The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-09
TERRIBLE COLLISION IN THE
NEW YORK CENTRAL TUNNEL
Fifteen Passengers Are Killed and Twice That Num-
Der Injured Dozen of the Latter
Seriously.
VICTIMS MANCLED IN MASS OF WRECKAGE
and calls for assistance by those who
escaped.
WQRK QE RESCIIE REGINS

and calls for assistance by those who
escaped.
WORK OF RESCUE BEGINS.
Within few minutes the work of res
cue, marked by heroism and sacrifice,
began. Alarms that brought every avail
BILE ambulance into use the police
reserves of five precincts and the fire.
men of Central and Eastern districts of
Manhattan were sounded at once. With
police, fremen and surgeons. came
score of volunteer physicians and half
dozen clergymen.
Ladders were run down the tunnel air
shafts and the fremen and police at
tackled the debris with ropes and axes.
The passengers already had rallied and
were trying to release those imprisoned
in the debris. Father Smith, and Rev.
DIR. Walkley, Chaplains of the Fire De-
partment, crawled in over the wreckage
and ministered to the dying Lieutenant
Clarke, of the Fire Department, forced
his way to the point where Miss Rice
and Miss Scott lay and stood in water
that scalded the flesh from his limbs until
the women were released T. NJ Muir
ply, passenger. both of whose legs were
broken and still held by the timbers, vol
around him were assisted.
Two policemen and Chaplain Walkley
reached Mrs. Howard, and the chaplain
gave her a stimulant The policemen
were cutting away the seat which held
the woman down when pipe broke The
scalding steam drove them back and when
the rescuers returned Mrs. Howard was
dead.
/ Injured persons in need of immediate
attention were given temporary dressing
by the ambulance and volunteer surgeons
and then hoisted to the street. Many
Park Avenue mansions were thrown open
TO the suffering but most of the injured
were at once taken to hospitals. The
dead were carried to morgues and police
| stations.
An immense crowd needless of the snow
| which swrled through the street gath
| cred about the tunnel entrance and shafts
| and watched the rescue work
Cornelius Vanderbilt was among those
| who came to the tunnel but police de-
MED him admission, despite the fact that
his family controls the railway.
ENGINEER WISCHO ARRESTED.
Responsibility for the disaster is un-
that so far he had been able to dis
cover, J. NJ. Wischo, engineer of the
White Plains train, is to blame. 1t is
declared that when the South Norwalk
train stopped a flagman ran back into
| the tunnel and besides placing a torpedo
on the track, endeavored to flag the on
| coming train. The tunnel was beclouded
/ with steam and smoke while the snow
fol ha aiYc CHI In1
| to obscure the view. Engineer Wischo
and Fireman christopher Flynn were ar
| rested. A signal man also was detained
| for a time but was released
| Superintendent Franklin has issued a
| statement as 10 the accident, in which he
declares that the block signals at Fifty
Ninth street were obeyed by the New
Haven train, while the engineer of the
| White Plains train dsregarded them.
| 1.-THE torpedo on the track went off"
| said the superintendent "But he did not
stop, even though the fireman called to
| him to do so. The system of block Sig
| nails is such that it is physical impossi-
| bility for signal man to make his light
| declare the track free if another train
| is on the block
District Attorney Jerome visited the
wreck and personally examined many
witnesses. The State Railway Commission
also announced it's intention to make an
Investigation and similar intent was eX-
pressed by the general officers of both
the New York Central and Hudson River
Railroad and New Haven and Hartford
Railroads.
Residents of New Rochelle contributed
the largest number to the casualty list
because the rear car of the South Nor
walk local was reserved for them ard
| was kept locked until the train reached
| that place.
HEROIC DEED or CLERGYMEN.
| When nearly all of the cad and injured
| had been removed from the wreck Father
| Smith, Of the Church of st. Vincent de
! Paul, ard Chaplain Walllley, of Grace
church, both charlains of the Fire De-
| partment, crawled into the wrecked car
over the hot boiler of the demolished
White Plains locomotive, and found two
1 girls in the middle of the last coach.
| They We're sisters named Scott, of New
| Rochelle. One sister lay on top of the
| other. the sister underneath held by
| wreckagc which pinned down her body
/ be- low the waist. One leg was crushed.
| The dead body of a man. which was also
| pinned fast by the wreckage. lay across
| the chest Of the other sister and held
| her down. Stimulants were administered
| to the girls by the chaplain who re-
mained with them until they were re-
moved.
Acting Battalion Chief Friel found ir
tho v-rcos q man who gave his name as
/ IT NJ Murphy and tried TO move him.
Murphy said his leg was held fast. and
asked Chief Friel to fee it. The chief
! found that If he locsened the timbers that
| LII Murnhv,s lcr he was liable to let