New-York tribune., 1906-12-11
TRAINS ICE BLOCKED.
SUBWAT JAMMED FULL.
Traffic Tied Up in Rash Hour by
SIeet Storm.

The steady downfall OF drizzlng rain an Gao
yesterday and nearly all night following a
slight fan OF snow that left the street and side
walks covered with an eighth OF an inch OF dan
gerOusfy slippery ice almost blocked traffic en-
tirely on the surface and elevated lines and 50
cousested the subway lines that annoying de-
LAYS TO traffic were caused in every part OF the
city. There were several blocks on both the
underground and surface roads. a fire on the
Second avenue elevated line and congested con-
dttions at the Brooklyn Bridge. In Brooklyn
one man was killed by falling on the Ice
The worst block Of the day occurred IN the
subway about $50. when a n0rthbound Lenox
avenue express train jumped the track in the
cut where the LenOx avenue trains swing ou.
OF Broadway north OF the 96th street station
The train settled across the Lenox avenue
tracks in such a way as 10 block both north
and south bound traffic. Although not soul
was reported injured. intense excitement pre-
vailed on the express train, and at the S6th
street station the hOmeward bound crowds got
bigger and more impatient every moment The
passengers on the train that jumped the track
made mad rush for the ticket Ofics the mo-
ment the guards threw open the doors to let
them out. and at once demanded block tickets.
The crowds waiting for trains joined in the de-
mand and soon there were at least ffteu hum
dred men. women and chiIden demanding ex-
change tickets for the elevated systems
The agent refused. and when the exciterent
at its height George Smith. a passenger on
the train that went Off the track, and Louis
Gutelman began 10 pummeI each other. The
reserves from the Tooth street station were
rushed TO tEe scene. under Captain Burfeind-
The crowds persisted in demanding block tickets
and the agents. acting under orders. refused.
Some Of the officials of the road happened along
and Captain Burfeind had talk with them
which resulted in block tickets being issued as
fast as two men could do the work.
RUSH FOR BLOCK TICKETS.
The wonder was that some one was not hurt
in the rush from the train through the subway
TO the ticket Office. Several Of the passengers
climbed out of windows and the others became
so persistent that the guards thought II was
best 10 throw open the gates. The accident
caused a block at every station along the line,
and not a train moved northward until almost
O'Clock. II occurred at the worst hour OF the
day, when hundreds OF thousands were rush
ing from Offices and factories.
The accident caused such an enormous rush
for local trains that the entire local system was
stalled for nearly an hour. The trains could
not move. In the mean while the Grand Central
14th street and the Brooklyn Bridge stations
were janmed 70 the surface with the homeward
going crowds A detail Of police was sent 20
all the big stations 10 prevent disorder Tho
w.ecking crew. after more than hours work got
the train on the tracks again. AS usual. there
was no explanation OF the accident
Earlier in the day there was another block in
the subway at the time the same crowds caught
in the night rush were hurrying downtown
This was caused by the blowing out OF one OF
the large safety fuses protecting the third rail
on the downtown local track near Times Square.
The stations at JOth street, Times Square. I'D
plunged into darkness Every light on these
stations and in the trains on the downtown local
track was eXringuished- Such excitement
followed was only equaIled by that later IN the
day at 96th street and other stations along the
line
The subway troubles began long before day.
light and were due directly 70 the storm This
storm came so rapidly, according 70 General
Manager Hadley, that before the officials could
begin 70 have the seet brushed of trains on
the elevated portions Of the subway were almost
stalled. or moving so slowly as 70 cause virtual
block.
on the West Farms division OF the Lexington
avenue line when the time came 70 start trains
at 40 yesterday Orrning. IL was found 1nprac-
ticable 70 move them over the icy rails.
TROUBLE ON THE Il"
On the elevated systems trouble began early
on the Second avenue line trains stopped run
ming soon after midnight yesterday, and did not
start again until 4:30 o'clock. Shortly after that
hour a train between 92d and 9Sth streets got a
short circuit. and the trestIe work caught fra
The current was shut on and not rurnsd on
again until $50 O'Clock Even then It was dir-
fcuIt for trains 10 move. and It required two
hours and sixteen minutes for the first train 70
run from 9Sth street 70 the Battery.
At 5 o'clock traffic was stopped again when
the motor car on northbOUnd train took fire at
12d street
At o'clock the blockade had not been lifted.
and the officials of the InterbOrOugh system gave
orders that some OF the Second avenue trains oe
switched 10 the Third avenue line This was ac-
at Chatham Square At the same
time there We're similar blocks on the Sixth and
Ninth avenue lines.
Conditions on the surface car lines were
bad This was particularly true OF the
Madison and Third avenue lines On these ave-
nues nothing like schedule time was kept BY the
cars. and in some instances they were fifteen
and twenty minutes apart Then four or nV9
cars came along together.
Policemen along Fifth avenue were kept busy
assisting drivers in picking up their horses.
There were about q dozen accidents in Man
haitian mostly cases OF men slipping the icy
sidewalks They We're not Of a serious nature.
In Brooklyn. however, one man was killed by
SIfppiug on the ice. He was Joseph Reddy. OF
No. IL, Carlton avenue While working in the
rear of The officers quarters II the navy yard
he slipped on the ice and broke a blood vessel
He died before medical assistance reached him.