by the wreckage. He ex-
tricated himself with some dff1c,Aty
and tried to stop the engine, but he
could not get at the throttle.
The engine had a full head Of steam
m and Janson concluded that to remain
on it would be suicidal He couldn't
stop it and he knew that 1T must come
into collision at some point of the road
He jumped, clearing the track, but FAIL
ing heavily on his side and cl tang his
leg in several places.
On sped the engine without a guide.
Up the hill and down the hill, without
a whistle at the crossings, without
warning bell. Fortune willed that there
was no open switch TO throw No. from
;he main track: no switchman knew
what the flying engine meant or what
60 do to save a hundred persons from
impending danger.
Engineer Mallon had stopped his
train at Woodlawn Park little behind
the schedule time, but he could not
draw out Of the station very quickly, as
there were many passengers to leave
his train.
by ptcnickerS, as several Roman Catho-
lie associations were meeting there to
enjoy Labor Day It was quite difficult
for passengers to get out OF the crowd
ed cars, and the train could not start
until the conductors signal showed that
all was ready.
When No. appeared in the distance
very few, even those in the last car,
noticed II. No apprehension was mani
tested until moment before the crash,
for no one realized that there was no
hand at the throttle of the steel mon
eter.
Jump for your lives," cried a negro
on the back platform, after watching
the approaching engine. He leaped far
from the car and ran as fast as his legs
could carry him to a place OF safety.
One or two others got away from the
last car, while everybody scrambled to-
ward the aisle.
Shrieks of horror rose above the
crashing Of iron and wood when No
dashed into the rear car and lifted 1t
partly into the air, grinding under its
rear platform.
Timbers were smashed and iron twist
ed like putty in three other cars. The
shock detached the thirteenth car from
the front from the fourteenth and sent
the front portion OF the train forward
with sharp jerk, leaving those that
were telescoped.
II is estimated that there were near
ly two thousand passengers on the
train, and not one of them escaped
without shaking. In the last car,
where the damage was greatest, not
one is known to have gotten away with
out serious injury.
The cowcatcher of No. had caught
under the platform. and thrown the
end of the car over the smokestack,
tossing the passengers in every direc-
tion. The cross seats. with movable
backs, were similar to those in open
horse cars, with plenty of space under
them, and the aisle ran along the west
side with an iron railing about four
feet high on the edge.
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