The Van Buren press., 1902-01-11
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 TelescOped
the Rear of the NOrwalk Accom-
modntion, Which was Crowded
With Passengers.

the last car of a New York. New
Haven g. Hartford train, known as
the Norfolk accommodation, in the
New York Central tunnel between
Fifty-sixth and Ffty-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 tunnel. Sew
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, a dozen.
blocks away, a hook and ladder truck
was rapidly dispatch to the scene of
the accident, with several fire com
panies. The reserves from East Fif-
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 dozen ambulances were hurry
ing with corps of doctors.
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 yentilator
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
we're Immediately at work
IL 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 manned 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, swormed
into the tunnel through its many en-
frances, or crowded about the open
ing at the surface.
The first of the injured taken from
the wreck was n woman. She was
carried TO the Woman'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
station. passenger on the Harlem
train said.
sour train was held at the Harlem
end of the tunnel for two minutes 10
allow the New Haven train to pass
us. Then we proceeded suddenly
there was n terrific crash ana we
were hurled from our seats Inc
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 froht
of our train. The confusion ana NOISE
w,re awful, Our locomotive hnu
nloupbcd half way through the last
New Haven car ] saw seVer"' wo"'
en- taken out OF the first wreeNeu
carr nj.
Eugene Herold, OF Rochelle Park'
one OF the passengers on the p""
bury, gave this account OF the aeci'
dent:
"W were sitting quietly In next 70
tbc last car and there were only one
or two unoccupcd sents There was
tho usual morning crowd, There were
five cars,
"Thcrc were several women In my
chr and also In the last car we hao
been stalled at Fifty-scycnth street
for some time, Suddenly there came
terrific crash The lights In the
cnr went out. There was roar OF
grinding steel and wood, and
chorus OF shrcks ] looked back ana
snw the eur behind tclcscoping over
The rcnr Of our eur aud through that
mix-up plunged u roarlng locomo'
tive.
81 was thrown on my face by the
iolt and felt some blood spnshes
over my forehead. Sitting smoke
md steam seemed TO rise oil around,
and looking back could zee man
plM persons crawling about through
The mist. Then suddenly the car
took fire where the locomotive was
"Our one ldcn wns to escape. !
found friend of mine right In 'front.'
of mo. He cricd Open the windows
for Gods sake turned to the WIN
dow and found the glass had all been
shattered by the collision we
climbed out snw several persons
almost covered with blood crawling
about"
The response Of the police and hre
departments to the cOll was prompt
md within mn incredibly short time
nearly 800 nremen, ambulance SUR
geons md trainmen were In the
smoke and stcam-llllcd tunnel work.
ing desperately TO get the bodies OF
the dead, and the wounded pnsscn'
gers from the wrecked trains, Above
the scene of death on the driveway
on both sides OF the tunnel. were
long rows OF ombulonccs, fire en-
glncs and hook md ladder companies
In many instances the uninlurcu
and those whose injuries were slight
rendered splendid uld, while Others