The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-03
NARROW ESCAPE OFA.D. WHITE
THE EX-AMBA SSA nor WITHIN An
INCH or DEATH on 4 TRAIN.
Ills Hat Cut Almost In Two by the Glass Of
shattered window. Flung Across
the CaF-His Hands Cut and = woman
Near Him Hurt--PrOstrpted by shock

the CaF-His Hands Cut and q woman
Near Him Hurt--PrOstFSted by shock.
Andrew D. White, former president Of
Cornell University and e1-Ambassador to
Germany had a narrow escape from death
on Saturday while returning 10 this city
from New Haven. Even yesterday Mr.
White had not entirely recovered from
tine shock
The accident happened on a train on the
New Haven railroad. Mr. White had gone
up to New Haven on Friday TO deliver an
address before the students there. He
took the 5 o clock express from New Haven
On Saturday afternoon. The train makes
no stop between New Haven and New
York. It Is due here at 0:S2 o'clock
Mr.. White had a seat in a Pullman two
car, back from the engine. His seat was
on the right side Of the car pretty well
toward the rear door Near him sat a
woman and little child SO far as he
remembers, there was nobody opposite
him.
The train usually hits it up pretty well
as & nears New York. It was running at
higa rate Of speed near Rye-so rapid that
Mr. White thought it was near Woodlawn-
when it passed freight train going in the
opposite direction on the next track. No
loly paidmuch attention to the freight train
a. It began to whiz by, least Of all Mr. White,
Who was reading magazine.
Suddenly there was a crash. Mr.. White
didn't know exactly what happened until
afterward. He felt something strike him
somewhere about the head and a shower Of
class and bits Of wood fell on him. The
glass cut his hands and his arms, but fort
unatey missed his head and face.
II happened 80 suddenly that for a
moment he was dazed When he recov-
cred himself he found that the double
window at which he had been sitting had
a hole in Il which looked as though il had
been made By a cannon ball. Across the
aisle the car was strewn with bits Of wreck
age. The window opposite had been
smashed to bits and most Of the sash torn
out A woman next TO him had bad cut
on the forehead. from which blood was
streaming. Mr. Whites hand was bleeding.
Ii wa not nutil he put ms hand up TO mr.
head. though. that he found how near death
mad been to him. He wore n silk hat, and
had Just put it on, thinking the train was
approaching New York, A piece Of the
neayy plate glass had cut the hat almost in
two just an eighth Of an inch above the top
Of his head.
Another piece OF glass had struck the
crown obliquely and had cut OF piece Of
the hat close to his ear. In fact, there was
little Of the hat that was not cut almost into
bits above the part that rested on his head,
The other passengers in the car had been
dazed by what had happened, but they
quickly recovered themselves and rushed
20 the assistance Of Mr.. White and his woman
neighbor. The clothing Of both OF them
had been cut by the glass, which was strewn
all over that part Of the car Mr.. White
had 70 be assisted to another seat. The
cuts on his hand were not severe and II was
soon found that he had sustained no serious
injuries.
The train was stopped and an investiga-
ton made. but there was nothing 70 show
what had caused the accident When he
arrived In town Mr.. White was assisted to a
cab and driven to the Union League Club.
His appearance showed the shock he had
had
only once before have ever come 40
near DEATH said Mr.. White yesterday
THAT was in Berlin, when was knocked
down by a bicycle. l was carrying an
umbrella and threw II away from me and
that made the horses Of an approaching
carriage swerve just enough TO save my
life. In this case the fact that the glass
had cut my hat almost on just above my
head upset me a good deal. must confess.
Had 1t struck an eighth Of an inch lower
II would have taken OF the top Of my skull.
From the size Of the hole In the window
at which l was sitting believe that big
rock went through the car, entering by
the opposite window. The opposite side
Of the car looked as though we had teen in
collision The train men couldn't account
for the accident in any other way than that
the door Of a freight train might possibly
have swung loose and struck us
The super intendent Of the Pullman COM
pany at the Grand Central Station said yes
terday afternoon TINT the accident was
very strange one and was being inve5ti- .
gated.
MIR. White he said. certainly had
about the narTowest es'aoe from death
I have ever heard about. The only eI-
planation the conductor OF the train can
make is that something on the freight
train got loose and swung against the side
Of the car. The window at which Mr..
White was sitting was probably shattered
by the heavy pieces Of glass from the other
window, which must have gone across the
car with cannon ball velocity The win
dows are double windows and the glass
would have killed any one that got in It's
wav
W cannot be positive about the cause
Of the accident until an examination Of the
freight train has bNan made There Is no
blJst.ng In that strict, and the accident
could not have boon caused by any stone
being thrown. To, damage was alto
gether too great"
The name Of the injured woman was re-
fused. II was said that she was taken
home in a cab. more scared than hurt.
CARNEGIES At the roo.