New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-26
H4VOC BY THIRD RAIL.
Sir Painters Hurt, T'zCO Probably
Fatally.

PASSENGERS THROWN INTO PANIC.
Six painters narrowly escaped death while they
were at work on the elevated structure at Sixth
ave and Third-st- yesterday. Two are now IN 81
Vincent's Hospital in a serious condition. one SUI
fering from burns and electric shock, and another
from injuries sustained by being thrown headlong
to the street. Four others who were at work I'M
derneath the structure were compelled to drop 10
the street, but they managed to escape with shght
injuries. IT is feared that the two taken 10 the
hospital may not recover.
The accident was caused by the short circultlng
of the third rail. 1t only owing to the pres
ence Of mind and GOODNESS of four of the men that
they escaped serious injury When they dropped
TO the street they were nearly run over by trucks
and vehicles which crowded Sixth-ave., but all four
scrambled to their feet and managed to get to the
sidewalk before sustaining serious injuries.
The men were busy working when Henry An
derson, of No. S512 Summit-st, Brooklyn who was
on the tracks accidentally touched his scraper
against the third rail- causing short circuit I'm
mediately there was a binding fash. followed by
a report similar to a pistol shot and Anderson
was thrown fiat on his back on the tracks, Where
he lay unconscious.
Edward Davis of No 4G3 East FTfteenth-st., who
was working under the structure directly below
Anderson, received a terrific shock, which caused
him to fall from the plank on which he was sitting.
He plunged downward TO the street where ne leu
across the surface car tracks lie 100 was Ieil
dered unconscious. and except for the Llnlely alu
of Policemen Gum Dunn and Boyer, OF the Mercer
ST station who dragged him TO the sidewalk, he
would probably have been mangled by an eleculc
- 81.
Anderson who was lying unconscious s., on the the
body legs badly burned, also had q narrow 2
escape from being crushed to death w me ne
was lying there a southbound train approacheo at
a high rate of speed. but the motorman, oy q s'-
preme effort brought the train to stop as II
rounded the curve into Sxth-aVe; from IItIust 5
He had only few seconds in which to 90 II, ehu
when he brought the train TO stop II was SO
abrupt that the passengers were shaken up ana
considerably excited. - ~.
To add TO the excitement the dry paint on tne
structure took fire. Men and women, cranlng IhglI
necks from the platforms and windows OF Lhe
cars saw the motioness form on the tracks l put
when they detected smoke issuing from the burning
naint on the structure their fears increased. The
train hands. however, managed to allay tneIT
fears and about six minutes later after seVerA
trains had been stalled. the track was cleared
Guards from the first southbound train that Went
along Jumped TO the tracks and carried Anderson
to the Bleecker-st station. Meanwhile the ponce
men who were first on the scene had sent IN a
hurry call to st. Vincent's Hospital. Dr. Ca1Ielu
who responded, was told that another man was
seriously injured. and after making nasty super
fetal examination of Davis, he placed nm IN lhe
ambulance and galloped off to the station. Ihere
he found Anderson in an unconscious connt1IOn
and both men were hurried to the hospital p J1
Garfield said he thought the painters were fataly
injured