New-York tribune., 1902-01-09
GOOD WORK BY FIREMEN.
THE POLICE ALSO EXHIBITED ABILITY,
PROMPTNESS AND BRAVERY

Most effectively did the fremen and police
demonstrate their ability and their disregard for
danger yesterday On all sides were heard COM
mandatory reports Of the relief which these ser
wants of the city afforded the injured and i'm
perilled ones
The first alarm reached Fire Department Head
quarters at s22 a. m. This was followed by the
three fours" at s:S5, which calls out every ambu-
lance in the city. The last previous time this
alarm was turned in thu Tarrant fire
The first engine 10 reach the scene of the dis
aster was Engine No. s. of the Fifty-irst-st. sta
ton. Later arrived Hook and Ladder Company
No 1. from Forty-eighth-st. and Lexington-ave-
Close behind them came Engine No 80 and Hook
and Ladder No. l6. from headquarters.
Ladders hurried over the iron picket fence
to the tunnel Fire apparatus was rushed in from
side streets, and ambulances discharged many
physicians and surgeons equipped for quick work
Chief Croker took command of the aremen
Lieutenant Howard c. Ruch. of Engine Company
No &c. whose company did effective work. said at
HIS a. m, Just before he drove away from the
wreck:
Engine Company No 50 was one of the first
engine companies to arrive the scene. l i'm
mediately sgnalled for all available ambulances.
iIheaately aIter Sehuns IN TINS % ta! We We 1 5oWepe9
INTO the tunne! the line or hose Ihen we dropped
down into the tunnel from the cross braces. Some
climbed down ladders to the rails We found no
fire | ordered my men to get the people out of
hanging from windows, and saw legs and arms and
parts of bodies protruding from the wreckage
under three bodies. His leg ampUtated
soon cleared the wreckage from about him.
My company carried eight bodies and twelve
injured persons, one of whom was woman. We
sonally proceeded the locomotive and opened the
hrebOX door TO lower the pressure Of steam, which
escaping and scaldng those imprisoned a
woman was found pnioned between the SIanchlon
and framework of a We sawed of the
stanchion and liberated her
BY the way, I heard the engineer Of the White
Plains locomotive tell Captain Lantry that MS
train was five minutes late. and that he could not
see ahead because of snow and smoke
Secretary William Leary or the Fire Depart
ment arrived ten minutes after the accident. He
said:
Had the collision occurred twenty-five feet TO the
south. the debris would have been closed in As il
was dropped ladders the top of the be
plenty of room for the swinging OF axes The open
space above made the lifting Of the injured to the
street a comparatively simple operation.
Chief Croker said in all my experience I have
never seen a more terrible sight"
AT the first report of the accident Captain
Lantry. of the East Fifty -irst-st station. took
command OF the police. \ few minutes later the
reserves Of all the East Side stations between
Fourteenth-st. and One-hundredth-st. hurried
to the scene of the accident in charge OF Inspector
Thompson.
The police who placed on guard in the
their coats and helmets, and did everything they
could 70 save those who were not past saving
NILS Miller an employe In coal ward a No 40
Park-aVe, turned I'm the first fire alarm The pO-
llce reached the wreck almost before the three
fours' OF the fire alarm had ceased sounding.