New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-19
RESERVES FOR IL" BLOCK.
AGENTS ALMOST MOBBED
SeH itckets on East Side Lines, De-
spite Halted Trains.

"-i'S oi ehe Ahlrd and Second ave. elevated
lines was para!yzed between and II O'Clock
last night by cars. which Jumped the tracks at
the curve at One-hundred -and-twenty- -ninth-st,
over the Harlem River Angry crowds ~ ,,ar
women and children gathered at the stations
along the line in such force and showed such
bitterness when the agents refused TO give
transfers or return money. that the reserves
1roIh Two precincts were sent to the stations TO
project them and save the ticket sellers from
bodily harm.
Many OF the passengers who were stalled in
the train or dumped on the station platforms
Were without another five cents to carry them
to their destinations by Surface car. These
people gathered about the station at One-hun-
dred-and- -twenty-s and Second ave. at
ne-hundred-and-t twenty -ffth-st. and Third-ave
and at the station at One hundred and thirty
eighth-st, and threatened to break into the
ticket sellers booths and take their fares or
other tickets. Nothing but the prompt arrival
of the police saved the booths from destruction.
To add to the excitement, a wonderful cleo
trical display accompanied by explosions set the
crowds wild with fear when the trucks jumped
the tracks and struck the third rail Sheets of
blue flame flashed out from under the trucks.
The current burned big steel bolts like tnder.
and the explosions sounded like a cannonade.
This lasted for a quarter of an hour before the
current shut off.
People were hanging by straps in the trains,
while all the station platforms up and down
town there were throngs waiting to get home
when the accident occurred. Two cars which
We're being switched out of the storage house
at One-hundred-a nd-twenty-nirt We're the
cause of the trouble They were mounted on
temporary trucks and were in charge of a motor
switchman. They out of the house on the
northbound tracks, and attempt made
at the curve to shunt them over to the down
town tracks.
On the curve. humping over the frog in the
switch, the forward trucks of the first car left
the tracks and the wheels hit the third rail-
The train was stopped instantly. At once there
was series Of explosions as the cars became
short circuited. Flames of binding brightness
lighted up the sky and attracted great crowds
from north and south. All sorts of rumors of
disaster spread rapidly and the train crews of
approaching trans had their hands full in re-
assuring passengers.
When the trucks leaped the track at the cross
over they had acquired sufficient momentum TO
carry the forward car far enough to block the
downtown tracks. Train after train was stalled
beginning across the bridge over the Harlem
until there a complete block as far as One
hundred-and- -seventh-st.
Trains coming uptown stopped at One
hundred-and-twentyfi fifth-st., and all the pas
sengers compelled to leave the cars.
All this time the ticket sellers dealing
out tickets, and the platforms became moro and
more crowded AS the trains above the Harlem
stretched along, the passengers walked through
them and reached the station platforms. to add
to the throngs which had climbed the stairs
No one knew what the trouble was and the
station agents preserved silence while the sale
of tickets went steadily on.
First came word of threatened disorder from
the station at One hundred-and thirty eighth-st
Many men demanded that the ticket seller issue
transfers to the surface lines. He locked the
door and telephoned Police Headquarters that
he was in danger Of being nobbed The reserves
of the Alexander ave. station, a block away
turned out the double quick Almost
from the bottom of the stairs they had to fight
their way to the platform and into the booth
where the ticket seller sat with the window
closed. almost paralyzed with fear angry
men pounded on the door and demanded the
turn of their money.
Nothing could be done by the police except 10
use their best efforts TO preserve order. They
could clear the platforms, the people had
purchased tickets, and there trains TO
carry them away.
Indignation ran high. and threats were heard
every side
At the station on the .Second-ave. line at One
hundred-and-twenty -seventh-st- the crowds were
more threatening.
Conditions were little better the surface
cars and the lines Of the Union Street Railway
were badly Congested. It almost midnight
before traffic assumed normal proportions. Pas
sengers on the Westchester division of the sub
way the viaduct portion of the road were de-
layed for about the same length OF time as
those or the elevated road.