The Forrest City times., 1902-01-10
Terrible Rear-End Collision in the Tunnel Leading Out of
 New York City.
SEVENTEEN KILLED AND FORTY INJURED.
The Engine of the White Plains Lo- cal Crashed Into and Teiescoped the Rear of the NorwaIL Accom- modation, Which was Crowded With Passengers.


 the Norfolk accommodation, in the New York Central tunnel between Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh streets, this city. The wreck occurred about a block and half from the mouth of the tunnel.
 The shock of the collision was plainly heard by people passing on Park avenue above the tunneli Sev- eral of them ran to give the alarm. In ten minutes everybody at police and fire headquarters was at work or ganizing relief to be sent to the spot.
 From fire headquarters, dozen blocks away, hook and ladder truck was rapidly dispatch to the scene of the accident, with several fire com panies. The reserves from East Eff ty-first street and Grand Central po- lice stations were turned out on the run. A hurry call was sent to Belle vue, Flower, the Presbyterian and Roosevelt hospitals, and in ten min- utes a dozen ambulances were hurry ing with corps of doctors.
 When the rescuers reached the wreck, smoke was pouring out of the entrance to the tunnel at Fifty-tifth street, and great columns of smoke came out of the first ventilator half block north. Ambulances came in from the east and west. Ladders were put down from the street over the iron fence to the track and the fremen, policemen and surgeons were immediately at work.
 It was very dark in the tunnel, which was filled with smoke and steam. The work of rescue was. therefore, difficult. The locomotive of the While Plains local was hidden in the rear car of the South Norwalk train. The maimed and injured were calling from the wreck. Some, more badly injured than others. were be- Ing assisted by the more fortunate passengers.
 The work of rescue was further inn peded by the enormous crowds which, in spite of police vigilance, swarmed into the tunnel through it's many en- ing at the surface.
 The first of the injured taken from the wreck was a woman. She was carried to the Womans 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 station. A passenger on the Harlem train said.
 Our train was held at the Harlem end of the tunnel for two minutes to allow the New Haven train to pass us. Then we proceeded. Suddenly there was a terrific crash and we were hurled from our seats. The shock was followed by the roar of escaping steam and the cries of the wounded.
 "A score of men passengers got out of the windows and ran to the front of our train. The confusion and noise were awful. Our locomotive had ploughed half way through the last New Haven car. l saw several wom- en taken out of the first wrecked car"
 Eugene Herold, of Rochelle Park one of the passengers on the Dan bury, gave this account of the aeei- dent:
 w were sitting quietly in next to the last car and there were only one or two unoccupied seats. There was the usual morning crowd. There were five ears.
 "rhere were several women in my car and also in the last car. We had been stalled at Fifty-seventh street for some time. Suddenly there came a terrific crash. The lights in the car went out. There was roar of grinding steel and wood, and a chorus of shrieks. I looked back and saw the car behind telescoping over the rear of our car and through that mix-up plunged a roaring locomo- tive.
 ''l was thrown on my face by the jolt and I felt some blood splashes over my forehead. Sitting smoke and steam seemed to rise all around, and looking back I could see man. gled persons crawling about through the mist. Then suddenly the car took fire where the locomotive was.
 Our one idea was to escape. found a friend of mine right in front of me. He cried: Open the windows. for Gods sake l turned to the win dow and found the glass had all been shattered by the collision. Ne climbed out. l saw several persons almost covered with blood crawling about"
 The response of the police and fire departments to the call was prompt. and within an incredibly short time nearly 900 fremen, ambulance sur geons and trainmen were in the smoke and steam-filled tunnel work ing desperately to get the bodies of the dead, and the wounded passen- gers from the wrecked trains. Above the scene of death on the driveway. on both sides of the tunnel. were long rows of ambulanees. fire en- zines and hook and ladder companies.
 ln many instances the uniniured nh ...s