The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-28
PANICS OCCUR IN
THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

New York. December A.-Rain and
sleet with rising temp srature follow
ing the recent heavy snowstorms have
greatly impeded traffic In and about New
York. Telegraphic communication has
been considerably handicapped and nearly
all through trains from the west are de-
layed.
In the city the rain and sleet which
froze as it struck the ground made walk
ing during the night hazardous and incon-
venient and wherever there was grade
on the surface roads there was great
trouble. On the elevated lines brilliant
electrical displays marked the passage OF
trains over the ice-coated third rail-
Brooklyn appeared to suffer more than
Manhattan There the street trolley lines
were in trouble both overhead and UNI
foreground.
AS the rain descended 1t froze on a
firm layer on all exposed rails and made
electrical circuits for the cars and trains
almost impossible. Because of the holi-
day an unusually large number or cars
were run in the borough.
The congested condition of the upper
harbor and the North and East rivers
crowded with ferry boats, was hampered
by a dense fog which wrapped the city
and harbor in binding folds. So dense
was the fog that 1t was still almost dark
at 7:30 a. M, and ferry boats bringing
the thousands of people employed in this
city from Jersey City and Brooklyn, polk
&c there way slowly from slip to slip IN
constant danger of collision. The unpleas-
ant conditions in the harbor were increas-
ed by drifting Ice.
A collision on the river resulted In the
thick weather during the morning rush
hour. The ferryboat Chicago, OF the
Pennsylvania line, was run into by the
New Haven railroads big steam trans
port. Maryland, In the North river A
panic ensued and several women falnted,
but no one was injured.
Telegraphic and telephone commune
cation in all directions was very slow
Up through New York state many wires
were down and those which were not
could only be operated slowly. Service
to Chicago was greatly delayed. In New
England the conditions were better, but
to many points business was moved
slowly.
While a dense fog hung over the river
and harbor this afternoon the ferryboats
Bergen and Museonetcong of the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western line
crashed to each other near the Hobol1en
slips and for a few minutes there was
great excitement on both boats. The
Bergen had left the New York side and
was approaching the New Jersey side
under reduced speed, when the Musconet-
cong, pulling out at full speed crashed
into her.
The Bergen lifted the Musconetcong
high out Of the water. The engines were
reversed Immediately, on the Musconet-
cong. but the Roadway was such that
the impact tore away about twenty-five
feet of the cabin timbers on the mems
side of the Bergen.
AS the two ferry boats came together
there was a wild rush on the part of the
men on the Bergen into the cabin. The
shock was such that it threw twenty or
more of the men off their feet.
In the wcmans cabin, the panic was
greater, as the passengers there had re-
ceived no warning of the impending
crash. When the boats drifted apart the
Bergen, injured in her hull also, proceed
ed on her way to her slip.
There were fewer passengers on the
Musconet cong. and the crew had less DIFF
ficulty in quieting them The Musconet-
cong suffered but little damage