Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-12
Twelve Dead, Three Will
Die, Two Score Injured
In Terrible Accident on New York
Elevated ---Trainmen Arrested.

New York, Sept. 1.-THE death list
Ninth Avenue Elevated Railroad. when
"A car crowded with early morning
workers on their way down town.
pitched headlong into the street stands
at T.. Three men are i'm hospitals with
fractured skulls. One of these. who as
Yet remains unidentified at Roosevelt
hospital, is unconscious and not eX-
pected to live long. More than two
score of persons We're injured. many of
them seriously.
The cause of the accident and the i'm
mediate responsibility remain to be de-
termined. The motorman Of the
wrecked train is 4 fugitive. while the
Switchman. conductor and four guards
are under arrest. The sWitchman is
charged with manslaughter and the
trainmen are held as witnesses. To-
night, Coroner Scholer, who is working
to place the blame for the wreck, an
nOunced that the switchmans bond
had been placed at $4,000 and those of
the witnesses at 500 each.
Whatever the mistake, the accident,
the worst in the history of the overhead
railroads of New York. came when n
southbomd train Of the Ninth Avenue
line was switched to the Sixth Avenue
line ut the SD street junction. From
Harlem south to SD street, the Ninth
avenue trains ana the Sixth avenue
trains. alternating. travel over the
same track. AT the junction of Ninth
avenue and SD street. the Sixth ave
nue. trains turn abruptly to the east.
pass through $50 street and South on
sixth avenue. The Ninth avenue trains
on the other hand continue on nearly
a direct line. A switchman stationed
near the junction throws the train TO
the Ninth avenue or the Sixth avenue
line as the route of the train is indi-
Gated by his forward light signals.
Tie speed of the wrecked train was
such that it could not make the turn
into the Sixth avenue tracks and re-
main on the rails The switchman says
that the train displayed Sixth avenue
signals and he switched it for the turn
ON the other hand some of the train
men claim that the Switchman made n
mistake ana threw to the east n train
which should have been allowed to con-
tinue on the straight track.
The motorman expecting clear
track on the direct Ilnr pt Nlflln Ave
nue. or possibly disreyar6inG the warn
ing signal that the switch was open.
rushed his train along ut 2 high rate OF
speed. The first car swung around the
right angle curve holding 20 the rails
because Of the weight of the train be-
hind. Then the strain became too
great The couplings broke. the second
end and to the horror OF those who
car was whirled abouI almost end to
looked on from below, pitched into the
street
The first Indication people on the
sidewalk had that an accident was oc-
curing was an unusually loud rumb-
ling along the overhead structure.
Looking up they saw n shower Of
sparks. then followed the sound Of
splitting thinkers. suddenly. the outer
guard rail of the railroad structure
gave way. There was n startling rain |
of human bodies ana then with a deaf |
ening crash, the heavy car fell to the |
street For an instant, the vehicle |
stood fairly on end. Their The Sides |
gave way as If they We're made Of |
pasteboard. belching ont n mass Of |