New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-27
FIFTEEN CARS WITH
CROWD STALLED.
In Cold and Without Food,
ESQ Spend Night an
Scamp.

OF the Vest EnQ QlNlSAo4- u 80
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company were
narooned between Coney Island and
Timer Park from midnight until 10
o'clock yesterday morning Fifteen cars.
making I'D three trains Of the heavy ele-
waited railroad type, rocked like ships,
while their load of passengers huddied
together for shelter against the raging
gale which swept an avalanche Of snow
across the Gravesend plains and rem
dered the powerful electric motors use
less against snowdrifts piled along
mile OF track.
The blockade was the worst expert
enced in Brooklyn for many years, and
was not lifted until relays of shoveuers
had removed tons Of tightly packed
snow The snow and ice pack lifted
electric ploughs and sweepers from the
rails. and made the work Of rescuing the
passengers q task which required all the
force OF the southern division Of the COM
pany. In an official announcement the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company ad-
mitted that more than one hundred and
fifty men. women and children had been
held in the cars, and that a relief train
was stalled for Two hours before IL could
bring food and drink 10 the passengers
Of the cars
The blizzard was Iashing snow, ice and
dirt into z whirlwind when the train
which left Coney Island al 11:30 Satur-
day night reached the steel bridge at
Coney Island Creek AS the first car
crossed the structure & sheet Of ice
caused the wheels TO slip and the train
stopped The trainmen were unable 10
cross the slippery girders Of the bridge,
and il was not until the wheels began 10
grind fat that the train was moved
toward Timer Park The cars forged
ahead slowly until they passed the
negro settlement in the meadows and
rounded one OF several dangerous curves
on the line
CHECKED BY TT SNOW.
Emerging from the shelter afforded by
the negro huts. the train plunged into a
whirI which piled snow . the window
levels
The motors began 10 chUrn with all
the power that could be forced, but the
gale sweeping in from every direction.
lifted the first car from its trucks on
the icy rails and plunged il into a snow
possible Motorman and guards pulled
the sirens TO prevent q rear end coils
ION. while fagmen were driven back %
the cars unable 70 make headway
against the increasing storm.
While this train was rapidly being
incased fl the snow. I've cars which
had left Park Row al 1870 were start
ing for Cone Island from Timer Park
The shrek 4 the emergency whistles
held up this train when il was within
four hundred feet Of the stalled cars.
Signals were interchenE d between the
uo-orneT, and as the Coney Island
bound cars neared the stalled train the
men were able 10 see the big reflector
headlights.
Red lights went out ike q candle be
fcre breeze and q constant use Of the
sirens, with the searchlights on the
front and rear Of the cars, held up the
midnight train from Coney Island. which
vas partly filed vith men and women
vho had attended dance halls and NOV
ing picture shows
MAKES TIE-TP COMPLETE.
As this train swung around the curve
n was also grasped in the vortex OF the
storm. Then the tie-up was complete.
Telephone messages interchanged be-
tween the Coney Island and Timer Park
stations. and ali further traffic was
stopped ar these points by the railroad
of7cials
The passengers were not aware of the
danger which became more threatening
with every squirt Of the storm. While
guards and conductors We're bafffed in
,heir attempts to release the cars. the
men and women on the trains sang pop
ular songs. while occasional inquiries
we're directed TO the railroad men, who
save good natured assurance that the
trouble would not last more than few
hours.
The serious trouble began an hour
sf-er the blockade, when the conductors
ordered all passengers into five cars
TIE storm was tearing across the
meadows with terrific force when the
men and women We're driven from their
cars 20 the train. which had come from
Brooklyn
Ia the transfer women and children
were passed from one car 70 another.
Hats and wraps We're snatched off by
f.a wind and WhirIed away. The men
were last % leave the car. and il was
only through The combined EFFORT Of
dozen Of the strongest that they made
tl@ir IS av through the drifts
PACKED N LIKE SHEEP.
When the transfer was completed the
Eassengers were penned together like
sheep seeking from each other heat for
"a~mth against the icy blasts. The cars
we're heated, bur the windows were un-
able u withstand the driving winds. snow
poured through the ventilators. and the
-oors were flooded as the water dripped
from the wet clothes Of the passengers.
These conditions changed the good tenn
I..r m the brooklyn bound passengers 10
threats against the guards. Men argued
ara suggested plans for relief, but the
raiir1ad officials announced that they
had 70 1--we up to the rules provided for
such an emergency.
AZ dawn the storm lesseued 10 such
tNtett rhat few Of the passengers were
s-'o 20 leave the stalled cars These
'Hfde Their way 70 roadhouse ou
II irr0- aEenue There a sleigh was