New-York tribune., 1896-04-01

CCRVE-TIE INJURED TAKEN TO THE
HosPITAL-oFFICIALs RETICENT.
Two cars OF the Metropolitan Traction Com
pany going at full speed crashed into each
other at the Ftfty-thrd-st. and Seventh-ave
curve last evening with shock that sounded like
the report OF a cannon. Shattered glass, splin
tered wood and broken iron flew in all directions;
three people were badly hurt, several others
were cut and bruised, and all had close call
The following are the passengers who were seri-
ously injured:
fRIEMDLANDER Ola Henry. twensy-eisht years old. Of No.
sCIILECHTERN sigfried thirty-on. years Old Of No
20 West Nney-sxth-st
Employees OF the road received injuries that
may prove fatal, In one instance at least. They
are
HANLEY. John twenty-eght years old Of No bsS West
Fifiieth- VI, gripman.
REAGAN, Joseph of No. sla West F1fty-fourth-st. a
MDssITER. Arthur. of No. Iaa West Eishty-fourh-st.
conductor
A FORTUNATE HOUR.
1t at $50 o'clock. fortunately hour
when the heavy traffic Of thea tregoers had not
yet begun. when the going to Harlem was
approaching the curve 10 swing into Fifty-third-
ST. and continue up Columbus-ave At the same
time n Broadway was approaching from the
opposite direction, coming down Se'entn-aNe OH
the track which crosses the curve over which
the uptown Columbus-ave was about 10
run Both cars were moving at full speed. Tho
Columhus-ave. car. although about to swing
around the turn. did not reduce Its speed keep
ing up the practice which always prevails at
the curve, whore cars are shot around with a
velocity that has brought upon the place the
Designation Of death trap" by those whose
lives have been endangered In crossing the
street there.
signal man Is stationed In the middle OF
the street at that point. and he waves red and
white flag by day. and red and white lantern
at night AZ the downtown car neare1 the
curve around which the uptown car was about
20 turn. directly In the path Of the other. the
signal man swung light-whether It was the
white one, telling the downtown car u proceed.
no one seemed to know aet night. no one
could be found at the company's headquarters
who seemed TO he willing 10 say that he knew
anything The signal man himself was too much
occupied after the accident in waving the rel
and white lanterns 70 say what he had done.
And whether or rot his signal to stop or to 80
ahead misunderstood by one or both OF the
gripmen on the cars is another unsettled point.
The gripman on the downtown car. at any rate.
assumed that he had the right OF way. and
proceeded accordingly.
A CRASH AT FULL SPEED.
The result was that Just the uptown cur
struck the curve. going at full speed. and
started It's swing with the cable. the force of
which makes the pavement trembe there.
the downtown car advanced with equal speed.
ana the tao met.
The crash throw passengers from their feet:
women screamed and men sprang up from their
seats. There was a frantic rush Tor the doors
tee into sho sp.r M
downtown csr was not much damaged. only the
dashboard heing twisted sul the front platform
slightly Broken. The Coiumbus-avc car was
badly wrecked. The roof was smashed In front !
the platform splin'cred and windows broken IN /
fragments II war in this car Tint the injuries |
to passengers We're inflicted. Henry Fried |
landers leg was struck by flying piece of wool |
He was taken home. and n call for two ambu- !
lances were sent IN 10 care FOR The other IN !
jurod. John Hanley. the gripman. was severely
Injured abou; the head and face and wa car |
rlcd. TO tho first ambulance. which took him - |
Roosevelt Hospital
Joseph Reagan gripman on the Lexington
ave line who was a passenger was also hurt |
about tho head and body. lie was taken IN |
the second ambulance to the same place. Last
night the condition OF the two men was re-
ported as seriOus.
Arthur Messiier the conductor. received in
jurles OF the head and n fracture OF the foot.
and was taken 10 the hospital
Sigfried Schicchtern. ore of the Injured pas
sengers was cut by flying glass His ears were
decorated and his hand smashed He was taken
to his home.
HAULED OFF THE DEBRIS
The accident occurred only two blocks from
the company's power-house. and horses were
sent a. once 10 the scene for the wrecked car,
around which n dense throns had ccrgregated.
The badly damaged car wns dragged down TO
the pover-house. while the downtown car con-
tlnued on ITS way There were no arrests. The
gr!nrnan Of the downtown car. however, asked
Frederick ]. Anderson. 81 No. 1lS West Fify-
third-st to give his testimony as an cye-wlt-
ncss OF the collision. In case Of trouble In court.
Those passengers whose cuts and bruises did
not deter them from further riding on the
able we're transferred to another uptown car,
and In an hour nothing remained as evidence
Mt the curve except quantity OF broken glass
strcwn over the street.
Sergeant Shields. OF the West Forty-seventh-
st station on being told that Oscar Paseno TIE
eripnan of the south bound car. had refused
10 obey the signal at the crossing ana had
thus caused the accident sent Policeman Wider
In 10 at