New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27
One Killed and Several
Hurt-Passengers
in Panic.
WOMEN BRAVE THIRD
RAIL IN FLIGHT
Machine Falls Over En-
bankment on to Path of
Long Island Train.

One man was killed and his body in
cinerated and several badly injured
last night when an automobile contain
ing three men shot down Howard av.,
Brooklyn, at High speed, failed 70 make
the turn into Atlantic av. and crashed
through an iron railing down to the
tracks of the Long Island Railroad.
which run through an eighteen foot
cut at that point. Before help came a
train tore through the cut, hit the
wrecked automobile and drove il,
bounding and crashing before it, for a
block and half into q tunnel.
Two Of the men in the car escaped
death by a small margin. They are
George Place, the chauffeur, and Nicho-
las Mennee Places nose and wrist
were broken and he was badly cut.
Mennes was seriously cut and bruised,
but both struggled to their feet and
earted for help. Charles Roebuck, the
third man, lay under the wrecked car
on the tracks. As Place and Mennes
ran toward the elevated station from
which the trains come down into the
cut and tunnel, Jamaica express
raced down the incline and crashed
into the automobile.
When the motorman's brokes finally
took hold the train had run its entire
l.ngth into the tunnel. Roebuck's body,
caught in the wreckage Of the automo-
bile. was carried the entire distance.
At the moment OF impact parts of the
car short circuited the heavy electric
train current, and the automobile was
driven, blazing, before it.
The four hundred or so passengers
on the train were Immediately thrown
into a panic. Scores struggled out on
the track, daring the danger Of the
third rail, and ran back out OF the tun-
mel into the cut
When an engine company arrived
they found the first car Of the train
in flames aud men, women and children
in the tunnel. Police reserves drove
the passengers out into the cut, but
several women who had tainted were
carried up ladders to the street level.
Inside the lnnel as the automobile
and first car Of the train were wrapped
i'm flames, electric currents cracked,
burning several fremen and passen-
gers.
James McCool, Of 33 jefferson av.,
Morris Park. was taken to st. Mary S
Hospital with burns on his face, hands
and legs. Ambulance surgeons from
that hospital and from the Bradford
and the Bushwick hospitals treated a
score or more passengers and hremen
for bruises. cuts and burns.
The fremen fought the fire through
manholes in the tunnel roof and hnally
drenched out the flames. RoebucA .
burned body was found under the chas-
sis of the automobile.
Place is a prisoner in Bushwick
Hospital, charged with homicide. he
told the pClice that when ne came
down How ard av. the autos brakes
refused to work and he could not make
the tugn into Atlantic av.
There have been two fatal acci1 Eats
in the cut in the last FIVE years. The
first resulted I'm the death Of nan
named Bercheimcr, who drove ms
automobile into the cut and was killed
under the car. A year later Martin
Comfy, lr.. sen of Brooklyn Demo
catic leider. drove his car into the
cut. He was killed, and three compan-
ions badly injured. The railroad then
erected a low concrete wall or tnat
side. but left the other, over WHEN
Places purty drove last night, pro-
tccted only by an iron rail.
Place and Names believe that Roe
buck was crushed to death under the
car. bu. taa police think ne may nave
been battered TO death after the tram
hit the machine, or even burned 70
death in the tunnel. Roebuck was II
wears old and lived at Suydam and
CCopo. CTS BrOOklyn.