The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-09-12
swITcauAm SAID TO Be RESPONSIBLE
DISASTER RESULTS IN DEATH OF
TEN AND INJURY OF MORE
THAN TWO SCORE.

New York, Sept. 12.-Ten persons
were killed and more than forty In
jured by the derailment of an elevated
railroad train at Fifty-third street and
Ninth avenue The train was q south
bound Ninth avenue local and should
have continued on the straight track
instead Of being switched to the curve
by which Sixth avenue trains proceed
on Fifty-third street from Ninth ave-
nue to Sixth avenue. A Sixth avenue
train had just passed and the switch
10 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 go.
ing down Ninth avenue. The switch
man, 1t is alleged. when he saw his
blunder turned the switch back again
as IL 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 car. owing to the switch
being changed. was thrown OF the
track. 1t fell into the street, turning
completely over and landing upside
down. The dead are: Jacob M. Aus
pach. merchant and member of the
Newark IN. J.) board of trade; Er-
nest p. Scheible. electrician; Theo-
dore Morris, colored: John Corcoran;
LII IL hu q
Mutual Chemical company: Cornelius
Mccarthy. labOrer; William Lees,
electrician: Joseph Bach. policeman;
James Cooper and an unidentified wo-
man.
The switchman, Charles dickinson.
and five members of the train crew
were arrested, but the motorman, Paul
Kelly. disappeared. The switchman
stoutly asserted that he set the switch
as indicated by the train signals. He
blamed the motorman.
Two Other Cars Oeralled.
The fourth and fifth cars also left
the rails. but did not fall into the
street. The fourth car struck with
terrific force against the building at
the southwest corner OF Ninth avenue
and rested against the fire escapes,
This building Is occupied In part by
Mrs. Grow, whose family was at break
fast. The passengers In the fourth
and fifth cars we're able to save them
selves and get to the streets In safety
by climbing through the windows OF
Mrs. Crows apartments from the fire
escapes, against which the fourth car
rested.
The excitement among those In the
derailed cars on the structure as they
realized what happened became In
tense. In the forward car the men.
deeming the motorman was responsi-
BILE for the wreck. attacked him and
tried to beat him. He was dragged
from his seat, but he shouted for fair
play and convinced the crowd that 1t
was the switchman and not he that
was responsible.
Il am satisfied that the whole acci-
dent was due to the neglect OF the
switchman," said Coroner Scholer. I'm
the first place he made mistake In
turning the Ninth avenue train into
Fifty-third street and then added to
his blunder by turning the switch
again In an attempt to divert the train
into the Ninth avenue again. The last
mistake caused the terrible accident
and loss Of life.'
One Of the incidents OF the disaster
was the Jump OF james Bowen from
window OF the third car as Il fell from
the elevated structure into the street.
He landed In the street clear Of the
car, but head foremost. and suffered
fracture OF the skull.