Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-30
AN ACCIDENT
Subway Train Beyond the
Control OF motorman.
Runs Wild Landing The Car in
a Heap of Dirt.
Catches Fire and Pandemonium Reiqns
Minor Injuries.

New York, March PA severe ex-
plOsion. followed by an outbreak of
fire. which up to a late hour. tonight,
had delied all the efforts of the fire.
men 10 completely eXtinguiSh il. Oc-
Cured. today. in an unfinished sec
ton of the subway, at Broadway and
18th street. The tube at that point is
120 feet below the surface. The ex-
plOsion followed q collision between an
empty train which had been run TOO
far beyond the terminal switch and a
fat car on which were several Italian
laborers. 1t was rumored that the
shock detonated a box of dynamite
cartridges on the car. although all the
ihen on the car escaped uninjured.
General Manager Hedley stated that
there was no dynamite in the tunnel
and that the explosion was caused by
short circuit on the third rail and the
Iced cable, resulting from the collision.
which set fire to some of the timbers
used by the contractor in snoring up
the tunnel. No person was injured
and according to Mr.. Hedleys state
nent only one car of the empty train
slightly damaged by fire.
New York, March 29.-There was
heavy explosion in the subway tunnel
at l6Sth street and Broadway early We'd
nesday where the tunnel is l20 feet be
low the surface of the street Fire ap-
raratuS and extra police were summoned
The explosion took place at point be-
You'd tha; Ito which the trains are at
run AT present and neai. the American
league baseball park
An uptown Subway train which had
been emptied of passengers at 151th street
and was run to l6tith s.; rect to be switched
across to the down town tracks got be-
yOnd control of the motorman and ran
into a pile of construction MAJ eriaI in,
the 16Sth street station. The cars jump
ed the track and caught fire. 1t was re-
ported that some loose powder which
was to be used in digging the tunnel
was ignited and exploded For some time
it was not known whether or not the
train crew had escaped. An :nt tem,a was
made to operate AL elevator running
through a shaft from the tunnel to the
street bun it could nos he moved. Some
Of the employees ran through the tube
10 the 1Slst street station and reached
tiit SUI lace stl iIitt point. i lie HItmen
passed hose down into the tunnel and
fought the blaze of the burning cars
Two hours after the accident the mo-
tOrman of the subway train had rot been
found and II was reported that he had
been pinlsd in his little box in the first
ear and either killed in the collision or
burned NO death TX was reported that the
conductor and guards had escaped from
the tunnel by way of the shaft ut the
lSlst street station. \ gang of - laborers
who Were employed in the tunnel reach
ed the street in that fashion also
The firemen tried to get AT the burn
ing cars but could not as they We're driv-
IN back by the smoke in the tunnel. Their
only recourse was to lower hose through
he shaft and pour waiter mdiscrminate-
~ into the tunnel below in the hope of
flooding the fire.
1t was aScertained that the train had
run against a heavy bulkhead of pine
and that The wood was set on fire after
the collision. There We're two explosions
and both were later said to have been of
dynamite cartridges used in blasting. One
occurred soon amer the collision. The
.Ithnr occurred much later.
Subsequently it was ascertained that
the motorman escaped uninjured.