New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-08
EXPRESS JUMPS TRACK
NEAR FLORAL PARK
FarmingdaIe Train, Filled with
Weekend Visitors, Leaves
Rails at Open Switch.
GOING so MILES AN HOUR
Engineer and Fireman Jump
and Escape Injury-Baggage-
man Slightly Injured in Car
Which Overturned.

The Farmingdale express, of the Long
Island Railroad. eastbound, jumped the
track Just beyond the station at Floral
Park, at 4:40 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The accident was due to an open switch
which the train took at speed of about
fifty miles an hour. Although the train
was crowded with passengers none was
seriously hurt The engineer and fireman
Jumped and avoided serious Injury. The
baggageman, whose car turned over be-
side the track, required the services Of q
physician. but his injuries were not fatal.
The train pulls out OF the Pennsylvania
station at 401 o'clock. just in time TO
make 1t one OF the most popular Of the
Saturday afternoon trains. Yesterday II
was filled to capacity. The regular COM
muters going home for their Saturday
halfholiday were Joined by city folks
fastening to the country to avoid the
heat OF the city or TO join their families
at some Long Island resort. Every scat
was taken and many were standing In
the aisles.
From Jamaica the train makes the level
ten.mle stretch to Mineola without a
stop. The throttle was opened up along
this level stretch yesterday in a fashion
that gladdened the hearts of the return
ing commuters. Way stations flashed
past and were lost in clouds OF dust. 1t
was estimated that the train was doing
nifty miles an hour as IL passed the Floral
Park station, about half way between Ja-
malca and Mineola.
Just beyond the station at Floral Park
the locomotive struck the switch used by
trains going to Hampstead and Garden
City, and Jumped the rails. The baggage
car and two Of the passenger cars fol-
lowed. the baggage car rolling over on It's
side as the engine burrowed its pilot In
the ground and came to a halt
The grinding. humping stop threw near
~ every one in the train to the floor.
Many of the windows which were open
fell down with crash that shattered the
glass. and the glass in those that were
closed and in the doors OF the cars splin-
tered and flew in all directions. There
was an immediate rush for the exits.
Those near windows which were not
framed in jagged glass got out that way.
The others-men, women and children
began a frenzied race for the doors
Some who We're not able 10 regain their
feet quickly enough after the crash were
trampled upon in the aisle. Jams formed
at some of the doors and those behind
pushed and showed in a vain effort 10
force their way out.
IL was several moments before some or
the more level headed realized that the
train had come TO a halt. and that as
the coaches were still upright. there
would be little difficulty in getting out II
the rush could be stopped. Gradually
those in the aisle took notice Of the re-
peated adjurations, and those who per-
sisted in their endeavors were yanked
back by the collars Of their coats.
Although the excitement was acute It
lasted only very few minutes
Several physicians were summoned, and
a hasty census taken. 1t was found that
aside from a few minor bruises and
scratches not n passenger was injured,
although the clothes Of several showed
traces Of their hurried exit.
The wreck blocked traffic in both di-
rections on the main line and also on tho
Garden City and Hampstead branch for
about three hours. Many trains were
stopped on both sides Of Floral Park.
Some one telephoned TO the Nassau Hos
pital that several persons were either
killed or badly injured, and an ambulance,
with two doctors. from that institution
was hurried TO the scene.
After. considerable delay, passengers
bound east were sent TO their destinations
on trains that had been bound west, and
vice versa. Owners OF automobiles resped
n rood harvest from rich men who were
IL hurry 30 oat IN fheir homes