New-York tribune., 1905-06-12
FLOOD STOPS SUBWAY.
Continued from first page.

the subway.
At the subway station at the Geand Central
Station there hardly any water but at 4lst-
st the water was rising fast covering the rails
and reaching up to the bottom of the cars OF
stalled train There were two pumps with
electors in that part of the subway. and they
We're set to work. but they could make no head
way against the flood. Mr.. Hedley seemed to
be an angry man. He said there would be an
investigation of the failure OF the Water Depart
ment to respond to the call 1t had been I'M
possible to get any employees of the department
TO the scene Of the accident for about two hours
although the police telephones were kept busy.
The men who did respond to the call seemed TO
be helpless, without guides to tell what gate
should be closed
OUTSIDER STOPS THE LEAK.
1t was not until about 7:30 p. that a per-
son appeared who knew what to do, and he was
not connected with the Water Department he
was Frank McClusky, foreman Of pipe re-
pairs for the Degnon-McLean Construction Com
pany. Years ago. In the employ of John ID. ana
Thomas Crimmins. he had something to 90 WIN
laying the water main in which the break OF
yesterday occurred He a passenger on a
subway train which had been stopped at 32d-st-.
and. learning the of the trouble, ran to the
scene. Happily at the scene of the accident he
met Thomas Crirnrnins who had gone there on
hearing Of the trouble, and Mr.. Crirnmins asked
him to help the Water Department out Of the
trouble II he could.
McClusky knew what none Of the Water De-
partment seemed able to discover. that
the big main through Perk-ave. connected with
another main at 42d-st. and 3d-ave. Gathering
some of the employees Of the department, he soon
had the gate there shut and the water cut off
Just 1t had found a entrance through
1r,d
threatened to food 1t. The which run
through this tunnel had been stopped for nearly
an hour, but had again resumed operation when
the new peril appeared.
It was 1885 p NJ. five hours from the dis
covery Of the break before the water was cut
of The excellent sewerage facilities Of the neigh
borhood made the water disappear rapidly from
that time on, and the lake which had collected
soon dried up. The holes then looked like the
crater Of an extinct volcano.
FEAR WALLS ARE WEAKENED.
Chief Engineer Merritt, of the Interborough
Company, said at 1: 80 o'clock this morning, af-
ter coming out of the subway, that it would be
8 o'clock at least before trains could be run
through the point Of trouble. The walls Of the
subway and OF the Hotel Belmont may have
been weakened by the great flood. he said. tons
Of water having poured, past. through and
about them both. The police also said the
Buildings Department would be informed.
Two engines were at work all night and
morning pumping water out Of the subway
and pumps were being used In the Hotel Bel
monts seven underground stories.
Thomas Crimrnins said:
There are three mains running through
Park-ave in this district-a 6, IL and a
IS inch main--which is used for high pressure
in the lower districts of the city, and which
starts at the West 99th-st. pumping station, but
connects with many other parts Of a vast net
work Of pipes The delay has evidently been
caused by uncertainty which OF these
many mains has broken At this point tie main
Is about eight feet below the surface and the
ground is about the hardest In the city"
Speaking about the rumor that the dynamite
explosion Of three years ago at that place might
have weakened the big main. Mr.. Crimmins said
that had that been the case 1t would long ago
have been betrayed AS to the amount Of water
which was wasted during the afternoon. it could
only be computed when the size Of the break
was known.
Mr. Crimmins said that the break was In a
repair district which took In the territory
bounded by the two rivers 23d and Both sts.
He thought it large district for one gang OF
to cover.
HEDLEY TO ASK INVESTIGATION.
Late last night Mr.. Hedley of the INTERIOR
ough. was still examining the damage to the
subway.
This break and the long delay in remedying
it." he said, have caused possibly 100000 dam
age to us, with pumps at work steadily, damage
to the roadbed loss to traffic and lost and dam
aged arrnatures- This is the second time within
six months that have had this trouble on
lines.
Mr. Hedley was evidently determined to make
a thorough investigation and trace the RESPONSE
bility for the delay and break clear to its
and even to Mayor Mcclellan if that were neces-
sary.
"As soon as I heard of the accident" he said,
ct told the Water Supply Department, and two
men were sent here. These men worked for
while without success. An hour and half later
I asked for more men. The department promised
to send them, but up to 80 p. m. they had not
arrived / have been trying in vain to get
Mayor Mcclellan or Commissioner Oakley. and
I certainly will ask for some settlement from
the city for the damages caused to the Inter
borough interests"
NONE OF WATER OFFICIALS IN TOWN
Up TO 1110 p Mayor Mcclellan. Com
missioner Oakley, Consulting Engineer G. w.
Birdsan Of the Department of Water Supply.
Secretary Prendergast, Deputy Commissioners
Goodwin, Assistant Engineer u. IL
Bull of the Water Department, Water Registrar
Tosenh w Savage and several other officials.
sought at their homes. at their political clubs
and places where they are sometimes found.
could not be reached. In nearly every case 1t
was said they out Of the city. Counnis-
gioner Oakley went to Rockaway in the early
afternoon.
n 4 II