New-York tribune., 1902-01-11
ANOTHER BRIDGE CRUSH
TT SWEEPS A WAY TICKET
BOXES IN SWIRLING RUSH.
ONE MAN INJURED-CLOSING OF GATES
FOR SEVEN MINUTES CAUSES LARGE
CROWD TO RUSH IN.

rain caused a
crowd of two thousand persons to gather about
the elevated train entrances at the Manhattan
end of the Brooklyn Bridge. When traffic was re-
,ored the crowd, with a mad rush. swept awav
the ticket choppers boxes and the rail at the
central entrance. Francis B. Oestreicher of
No 124 Hopkinson-aVs, Brooklyn. lost his foot
ing IN the mad rush, and was trampled on re-
ceiying injuries TO his right leg.
The rush of travel over the bridge about p.
m is good deal like the flow of big river AS
long as its course is clear everything goes
smoothly. But if the stream is damned there
&c likely to be trouble.
The local bridge trains were running on forty
Eve seconds headway, and a great number OF
neople were returning to their homes after the
s.y,s work The mishap which caused the de-
.lav was a simple one. At 6:25 o'clock a four
car bridge train received the signal to start.
Jrst as the wheels of the motor car began to
reyclve the drawhead of the second car pulled
out and the motor car went ahead by itself
The motorrnan brought the car to stop as
soon as he knew of the trouble. and backed it
m Charles Gearhart, superintendent Of traffic
m the bridge. as is his custom in the rush
hours was on hand, and took in the situation in
an instant. He saw that it would be the height
of folly TO try TO couple up the train again, and
ordered the motor car to make the run alone 10
the Brooklyn terminal of the bridge.
The three rear cars of the train were then
stalled, and the surging throng OF people was
pressing hard TO reach the upper platform, from
which the trains started. Superintendent Gear
hart informed the car starter TO tell the ticket
sellers below to stop the sale of tickets. This
was done by means of the block signals, which
are used for just such an emergency.
The entrance gates were ordered closed To
get rid OF the stalled cars. Mr.. Gearhart ordered
the next train which was due to leave to give
the three cars which were causing the delay a
vigorous push. This was done, and the cars
were sent ahead about 80 feet, to where the
bridge cable could be picked up. The grip was
made without any trouble. and the cars, which
were filed with people, made the trip to Brook
lyn where the disabled car was detached from
the train and caused no more trouble. The train
which had done the pushing then filled with
people and started for Brooklyn. The actual
delay in the time Of dispstching the trains was
seven minutes, and nine trains were held back
In the mean time, before the signal was given
TO close the gates, large number had reached
the upper platform, but it was handled with
comparative ease, and in fifteen minutes from
the time the accident occurred all who had
reached the upper platform had been disposed
OF. and the signal was given to resume the SELL
ing OF tickets
There are usually three policemen on the sec
ond platform whose duties TO control the
crowds rushing for trains, but when the block
began Roundsman Aaron Manchester, son of
George r. Manchester, who is secretary Of the
Republican County Committee. detailed six
extra men from the loops" where the trolley
cars discharge and take on their passengers, to
assist in restraining the increasing crowds.
Il was about eighteen twenty minutes be-
fore the signal was given, by order of the bridge
superintendent, TO resume the selling of tickets,
but the police thought that this was too soon,
and, on Roundsman Manchesters orders. this
was not done for few minutes longer Twenty
minutes is a long time 10 stop traffic the
bridge at 6 o'clock. and in the mean time it is
estimated that over two thousand persons had
gathered about the entrances on the second
story Of the bridge house. 1t was not patient
crowd, and many threats were made and COM
plants heard. 1t was with difficulty that the
police able to hold back the surging mass
which filed all the space around the three en-
frances which were closed.
When the signal was given to open the gates
hose in the front ranks set up a shout. which
vas taken up by those further away, and every
one of the two thousand people wanted to go
through the gates at once. The jam was worst
st the central entrance and the mass of people
carried everything before it at that point The
TWO ticket boxes were torn from the floor and
one was completely shattered. The brass rail-
Ing which divides the crowd at the boxes was
also disIodged. With rush the crowd started
for the upper platform.
In the front ranks of the crowd which pressed
around this entrance was man who, when the
rush began, was carried entirely OFF his feet and
leA beneath the feet Of the surging mass OF peo-
PIE The policemen worked with might and
NAN 10 extricate him from his dangerous
pace. but il was several moments and the crowd
nda thinned a little before he rescued and
put On his feet. He was somewhat injured but
vas able TO walk. He was taken in charge by
vIlcer Dubois, OF the bridge squad. who, with
one or two other policemen, assisted him to the
emergency hospital on the lower floor of the
ofioge house. Officer Thomas F. Graham, also
~ me ne prldge squad. sent hurry up CALI to
ae Hudson Street Hospital and ambulance
~ eharge Of DR. Beckwitb, was Immediately
rent The injured man refused medical attend
ence az the hands Of DR.. Beckwith, and de-
handed that cab be called to convey him to
=, sas home This was done, and he was placed
- - hansom cab, which drove off. 1t said
tt Ia al first he refused to give his name, but
rssofe ne went away he handed card to Officer
paDois This card gave his name Francis
osstreicher. Of No. 124 Hopkinson-ave
y was reported that when the chains were
49, up Oestreicher had advised the crowd to
oreak them down. Officer Dubois debated
islhef or not he ought to place the man
Luer arrest for trying to incite the crowd, and
asked advice Of Roundsman Manchester. The
n~lsr told him, il said good authority
- - IL was not his and that he must use
sIoWn Judgment Dubois finally decided that
ss 80 the man was injured, he would probably
ues se considerable sympathy and it would be
1slse to arrest him.
a,ier few moments the police who remained
~e NE central entrance were able to control the
90 This entrance was closed up, and pas
tsssiis were obliged to use the other two
ns In twenty-five minutes from the time
as eecioent happened the normal condition of
t,ls was restored, and there further
s.pe In the suspension of traffic tickets
en- soid at the local ticket offices at the east
eao OF the bridge house.
fhE HAVANA POSTOFFICE TRIAL.
A.. @'sha' Jan. 10.-When the trials OF the cases
ing from the Cuban postoffice frauds were