New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-12
BRIDGE CRUSH REALISM
P,S SCOMJfITTEE WlDES IN
Commissioners Seek Enlightenment
By Experiencing Horror.

lie passengers that. as a unit. was seeking to
board the few cars furnished for their trans
portation. The committee detailed 10 investigate
the crush and report remedial measures, con-
sisting Of Commissioner Bassett. chairman. and
Commissioners McCarron and Eustis. decided
10 begin its work by an actual investigation of
the bridge crush during rush hours.
AT 90 o'clock yesterday afternoon they left
the Park Row Building. where they had been
IN consultation with Mr.. Stevenson. Bridge Com
missioner and accompanied by MIR. Ingersoll
chlef engineer. and followed by a score of news
Taper men and photographers, started for the
Aanhattan terminal of the old Brooklyn Bridge.
Nhlle in the terminal structure and watching
the frlghtful congestion and the mob literally
fighting its way to get into the trains crushing
and showing aside women and children in its
wild hurry. fnvoluntarily such remarks as This
IS horrible! ITO think that such conditions
could be tolerated in a civilized city," This
crush is a disgrace to the city," Something
has got 10 be done TO do away with this frightful
spectacle fell from the lips OF the committee
Il was repeatedly remarked that the trains
running on time and that the schedules
were adhered to even during the height Of the
rush hours. That is because news Of the visit
Of the committee was published yesterday" said
an enploye Of the Bridge Commissioner "It is
not usually like this
After the trip of inspection was over no Nom,
Der OF the committee was willing to make any
comments or to predict what measures they
would recommend 70 alleviate a situation which
prominent state officials have pronounced .im-
moral and disgraceful," but on the face of eacl,
could be read a settled determination to afford
the relief that has for so long been advocated
but has never been given. The committee re-
alizes that II is face to face with one of rhe
biggest and most difficult problems of rapid
transit in the city.
Mr.. BASSETT IMPRESSED ANEW
The members realize that if they succeed in
remedying or obviating the bridge crush they
VIII nave accomplished something that has been
often tried without success But Commissioners
Bassett has made a thorough study Of the h-idga
situation and has already in all probability de-
Feloped a plan by which he homes 10 do awav
with the congestion. 1T is all horrible" he re-
marked during the investigating trip but II is
an old story to me" Then in q scarcely aDdibIa
tone. as IL speaking TO himself he said AZ a.,
determined to remedy this horror. It will be the
aim Of my life"
Nhether the committee has any plan whereby
the Williamsburg Bridge may be utilized to re-
4leVe the congestion at the old bridge and assume
It's share or the burden of passenger traffic
across the East River cannot be said. Com
missioner Bassett while watching tire crush re-
marked 10 Commissioner McCarroll: The Will
iansburg Bridge is only used TO about A tenth
OF its capacity
Yes replied Mr.. McCarroll. .qt should re-
heve so per cent OF the congestion here"
From these remarks arose the rumor that a
terminal loop connecting the two bridges would
be recommended by the committee. This plan
Is hardly considered practical by engineers who
have studied the problem.
On arriving at the terminal structure the IN
Fesugating party stood for few moments lust
INSIDE the shed watching the crowd pass. Come
get OUT Of this; you blocking the gangway.''
ordered e big policeman. Some one started to
protest but Commissioner Bassett srnilingIy sug-
gested there were better vantage points within
the building
The party then moved to the rezzanine floor.
This is one of the worst points" commented
Mr Bassett as he gazed at the rushing, strug-
Cling mob.
mink OF woman trying 20 get on a car over
there" said Mr.. Ingersoll.
Just at that moment a young girl apnarentlv
about sixteen years old. attempted TO get on a
Brooklyn Rapid Transit car So did a gang OF
Italian laborers. The result was that the girl
after being roughly showed aside and nearly
crushed IN the jam, was literally showed off the
car by sWarthy Italian. and the train pulled
out leaving her
That is outrage" exclaimed one OF the
party.
There are not enough policemen here" said
commissioner. THE force at this terminal
mould be largely increased. Such brutality
should be followed by arrests
SEE MELEE FROM DISPATCHER'S TOWER.
After leaving the mezzanne floor. the COM
nittee went up a flight Of steps TO the main
hoor for the bridge trains. Led by Commissioner
Sassett, the members promptly climbed thirty
foot steel ladder TO the dispatcher's tower. There
they had complete view OF the crush, as far
as the bridge cars were concerned They could
not only watch the crowd but also the trains.
Ar. Ingerso explained the operation of the
switches and various mechanical details.
"Of course said Mr.. Bassett, nothing can
Oe done Immediately; but give us time. Time IS
what we want. There must be a remedy for
this, and II there is must find IL. The whole
trouble is that this situation was not guarded
against years ago. It has been allowed 70 grow
Up. each year increasing the menace, each year
making a remedy more difficult But with the
Cooperation Of many people, and must have
Cooperation IL we are to do anything, this crush
snail be done away with.
''Ths disgrace Of it ALL he continued, lis the
travesty American chivalry and American
manhood. Why, hardly woman can get seat
On car, even if she has the good luck to get on
one during the rush. bien-big, husky brutes-
force weak women out OF the way. Shove them,
9oEtle them, maui them; anything 10 get on the
cars. When on the trains they slide down into
me first seat and apparently ntver think or
Offering seat TO a woman. It's disgrace to
lie men n the city
After descending from the tower the party
moved down the surface car tracks. Here the
congestion worse than on the other
hoors. AS the cars came in there was a wild
rush 10 board them while they were still In
motion. Men clambered in through the sides,
and showed one another off the platform, trying
% get on before ali the seats were occupied.
The few policemen at the tracks would have
oeen powerless 20 check the rush had they
tried 10
The wonder tc me is that more people are
nor Killed here every day. said Commissioner
AcCsr-oll
IL Is remarkable" assented Mr.. Eustis-
Just then Myrtle avenue car came in. One
,"oinan succeeded in getting on IL. She must
Se lively woman" remarked Commissioner
eessttt AS rule the women have 10 wait