New-York tribune., 1903-03-05
ELEYATED TRAINS CRASH
.Sic Hurt in Ttco Collisions Due tc
FOg-FRameS Start.

In the heavy fog I'm South Brooklyn yesterday
morning between and o'clock. two collisions
occurred within half hour on the F1fth-sVe'
line Of the elevated road. Three cars were oe-
rallied several others shattered anQ haH
dozen persons were more or less injured. The
collisions took place at the Twentieth and twenty
fifth st. stations, and for three hours trane was
5,locked on both the north and south bound tracks
While the wreckage the elevated struceurs
was being cleared the passage OF the trohey cars
on FTFth-ave. was prevented for nearly an hour.
It was about O'Clock when the coIilsioh Oc-
CURED at the Twentieth-st stahoi. WINE ualh
from Coney Island bound for the bridge was tah-
ing On passengers there Bay Ridge tram, heaoeo
the same way smashed into il. The m9torman OF
.he rear train, Herman Jacobs. said that on ac-
count OF the fog ne was unable to see the tram
in front until he nearly @op or It. ana toeIl
he applied the brakes with all his force Ihe
,,ls+forn of the rear car Of the forward train
and the front platform OF Jacobss car were
smashed and the latter was also deralIeo
The trains were crowded and many passengers
who were standing were thrown to the floor.
Passengers in the train at the station made
rush for the station platform. In the cars of the
rear train the frightened passengers covered with
spIinters and pieces Of glass. were thrown into
heaps. They climbed down to the tracks, now
ever and reached the station safely Inc ior-
ward train soon started for The bridge. The rear
train was blocked by the deraled car. and 1t TOOK
three hours TO get the latter out OF the way.
Soon after the wreekine crew had got TO work
four car train. headeQ Tor SoneE AsLdio' 'N@e
standing at the Twenty -hft1-st. station When a
Ray Ridge train ran into it almost at full speed.
The collision did not damage the rear car OF the
forward train, except 10 splinter its upper wood
work and shatter the windows. but the motor
car. No. Hi, of the rear train, and the car next
10 the motor car. No. lS. were der3lled and tne
platforms smashed John Tomassello, the con-
tiuctur ffty-three years DID, OF No. 1a2 FIFTY
@ eVeStn apS 1oSn PS eTe on the pIatform of
No. I66 when the crash came TornasSeIio s
, left leg was broken and he received severe con-
susions and Kopp was badly injured about the
abdomen. legs and head
Following the collision flames sprang from the
among the men and women. who were virtually
imprisoned in the Some of the cooler headed
men forced open the side doors OF tne cars ana
assisted the women to the tracks Officer Hol-
land Of the Fifth-aye. station. sent calls Tor
ambulances and an alarm TO the E1re DepafS-
ruent and every cautioned not to touch
Until the fremen arrived. TomasselIo and Kopp
extricated and carried down ladders to the street
Several women who had tainted were removed in
Olincy-st. and Amos Holden, Of No. 81 Bed
ford-sve-. Brooklyn. who had been overcome by
SnoCt- It & ne 80 09 En- on fhe Eiffhsre s,rfacs
line but it 10 O'clock before both tracks were
finally cleared and regular traffic over the eie-
waited road was resumed. ne extra surface cars
on the FIfth-ave. line considerably increased the
congestion the bridge and blocks were fire.
II was said that the congestion at the bridge
, terminal yesterday morning. between 80 and 3
O'Clock. was unprecedented. and the dense fog IN
the eArv morning contributed greatly to the general
tieup OF trolley cars all over Brooklyn Most or
these cars Were run on half time wire on the
the side track used by the Coney Island and Brook
iyn lines Of broke. and consequently all cars
from Manhattan were halted. The entire bridge
loop vas chcked up and on the north track cars
Many passengers deserted the trolley for the
bridge