Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-01-17
DEATH IN THE TUNNEL
HORRIBLE WRECK ON
NEW YORK CENTRAL
ReSCuerS Work in DarkneSS--LOc
Crashes Into Rear End Of
Waiting Train Many
Killed.

New York. Jan. Ga New York and
Harlem local passenger train, known
as the white Plains Local." ran into
the last car OF a New York. New Haven
& Hartford train known as the Nor.
walk Accommodation today, in the
New York Central tunnel between Fiji.
tyslSth and Fifty.seventh streets. this
city. The wreck occurred about
block and half from the mouth OF
the tunnel. At II o'clock the number
OF persons killed was placed by the
railroad officials at fifteen and the in.
jured twenty or more.
The shock Of the collision was plain
ly heard by people passing on Park
avenue above the tunnel. Several OF
them ran to give the alarm. In ten
minutes everybody at police and fire
headquarters was at work organizing
relief to be sent to the spot.
From fire headquarters a dozen
blocks away hook and ladder truck
was rapidly dispatched to the scene
of the accident, with several fire com.
panies. The reserves from East Fifty.
first street and Grand Central Police
Stations were turned out on the run.
hurry call was sent to Bellevue,
Flower, the Presbyterian and Roose.
welt Hospitals and in ten minutes a
dozen ambulances were nurrying with
corps of doctors.
When the rescuers reached the
wreck, smoke was pouring out of the
entrance to the tunnel at Fifty.fifth
street and great columns of smoke
came out OF the first ventilator a half.
block moth. Ambulances came in from
the east and west. Ladders were put
down from the street over the iron
fence to the track and the iremen
policemen and surgeons were lmme'
| diately at work.
1t was very dark in the tunnel
which was filed with smoke and
steam. The work OF rescue was
therefore. difficult. The locomotive OF
the White Plains local was hidden in
the rear car of the South Norwalli
train. The manned and injured were
calling from the wreck. Some, more
badly injured than others, We're being
assisted by the more fortunate passen
gers.
The work of rescue was further i'm
paired by the enormous crowds, which,
IN spite of police vigilance. swarmed
into the tunnel through its many en-
at the surface.
The first OF the injured taken from
the wreck was woman. She was
| carried TO the Women's Hospital
Here. as well as at other points, prep
arations were hurriedly made to take
care of the wounded as rapidly as
they were brought to the railroad sta
ton 4 passenger on the Harlem train
said:
Our train was held at the Harlem
end of the tunnel for two minutes "a
allow the New Haven train TO pass us
Then we proceeded. Suddenly there
was terrific crash and we were hurl
ed from our seats. The shock was fol
lowed by the roar OF escaping steam
and the cries of the wounded.
A score of men passengers got on
of the windows and ran TO the from
, OF our train. The confusion and nois'
, was awful. Our locomotive haI
ploughed halfway through the las
New Haven car. | saw several womel
taken out OF the first wrecked car"
The tunnel in which the wreck oC
Cured extends from Fifty-fifth street
lust above the Grand Central Station
and is about two miles long. II Is IN
I der Park avenue and there Is an al
- hole in each block Complaints hav
D been made for long time, however
e that its ventilation was insufficient
$ and the New York Central has bee
q considering plans for the use of cleo
! trical power in the subway so as I
do away with the smoke and steam @
j the locomotives.