New-York tribune., 1903-07-24
BIG BLOCK IN RUSH HOUR
4LL ELEVATED CARS STOP.
Explosion in Main Pozoer House
PASSENGERS Storm Stations.

For forty-fVe minutes last evening traffic on
all the elevated lines was blocked owing to an
explosion at the main power house, at Seventy |
fourth and Seventy-afth SITS. and the East
River The damage caused by the explosion
will probably reach the 81 900 mark, but no
definite information could be gained last night.
Chief Engineer Gaylor, in charge Of the power
house refused talk. and referred inquirers to
the main Office of the Interborough Rapid Tran
sit Company, which closed
At $50 p. m. a terrific explosion was heard
in Seventy-fourth-st., the south side of the
big power house. A manhole cover in the street
was blown several feet in the air and the
granite paving stones were todn up in a circle
about ten feet in diameter. Patrolman Crotty.
of the East Sixty-seventh-st. station. at Sew
enty-fifth-st. and Avenue A heard the explosion
and went at once TO the scene. He learned that
no one had been injured but that the machinery
in the power house had been disabled.
The cables used for conveying the electric
current from the power house to the elevated
lines run through a conduit in Seventy fourth
St to Second-ave. and then to the elevated
structure. This conduit leads into the south
side of the power house, where the cables are
connected with the dynamos. The manhoe
where the explosion occurred is placed at the
point where the cables turn to west through
Seventy-fourth-st.
II is thought that the explosion was caused
by gases that had formed in the conduit. At
the same time that the explosion occurred there
three fuses in one of the big dynamos blew out
causing the machinery to come to a sudden
stop Chief Engineer Gaylor at once turned
off every bit of power stopping all the ma
chinery. for he feared further damage.
The connecting wires between the cables and
the dynamos were burned out, and had to be
replaced before the dynamos not disabled could
be operated again.
crowd of about two thousand persons was
attracted to the scene.
Taking place, it did. at the period when
the rush OF homegoing traffic was at It's height,
| the breakdown Of the system was responsible
for much annoyance and discomfort and, at
some stations. stormy scenes.
AS the power gave out without warning, all
| traffic came to q standstill wherever the trains
A.. happened to be at the time. AS consequence
thousands of passengers were boxed up in trains
| that lay between stations, and, in accordance
with the rules of the company. kept in the
cars In some few instances the passengers got
ont of the cars in spite of efforts OF train hands
| TO prevent them, and wended their way gingerly
| along the structure, Drawing the dangers of the
| exposed third rail.
| At Rector-st and at other stations in the
| downtown district the platforms were soon over
| run with perspiring and excited crowds. In
structions were sent TO the various ticket agents
| bottom of the stairs to tell newcomers Of the
breakdown Before this order arrived. however
large numbers of people had purchased their
t,cke+s Manv of these insisted on return of
their money or in lieu Of that, transfers. In
some cases agents did issue the tickets provided
tv the road for such emergencies. but in others
such tickets were refused
At the uptown station Of the Twenty-third-
st rrbird-ave station a number Of passen-
| da a
n,bicb had become stalled between Twenty
second and Twenty-third SITS. demanded the re
t,Iry, of their fares The agent refused. Led by
.tuanvous individual, they were lnSlStent on
What they believed to be their rlghCs- Inc
agent Incoming alarmed. but sun nrIn IN ms
rsfussI sent for a policeman ana oroeIeo nun
m clear the platform The pollceHlan couIGi. I !
soc the way TO do this tlhalIy nc - ~ Io.
G.I+ the leader of the crowd. The latter de-
ed rim m do it, and was backed up by the
eet of the crowd. Just when the sltudtIol, ~ !
| itad critical the ringing Of bell announced
-. the block had been lifted ana the passeh-
Syars made a wild rush Tor the Cais -. ~.
/ .OC1JoiI station where Second ana Ihlrd ave.
! te;,s -; etart from. In few minutes aitei tiie
t,@aI- bad been declared thousdhuS ~ PTCttc
@-ran the platforms ana loFIieu tIito ms -
S. ,ha stairways leading 10 lhe stattoil ~
uo". a nod the bridge across PARK roN anu
oNerllo o,rd the entrance TO the Brloge. 10
,5Ia the crowds the reserves oI tlII IS
iioa lat and CITY Hall station were cdlieo Ou''
80 they had all they conid 40 .,,a,,oo,
an lr.a surface roads quickly pecane - -,
| easted with passengers anu til -! board theno ol-
sT ses the people who tried 10 poaIu 1ni,' . a. -
calIs or1ers were sent to the dll1e'eiA Na'
Sa,,ees 70 rush ont every car