New-York tribune., 1902-12-17
CRUSHED IN THE jim.
Horrible Experience Of Young
Woman on EleUated Station.
IMPROVEMENT DEMANDED BY PEOPLE

An increase Of public indignation at the over
crowding OF street cars and elevated trains IN the
city is being manifested daily. The letter OF WIZ
lam F. King of the Merchants Association 10
Borough President Cantor the subject was
being commended far and wide yesterday Ihere
were heard all sides expressions OF agreement
with his statement that IT had come to be a queS-
ton of decency and of protection OF our women
in all walks of life against the daily outrases anu
insults to which they subjected because OF lne
present disgracefuIy crowded condition of the cars
due the greed Of the corporations controIlns
the transportation facilities of our city
The experience of Miss Ida Clarke, daughter OF
a real estate dealer at No. 155 Broadway al 'he
ndred-and-sixteenth-st- station of the est
Side elevated lines yesterday morning was an ~
iustration Of the dangers and outrages 10 WHICH
women subjected in travel at the rush hours'
She pushed the platform against moving
train by a frantic crowd and was taken to her
home No. q West red-and-fourteenln-
St. suffering from a badly lacerated leg.
Il the front of the crowd" she said later
and to my horror was being pushed toward the
edge of the platform while were waiting for a
train. Men surrounded every side ana
thought that when the gates were opened eouio
be sure of protection. At last the tram came
along, and the crowd surged forward Ihe men On
each side of dug their elbows into my sue
until l thought I should faint Another man Kept
pushing me closer to edge OF the platform until
I ready to scream with terror Wnen the
gates of the first were opposite the space
where were standing L was IoiCeo IL sANS 'N'
before the pressure behind me, ana was laltlS
hattened against the side Of the car
The worst of IT all was that the train did not
stop. kept right until all the cars hHd
passed I had given myself up for lost ana telt my
foot slipping down between the and the plat
form It seemed to come natural TO catch
hold of the g1ardrail the platform. to Whlch
hung while I felt my leg being torn and cut oy
the sharp edges OF the steps l saw several
women faint and the crowd drew back when they
hut nr
men who had been so eager to get seat and so
strong in crush had the nerve to try to nelp
me. At last-it seemed ages-the coloreo porter
came and lifted to the platform
At the main office of the Manhattan Railway COM
pany in the afternoon it was declared that the of
cials had received any report Of MISS clarke
case and believe she could have been hurt IN
the way described All employees of the company nau
orders send prompt reports in such cases. an or
fetal said, and tnasmuch az no report han oeeh
received it was to be presumed that the employees
at the observation-disclosures station od
not know of such accident
The Merchants Association is to take action 10
ascertain how the men OF the city feel about the
bad treatment OF women in crowded cars and
trains. Circulars that to be sent out IN large
numbers have been prepared for the State Railroad
Commissioners and the local authorities will be
asked to ascertain by Investigations how the rail-
road companies can be compelled 10 proFloe pet1ei
facilities for travel
1T about time the city took action 10 ger
what belongs TO il from the railroad corporations,
Mr. King said yesterday. This city has been rs-
sarded too long as a gold mine. Official negligence
or corruption has too long permitted corporations
TO own the streets Valuable franchises have oeen
given away or sold for a song. The companies
should be compelled to provide such abundant
means of travel that need be overcrowoeo
Francis H Weeks, the shipbroker at NO; 81
Broadway. who wrote 10 the State Railroad Com.
the overcrowding Of elevated trains. said yester-
day that Commissioners had sent 10 MIN a
ont hy r
ten days in which to answer Mr. Skitts Ietter.
Il wrote again to the Commissioners Mr.. Weeks
case but that 1t the business of the Commits
sioners to make inquiry into the overcro%olHS
believe the Commissioners have the power to com
pei the railroad company TO provide more 1acil-
Oficials of the company said yesterday that the
company was preparing to increase the faclites
of the elevated roads More cars are being Or
the number of the cars would be continued until
there would be ample provision for the traffc on
the roads. THE recent stormy weather mas adueqI
greatly to the burden of travel the elevated
roads, of the officials said. and II mas come
at a time when still engaged IN uarSioiL4-
ing the roads into electrical roads. We can seI
cars fast enough. After awhile we shaI HSis
enough to run six car trains on exeis eve sry sr
body without crowding even at the rush hours; .,
The officials of the elevated roads nave taIheG g, IN
on the trains has continued. After the rush houfs
when many OF the cars are still oVercrQWued,, II
has been the praGtce 70 tTo" he1n ztaIlad In the
yards sdetracked along the track useu oS ~ IN
express trains Short trains or c;tbsve even in
the rush hours when longer trains TO ~
ST would have helped to relieve the crush on tne
line While the officials have been asked Wny tihey
co1id not run more trains between rush hours Ihey
have declared that sufficient trains 10 dCcoinli'
date the public were run at all hours