New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
A CRASH HIGH IN TIE AIR
LIGHT ENGINE AND EXPRESS COME To-
GETHER AT A SHARP CURVE.

AT ONE-HUNDRED- AND-TENTI-sT. AND CO.
LUMBJs-AvE-ONE LIKELY TO DIE-EX-
CITEMENT AMONG THE PASSENGERS
NONE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
AS southbound express train swung around
the high curve on the elevated road at Columbus
ave. and One-hundreo- and-tenth-st. yesterday af-
ternoon. it met light engine coming on the same
track The engineer Of the express saw the loco
motive as he rounded the turn into Columbus-ave
but his hand had barely thrown back the lever
which applied the airbrake when the two engines
crashed together and shrieks arose from the
passengers.
The express engine, which running tank
first was driven back into the front car, its
smokestack crashing through the roof of the
coach Clouds of smoke and steam. flying glass
and shattered timber threw the passengers into
panic. Those in the forward car ran frantically
for the rear door; this was jammed agains, the
door of the car following. Every platform Of every
coach in the train was smashed.
THROWN FROM THEIR SEATS.
The sudden stop had thrown men. women and
children from their seats, and all were shaken up
Some were cut and bruised. but not a single
serious injury among the passengers was re-
ported.
Those on the locomotives Jared worse. Daniel
McGrady. engineer of the express, was hurled
from his seat in the cab and wedged between the
two engines He badly cut on the head and
body. his shoulders were dlslocated, 1t Is thought
and he received internal injuries. His fireman
was not hurt. Johr Schroeder. engineer OF the
light engine was reversing the lever when the
crash came. He was thrown from his seat and had
his arm broken, while his body covered with
S,,oith was nj re- hp1
against the boiler and injured internally. His
head cut.
The trainmen who escaped injury carried he
wounded men along the trestle to the station at
He-hundred-and-fcurth-s Ambulances were
summoned from the Manhattan Hospital and
the Harlem Hospital. and the injured were
quickly removed.
At the Manhattan Hospital last night II was
said by the physicians in attends nee that both
engineers are in a serious condition and one
McGrady, may not recover. smith the fireman.
it was expected. would recover.
The express which was the last theatre train,
left Notwithstanding -ffth-st. the northern
terminal, at o'clock in the afternoon. When
II drew out of the station at One-hundred-and
twenty-ffth-st.. few minutes later, there were
atcut two hundred passengers board, most
of them, fortunately, in the rear cars.
ON THE CENTRE TRACK.
Just south OF ne-hundred- nd-eiXteenth-st
the matinee express was switched TO the centre
track, that third line which the Manhattan
company has been constructing along al
monst the entire length Of the Ninth Ave-
nue road. and over which express trains
are now running at great speed and under
short headway between trains. The theatre ex-
press rolled on 10 the Observation-Disclosures
curve without much slackening Of Its speed. but
the passengers, eaxing down froni that greGi
height, had not the slightest intimation OF the
danger which threatened them. The greatest
care seemed To have been exercised always In
running trains around this high curve. and no
serious accident had ever occurred since the time
when wildcat engine plunged over. so that
there was no apprehension as this n atree ex-
press made the long double turn. aptly styled
Kingdom Come Curve" by the mai who said
that he heard the rustic Of angels wings
whenever he rode there.
About the same time that the express left One
hundreds n d-fifty -hfth-st.. light engine was
started from Fifty-ninth-st They were heading
for each other. and no warning was given.
a building on the southeast corner Of One
hundred and tenth-et. and Columbus-ave. oo-
scur-s the view on the elevated road. as 1t curves
there, and the engineer OF the express thought
that, with the right OF way. he had a clear track,
Until he turned into Columbus-ave.. where hc
saw the light engine coming toward him at high
speed. In a moment 1t was upon him; the loco
Totves crashed together.
The wild engine was teescoped in front and It's
forward truck was derailed The momentum OF
the express train carried 1t forward and the
wild engine was pushed backward twenty feet
1t was regarded remarkable that no ex-
plosion occurred. The valve Of the express en-
CINE was opened and the free steam escaped
with shrek.
In the cars seats were torn from their fasten-
ings windows broken and lamps shattered
Some of the wheels were lifted into the air, but
not a coach left the track.
People on the platforms Of the station at One
hundred-and-fourth-st saw the accident and a
message was dispatched Immediately to the One
hundred "A nd forty -seventh-st station for a
wreckng train. A light engine was called from
Fifty -ninth-st.
Before the arrival Of help the passengers OF the
wrecked train had an exciting experience in walk
ing on the high trestle to the nearest station,
that at One-hundred and -fourth-st There is a
narrow board walk along the tracks at that point.
and men stepped gingerly on this TO the station,
while frightened women and children clung to
proffered hands.
other passengers were transferred to down
town train. which had been ordered to the scene
and which arrived soon after the accident.
THE TRACK CLEARED.
After a delay Of nearly half an hour. Engine
No l2l. the light one was lifted back on the
track while another locomotive drew the train
OF wrecked cars to One-hundred- sixteenth
st.. where IL was switched to the nan track
and taken to the repair shops. In an hour the
wrecking- train succeeded In moving the badly
damaged express engine. and 1t and the light en-
gine were then taken to the uptown yards at One-
hundred "A nd -forty-seventh-s
Policeman Robert Hibbard OF the West one
hundred-st station. WI s In the second car OF the
express When the collision occurred he was
thrown ten feet from where he was sitting. and
was considerably shaken up. He assisted In re-
moving the injured men to the ambuances.
aIlrnnd ID AIntnQ mil DfH