New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-06
WHEN CROWD MEETS CROWD
STRUGGLES OF OPPOSING STREAMS AT
CITY HALL STATION.

POOR ARRANGEMENTS ON THE THIRD AVENUE
ELEVATED RAILWAY FOR UNLOADING
TRAINS AND GETTING THE pAssEN-
GERS FOR UPTOWN ABOARD
By arrangement for which many people can
see no good reason ;here are several points on the
nc Of the Third-ave elevated railway where great,
surgng crowds OF people projected against
each other. and where people are forced to crush
their way through mass OF soidly packed men
and women, all OF whom seem bent upon retarding
the progress of those who are going In an opposite
direction. The City Hall station IL one Of these
points. and between the hours of 5 and o'clock in
the evening the platform is crowded with people
who wait for the trains to take them uptown. They
stand four and six deep at the rail openings. and
when the trains reach the station crowded to the
doors with passengers for the downtown ferries
and the Brooklyn Bridge. the exits from the trains
become blocked at once by the waiting passengers.
who know shat only about two-thirds OF their num-
Der will be able to find seats.
"Ietemoff-' shouts the guard. and some one in
the waiting crowd usually answers, Watcher
gvinus," or "Letemcome.' Then the crushing and
pushing and crowding begin. Those who are on
the train try TO get through the mass OF people on
the platform. and those who are waiting TO go up
town flght to get aboard To the uninterested spec
tator it is fascinating spectacle with an occa-
s,onal bl; OF humor thrown in. but to the person
exceedingly uncomfortable but dangerous. The
guards try 70 keep a passageway clear. large
enough for one person TO pass through, but this
closes solidiy whenever there Is break In the out
coming crowd. Children with books and bundles
women with babies IN their arms. men unable 10
walk except with crutches all share alike at the
hands OF the scrambling. pushing mass OF people
Tho condition becomes much worse III RAINY
weather, when the platforms are wet ana when
water-soaked umbrellas are used By the more erer-
getic to clear the way. Sometimes a passenger pos
Slbly stranger In the city, and unused 10 the out
rageous arrangement. will remain In the car to wait
for the crowdlng at the doors 10 cease BY the time
he IL ready 10 leave the people begin 20 surge In
from both ends Of the car, every seat is taken In
less than a minute, the car platforms become
blocked the doors impossible and unless the pas
senger can prevail upon those who stand near the
door to make room for him 10 pass out ne is liable
10 be carried back uptown .
Coed nature is characteristics In New,York crowds
and those AT the City Hall station are no exception
10 the rule: bu: dsorderly persons and rufians
spelling for a fight" frequently make up part OF
tho throng and women and children are compelled
TO be josed by them anu 20 'ten 10 their profan-
iiv Hats are crushed. umbrellas broken. coats and
pelled TO pass through the ordeal daily never Cea &c
to dread IL.
OF course the humorous side Frequently msnifests
Itself and one may hear expressions like, Leave
on me rubbers.' Down in 'front.' How is this for
a nyng WEDGE mixed with the shouts Of the
guards. who yell, "Letemof! and "Lotsoroom
fr.pf