Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-09-12
THE SWITCHMAN
WAS BLAMED
Elevated Railway He Is Alleged
Responsible For.
FALL Is FRIGHTFUL.
Caa Tumbles off Structure on Line
at New York, Turning Bottom
Up and Causing Several
Deaths and Many Hurt.

New York. Sept. 12.-By An acciden,
on the West Side Electric railway at
Fifty-third street and Ninth avenue
Monday morning a southbound Ninth
Avenue train crowded with passengers
struck an open switch at the junction
with the Sixth Avenue line. One OF
in its descent, and landing bottom up
ward. Several other cars were left
hanging from the structure. The car
which fell was well filled.
Eight persons were killed and more
than thirty injured by the accident.
The train was a local and should have
continued on the straight track instead
of being switched to the curve by
which the Sixth Avenue trains pro-
coed on Fifty-third street from Ninth
avenue to Sixth avenue The Sixth
Avenue train had just passed and the
switch TO the curve was open. Owing
to this open switch the first car of the
Ninth Avenue train took the switch
just barely staying on the rails and
turned into Fifty third street instead
of going down Ninth avenue. The
switchman alleged that when he saw
the blunder he turned the switch back
again as II to send the train on the
straight track down Ninth avenue. AS
soon as this was done the train was
wrecked. The second car got around
the turn, but the third, owing to the
switch being changed. was thrown off
the track.
The fourth and fifth cars also left the
rails. but did not fall 10 the street. The
fourth car struck with terrific force
against the building at the southwest
corner of Ninth avenue aud rested
against the fire escapes. This build
ing is occupied in part by Mrs Crow.
Many persons were badly hurt.
Henry Atkins, a policeman. had skull
fractured.
w. c Johnson. a passenger on the
train. said of the accident: 81 was sit
ting in the second car of the train read
ing paper when all of a sudden the
lights went out and every one was
s.''S"H cut VI TIE uoor. ldIlueu IN
the street, striking against woman
This probably saved my life"
Eight bodies were taken from the
wreck and the head of another was
found on the elevated tracks. Two of
the injured were fatally hurt.
During The unoropos;G -,a,;ali no Inn
Coroner, you can go up to the elevated
road at F'ifty-ninth street and Ninth
avenue and see for yourself You will
find the signal yellow which means the
southbound Ninth Avenue train has the
right of way and a clear track"
Passengers in the fourth and fifth
cars were able to save themselves and
get to the street in safety by climbing
through windows of Mrs. Crows apart
ments from the fire escapes, against
which the fourth car rested.
Policeman Edward Moran. who was
injured. was standing beneath the
structure when the accident happened.
He leaped when he heard the crash |
overhead and escaped death
The excitement among those i'm the |
derailed cars on the structure as they |
realized what had happened became |
intense. In the forward car men |
thinking the motorman was responsible |
for the wreck attacked him and tried |
TO beat him. He was dragged from a |
seat but shouted for fair play and con- |
WINGED the crowd that It was the |
switchman and not him who was re- |
sponsibls.