New-York tribune., 1905-01-12
THE SUBWAY SuASB-UP.

No one should have been astonished at the
occurrence OF a collision In the subway early
Wednesday morning, 1t was well known that
the local tracks were not so well guarded as the
express tracks. The former have fewer signals
than the latter. They also lack the equipment
which automatically stops an express train
when signals are disregarded. So far as we
have been able TO discover, the motormen en-
plOyed in the subway are not less fallible than
engineers on steam roads. That those who are
employed to run local trains would sooner or
later run past signals. therefore, was a fore
gone conclusion; and ii is only a question of
time when some OF them will do It again.
Whether the result will be more trivial or more
distressing next time IL is impossible TO pre-
dict but yesterdays accident Is hardly worth
worrying about There were only few bruises
and cuts. Nobody was killed, and there was no
fire. None of the pillars between the side and
central tracks were knocked out of position,
no obstruction TO express traffic was offered,
nor did the roof OF the subway cave in.
Until the mOtorman of the second train pre-
sents reasons for thinking otherwise. he must
be considered responsible for the collision. Gen
eral Manager Hedley has apparently suspended
Judgment, but the facts, as reported seem to
indicate carelessness. There was a rear end
collision on the Nlnth-ave. line a few days ago
On that occasion the train which struck
was concealed from the mOtOrman Of the one
behind by bend in the road There being no
hagman permanently on duty at the curve, the
guard at the rear end OF the forward train
should have run back with his lantern as quick
~ as possible. He was clearly at fault for not
doing So The situation In the subway yester-
day does not seem to have been the same. The
motorman Of the following train ought to have
had an unobstrueted view of the cautionary sig
nal beside the rails and Of the red lights on the
train that had stopped at Worth-st Why were
they both unheeded?
The value of an automatic check on heed
lessnesS having been recognized by the
company now operating the underground road
in this city, one might suppose that Il wider ap-
plicatOn Of the system would have been made.
No doubt it was believed that there was less
danger of collision the local tracks because
a lower average speed is developed there than
ON the express tracks. Moreover being pio-
neer in introducing the Improvement in the me-
tropOlis the InterbOrough company might have
felt justified in putting its own limits on the ex-
tent of the reform Nevertheless now that the
public has had a chance to realize its virtues,
there may be Il demand for more thorough pro-
lection than has yet been vOuchsafed. A few
months will tell the story. One really fOrmi-
liable accident would reveal the necessity for
equal safeguards on both sets of tracks
Patrons OF the subway can without much diff
ficulty extract from this incident a useful les
son. 1t is asserted that some Of the passengers
who were thrown to the floor of one OF the
cars were trampled upon by others. Herein
were illustrated on small scale the effects OF
panic which are so common an accompaniment
Of fires in theatres. When he is badly scared
the human animal is liable to be as brutal and
reckless as any Of the lower ones. 1t is much
easier to preach sef-contrOl than to practise it.
but an occasional reminder of the wisdom, as
we'll as the beauty, OF calmness in trying sit
uatiOn is certainly not out of place. STAN
pede is sometimes precipitated by single ex-
ample, and the most precipitate endeavor to
escape IS not always the most successful