New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-09
DANGER on THE BRIDGE CARS.
PASSENGERS NOT ALWAYS PRUDENT WHEN
OPENING THE GATES FOR THEMSELVES


People travelling on the Brooklyn Bridge cars
habitually have long made practice or opening
the gates when the trains roll into the station al
either end. and getting on as quickly as possible,
SO that by the time crowded train comes TO ruii
stop not nfrequently thirty or forty or the pas
sengers will be on the platform. No one has ever
objected 10 this custom except that now and then
when some one 10 open gate before the
train is fairly in the station the tranmen Will sing
out Easy there" Go slow with tnat gate
No sign is displayed warning passengers OF the FISK
they may run in getting of too soon, the authoi1-
ties OF the Bridge evidently relying on the general
notice which they have posted on the cars saying
that rho cities will not be responsible for acci
don't thar may occur to a passenger riding on me
platform.
When the crowded II Is necessary LOT
many of the passengers 10 stand on the platforms
and II is not considered likely that the courts IN
case OF an accident would hold tina; they had no
claim for damages because OF so dong Nor can
thar. h. any question that the officials are glad
70 have the passengers open the gates and leave the
cars promptly II they were compelled TO walt uN-
ti the gates were opened by the brakeHieh AFTER
BRINGING the train pause several seconds would
be lost on every trip and the punctua running or
trains interfered with.
Nevertheless the prevailing practice is not free
from danger ana it will not create surprise II 4
serou, accident happens from this cause some day
Two incidents have recently come under 'hs oD-
servaton Of the writer which suggest the need
o, grea :er care than is exercised In this mat
ter
4 few evenings ago as d train entering the
station on the New-York side, the gate was thrown
Open and two or three stepped OF while the
cars we're still moving. The next passengers dfter
them were and child, and they were
advancing toward the open gate when the brake
man perceived that they were running into Dang
He shouted TO them hold on, but as they Only
paus-t and then started ahead again, he LEFT MS
brake TO look out for Itself. sprans over 20 the
other platform. and planted himself IN the road o,
the passengers until the motion OF the train ceased
they IL il almost certain tndt the cnliu
at least would have had fall
A similar incident occurred IL the same place on
SUNDAY evening. A number OF people were coming
from Rrooklyn among them TWO young fellows or
sixteen or seventeen years, accompanied by ltt.e
boz OF six or All three stood on the plat
form the gate OF which was swung open by pas
s-nger a. the train came into the station. one or
the Young fellows jumped of. and as he did so ne
shouted TO other to be careful. The other held
the lad by the hand. While the train was still in
motion ne too. sprang off. dragging the six-year-od
lad by the hand. The latter struggled 10 keep mis-
feet bur was thrown down the platform with
some violence but enough TO injure him. II is
easy 10 see though, that II might have been a seri
Gus accident and accidents OF that character
Liable 10 happen any time unless greater is
exercised.
Most men Of sense open Bridge gate
and get of a low-moving train without incur
ring any danger but the dangerous element is al
vavs presens while boys and light -headed persons
ride on these and exercise the same privilege