The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-12
Accident In New York Tube
ImpsriIIed Passengers.
WATER POURED IN 4 IL HOURS
Break Was on Park Avenue, and a 20-Foot
Caw-In Resultsd-Dswn Town Traffic
Blocked Till Midnight.


avenue. about $50 feet south OF Forty
second street. yesterday resulted in the
flooding of the block just below the Grand
Central station, the street car tunnel
and the subway the stoppage OF traffic
in the subway for many hours. serious
damage 70 the underground road and
great danger to many passengers.
Incidentally II resulted in the caving-
in OF Park avenue. over an area 20 feet
broad, from which ran cracks that meant
danger to adjacent buildings. IL by the ac-
cidental appearance on the scene OF a
rnanhole not connected with the water
department., the terrific niagara of Croton
had not been stopped.
The watchman OF the Belmont hotel. IN
course OF erection at Forty-second street
and Park avenue. soon after o'clock
yesterday afternoon noticed water trick
ling between the paving blocks near the
entrance OF the Fourth avenue tunnel
through which the shortage cars run.
Almost Immediately there came a sound
as II OF the discharge of some heavy
explosive underground. and moment
later the water gushed forth in n cataract.
pouring into Forty-second street, which.
in the immediate vicinity. soon was
covered TO a depth OF two inches. Part
OF the stream ran down into the surface
car tunnel.
HAD NO PIPE PLAT.
Pedestrians near the Grand Central sta
ton ran IN every direction from what
eral were caught by the waters. but none
was seriously hurt.
Some OF the water poured into the
seven-story basement OF the Belmont
hotel and fearing danger 10 the founda-
tions OF this enormous structure, the en-
gineer on duty. put on a heavy pressure
OF steam and got all the big pumps to
work
Down through the roof OF the electric
proof roof OF the subway the water first
trickled and came in a deluge
While the cataract flowed. officials and
workmen OF the water department Joined
In vain search for the source OF the
trouble. The department admitted that
they had no chart OF the water supply
system and that they did no know what
was the matter.
Finally the rising water in the subway
made connection between the third rail
and the other rails. short-circuiting the
electric current. and this was attended by
a series OF explosions. which endangered
the lives OF those who were in the cars.
PEOPLE HAD TO WADE
About two hours after the break a
northbound train was stopped at I...rty
second street and then moved intermit-
tently. The air was pungent with the
smoke Of burning insulation and bright
flashes from wheels and rails were con-
tinuous. The train finally got 10 within
block Of the Forty-second street station
and then came 10 final stop, when the
passengers got out and waded through
the water 10 the station.
They carefully avoided the third rail
and nobody was injured. Their faces
were smudged from the flashing and
burning of wire and insulatons and
their clothing was bedraggled and limp.
but they made no complaint. That they
got out Of the tunno. alive seemed to
them 10 be enough.
Gradually the entire service south of
seventy-second street and TO Fourteenth
street was cut Off For n time trains
ran uptown 10 Fourteenth street and
north OF Seventy second street Later
this service was also discontinued.
General Manager Hedley OF the Inter-
borough Rapid Transit company arrived
o'clock and after trying I'm vain 10 COM
municate by telephone with Water Com
missioner Oakley and other officials.
made efforts to get Mayor Mcclellan him
self
DAMAGE AND LOSS 800 900.
Meantime the representatives OF the
water department were making frantic
efforts TO cut off the big water main.
the flow from which every moment was
becoming more dangerous.
Finally after the food had continued
for four hours and a half. Frank Nc
Cluskey. foreman for the construction
company. who had supervision Of the In
etallation OF the mains IN Park avenue.
pointed out a gate at Third avenue and
Forty second street. which. on being
closed. shut Off the torrent.
After that the water In the streets
soon ran down the sewers
Down the subway the iood had done
much damage. and trafiic was not re-
sumed until after midnight hundred
men were set to work tampng down bal
last in the subway and I'm the Fourth
avenue tunnel so that trains could begin
10 run again. 8 Aperintendent Hedley es-
timated the total loss. including damage
90 equipment and loss OF trafic. would
reach 100000.
SERVICE CRIPPLED TO-DAY.
Train service In the Subway Is crippled
today and has been suspended through
out the night as the result OF a burstcd
46-inch water main at Park avenue and
Forty-nrst street. There is no express
service today and local trains are oper-
ated only from the Grand Cen-ral sta'ion
north and from the Fourteenth Street
station. south.
FORCED WAY IN.
Then the agents began giving out
''blockade transfers and guards we're
stationed AT the entrances 20 warn away
the would-be passengers. But tho crowds
from Coney Island brushed them aside
and continued 90 enter.
Aftermuch delay a short train service
was established as far north as -Four.
teenth street. To further complicate the
sxtua atfon a car 3unned the tract On al.