Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-12
DARK IN
 SUBWAY.
Rush of Water Did
 Much Damage.
Big Water Main Burst and
 Caused Lots of Inconven. fence as Well as Damage to the Amount of $lOO, 900.

to the Amount of $lOO, ,OOO. New York, June 12.-Train service in the subway is crippled to-day and has been suspended throughout the 1 night as the result of a burst forty eight inch water main at Park avenue and Forty-first street. There is no ex- press service to-day and local trains are operated only from the Grand Gen. tral station north and from the Four teenth street station south. The main burst yesterday afternoon and the flow | of water continued uninterrupted four and One-half hours while employees of the city water department wandered | about in the vicinity of Park avenue and Forty-first street turning off one gate after another in a futile search for the proper shut-off to stop the | flood. Officials of the subway tele- phoned in all directions, but say they failed to find anyone in authority with the requisite knowledge of the mains. The damage was finally checked through information furnished by a private citizen employed by a contract ing firm.
 It is estimated that the loss to the subway alone will be $10O,O0O Hun dreds of persons were caught in the blOckaded trains and almost smOthered before they wede able to reach fresh air by wading through eighteen inches of water to the nearest station. Many women had their clothing practically ruined by water which spattered through the open windows.
 There were thousands of persons waiting along the entire line for trains and much time elapsed before news of the blockade reached them. Conse- quently many travellers bound for the Grand Central and other railway stations missed their trains
 There were scenes of considerable disorder at the Brooklyn bridge sta ton. Coming from the beaches and other summer resorts on Long Island, great crowds poured into the under ground stations and for half an hour after the trains stopped they continued to gather, tickets being sold as usual. Then the agents began giving out blockade transfers" and guards were II away the would-be passengers. But the crowds from Coney Island brushed them aside and continued to enter. After much delay a short train ser vice was established as far north as Fourteenth street. To further compli- cate the situation car jumped the track on the spur from the City hall to Rector street and blockaded traffic on that section. It was then found neces- sary to close the stations south of the City hall.
 There was no outlet for the water that poured Into the subway and big steam pump was rigged in an effort to keep down the flood.
 Persons who were caught in the trains near the flood when the power failed had terrific experience. AT the lights were suddenly extinguished following a series of loud explosions Men. women and children were thrown into panic. There was a rush for the doors when water began to spray through the open windows, but the guards held their ground and closed the windows.
 The atmosphere became stifilng and finally the guards were unceremoni- ously pushed aside while the passen- gers plunged into the water and made their way 10 the nearest stations, groping along the walls in order to avoid the deadly third rail current. Hundreds were afraid. however, to risk their lives and workmen were soon on the scene with lanterns. En- coura ged by the lantern light the pas sengers soon were treading their way between the rails until the near est platforms were reached.
 A condition that attracted attention was the sudden oppressiyeness that filled the tunnel and stified those in the cars. Within five minutes after trains stopped moving the tempera- ture appeared to rise many degrees. until the cars were like the hot room in a Turkish bath. Open windows gave little relief. and many persons from the stations in an ex- hausted condition.
 In addition to the damaged roadway in the tunnel. burned out motors and the fusing of hundreds of electrical eontrivances added greatly to the loss.
 Private property along Park avenue also suffered. quick work at the un- finished Hotel Belmont avoided heavy loss. The building. which is partially completed. extends four stories under ground. Employes on the premises got a pump into action and kept the flood moving into the sewer. Many private cellars tn the neighborbood were filled. however. causing pluch damage
 While officials of the subway were excoriating the city empioyes for per hitting the food to % unchecked more than four h0urs. thousands Of passen- gers who had purchased tickets an along the line before notice was re ceivpd of the blockade were demand ing their money back They were met with refusal and riots were narrowly avertef. In due season another order went around permitting the agents to give out transfers xood for another ride within forty-eiTht hours. Each ticket had to t-e signed snd datei. e that the crowds became very impa- tienf. Poliee assistance was called st some of the stations before the upToa- could be quietesl