The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-10-28
GREAT RUSH TO RIDE
AT SUBWAY OPENING
TACTICS TO PUR-
CHASE THE FIRST TICKET.

Take the First Public Train-Tre-
mendous Cheer Given When it APP
peared-NearIy 100000, it is Estim-
ated, Rode During the Evening
Crowd Orderly Under the circum-
stanees-PoIice Reserves Sent Home.
New York, Oct. 27.-eCity Hall to
Harlem in is minutes" became real
ity to-day when the main artery of
Manhattans great subway was open
ed to the public. The formal opening
exercises held in city hall this after
noon were attended BY invited guests
Mayor Mcclellan presided and address,
es were made by Chief Engineer Will
liam Barclay Parsons, Rapid Transit
Commissioner A. E. Orr. and John H.
Starin, Contractor ]. B. Mcdonald and
August Belmont, president Of the oper-
atting company.
Following the exercises a special
train left the city hall for the 145th
street terminus carrying invited guests.
The mayor turned on the current and
the trip was made without event.
The actual opening of the subway
to the travelling public took place to-
night, Long before o'clock when the
first train was scheduled to leave City
hall the park surrounding the hall was
damned with a good natured crowd.
Thousands of persons fought with one
another for the privilege Of purchasing
the first ticket. Flying wedges, center
rnshes and almost every means of pro-
gress known in football tactics were
adopted by those ambitious to ride up
on the first train. Squads OF police
were stationed at the entrances and
they were compelled to meet the on
ward rushes with similar formations.
Promptly at o'clock the first of the
crowd were admitted to the station and
when the first train dashed in sight
around the look hearty cheer went
up. As soon as the five cars had been
filled the train was sent away. At the
Brooklyn bridge an enormous crowd
had gathered and the initial train was
given a vociferous reception.
From station to station the train was
heralded with noisy acclaim. AS it
proceeded up town the number Of those
who desired to ride increased and when
the terminus was reached every avail
able inch of space was occupied. No
sooner had the red lamps on the real
I car Of the first train disappeared in half
Ilit shades Of the great tunnel when
another train drew into the city hall
connection and it was Just as quickly
filled. The second train too received as
/ war ma welcome as the first
] The service was inaugurated with a
| three minute schedule for locals and
two minutes for expresses. The outer
tracks were given over to the former
i while the two center tracks carried the
express trains.
| The people turned out en- masse to
christen the new road and 1t Is estimat-
ed that nearly 10000 rode during the
evening. The desire of people to ride
on locals rather than expresses caused
la great crowding in the stations in
the central part Of the city, but aside
/ from a little deviation from the sched-
ule the opening was successful
Hundreds of policemen had been sta
toned along the route, but the crowd
was so orderly that many of the re-
serves were sent back to their precinct
Quarters.
The subway winds is tortuous way
| through some of the most crowded
parts of the city, and it was in these
places that the first trains were given
Ia welcome in keeping with the event.
/ When the crowded cars swept into the
circular station at Astor Place they
! We're saluted by a cheering mob of peo-
pie from the east side. The salute was
characteristic Of the people, horns, ba-
ZOOS and clacquers assisting the fam
GUS east side cheers in proclaiming the
hearty satisfaction in that section. It
4 was like New Years eve for lower
Broadway. AT 14th street and again at
4 the Grand Central station the greeting
accorded the first train was well nigh
i ldeafening. When this train rushed
/ through the winding underground cav
lern, in a emi-darkness broken only by
the fitful gleam Of an incandescent lamp
or a signal light, turned the curve from
42d street into Broadway, the eyes Of
the passengers were fairly dazzled by
the burst of flame at the Times Square
station. The name of the station was
vividly portrayed in green lights from
cream colored background. Hun
dreds Of theatergoers thronged the
platforms and applauded the on-com-
ling Of the train,
j Similar receptions were given by
crowds at Columbus circle, I'D and
125th streets. Above Cathedral park
way the train rolled out Of the sub
! way into the open Of the overhead
j structure and the dim light Of the un-
derground gave way to the star-broken
darkness of the night. In every win
dow of the tall apartment houses lin
ling the structure We're enthusiastic
people who cheered the train as ii
sped by. Again, the cars dipped down
Into the earth and the passengers were
landed at 145th street. Owing to the
/ crowds at the stations no attempt was
made to make time on the first trip.
Most Of the passengers crossed the
Istreet and made the return trip in an
lexpress. The return to the Brooklyn
bridge was accomplished in twenty
six minutes which included eight stops
4 Running at times at a speed Of mile
Ia minute in the half darkness of the
tunnel, the train dashed by stations
which could only be distinguished by a