The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-14
ELEVATED EXPRESSES CRASH.
FOUR PERSONS SEVERELY HUM
IN 4 REAR-END COLLISION.
4 Score shaken Up and Gut ny Glass
Train Didn't TAKE the Switch At
1921 Street and Couidn't BACK Be-
fore The Other Crashed Into II.

In g rear-end collision OF express trains
on the Third Avenue Elevated Railroad
just before O o'clock last evening, at least
four persons were more or less severely
Injured and about a score were badly
shaken up or cut by broker glass. Tho
railroad company refused all information,
even to the police, about the collision.
The first express train left the City Hall
terminus al $40 o'clock in charge of En-
gineer BENJAMIN Movers, with it's first
stop scheduled at l06th street. The second
train, which left the City Hall two minutes
later, was to continue its express run on
the middle track past i06th street TO 133d
street.
For some reason not explained last even
ing the first train did not take the switch.
leading from the middle track 20 the regu-
lar northbound track near i02d street,
to enable it to reach the l06th street station.
but continued up the middle track, slacken-
ing speed all the time until at a point OPP
posite tn. l06th street station it came TO
a stop.
The engineer began to back down in
order to get the switch, but the second
train was too close aboard and had too
much momentum to come to q stop quickly
tiiOhbh " tS'dDc iuiiililiiAB Nilc llIrNs Ell
gineer Caswell II. Clafin Of the second
train saw what was ahead Of him and APP
piled the air brakes. but they were not
sufficient for the emergency. His engine
crashed into the rear car Of the backing
train, smashing the platform OF that car
and breaking all the windows in IL. as well
as many of the windows In the first car Of
the second train. and damaged slightly
the colliding engine. Small bits of the
wreckage dropped into the street.
Clafin's fireman was hurled from his
cab and badly bruised. He is John Duane.
living at 230 East Fifty-fourth street. He
was sent to the Harlem Hospital.
Both trains wore crowded. In the first
car Of the second train the sight of the
fireman thrown Out of the cab caused great
alarm 70 follow the panic of the first crash,
Somebody who saw him GO shouted that the
fireman and engineer had jumped, and this
caused a rush TO get outside the car. 1t
was Of little avail. because the sardine
passengers were too closely packed.
In the rear car of the first train, among
the passengers was n Miss Murray. who
lives at III East I03d street. She was struck
by flying pieces Of glass and received a
number of cuts. She was sent home and
had to be put In bed. where she remained
last evening delirious and crying out in her
fright, See it coming. see IL coming"
Robert Morris, a tinsmith Of 1885 First
avenue, suffered a sprained ankle and was
sent home. A. b. Peterson, a clerk Of
Dol Eagle avenue, had a finger cut. II was
dressed by Ambulance Surgeon Vriel.
Besides ambulances the police hurried
TO the scene. Sergt. William McCullagh
Of the East 1O4th street station went over
TO the Elevated with fifteen men, but was
unable TO extract any information from
ANYBODY connected with the railroad.
Local traffic went on without interruption,
but there was a delay in the express business
of something less than half an hour. Both
of the trains in the accident went on, a.
there had been no derailing and no damage
sufficient to prevent their operation.
A switchman who was seen telling a
reporter somethirg abou the collision last
night was discharged on the spot by the
superint endent.