The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-06
ONE KILLED TAND1O0INJURED
N GOTHAMISUBWAYs sTRA|NIF|RE;
GREAT PANIC and CONFUSION
First Report Said that Twelve had Been Kill
ed,,Butthe Number Of Unconscious Was
Gauseofthe Exagg GRAFTON.
One Woman Died While onthe Way to Hospi-
tal-Blaze Occurred at the Height Of the
RushBHourin the City,
Cause iofSthe Exagg GRAFTON,

BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 6.-More than 100
persons were overcome by smoke,
cut by flying glass, bruised and other
wise injured In a fire aboard train
In the subway at the heights OF the
rush hour thisimornipg. In the panic
and confusion which ensued police
headquarters issued a report that 12
had lost their lives, but this later
proved to be sunfounded and only one
known death was recorded.
The entire fire fighting force of
Manhattan, every ambulance in the
borough and every pulmotor that
could be found were brought to the
scene. The fact that scores Of per.
sons were unconscious lead to the re-
port that many were killed. Later,
Police Commissioner Woods, and Fire
Chief Kenlon announced that SO far
as they knew there had been no fa.
talities. a surgeon attached 10 the
Polyclinic hospital reported that one
injured woman had died in an ambu-
lance ON her way to the hospital.
Two thousand persons in all where
taken to the Polytechnic. the surgeon
said, but as far as he knew with this
one exception none had been fatally
injured.
The fire was said to have been due
to an electrical explosion in conduit
between the Fiftieth and Fifty.ninth
street stations. The noise of the flames
and the smoke terrified the 700 or more
passengers Of two down trains stalled
nearby, and In their unreasoning ef-
forts to escape scores were badly
bruised, many knocked unconscious
and still others overcome by smoke.
The subway service, according to Com
missioner Mccall of the public service
commission. may be tide up for several.
days as q resultso the accident.
MAYsSTlEa UP TRAFFIC.
Ifthis proves true It will mean that
the more than million persons a day
carried by the subway trains will be
diverted TO the surface and elevated
systems and cause "a congestion with.
out parallel In the history Of the city.
Atflrst itSwas thought that there had
BEEN terrible, catastrophe and reports
reached police headquarters that a
score or more had been killed.
The entire fire department and all
the ambulances in the city. together
with the pulmoterl squad, were rushed
to the scene, smoke was pouring out
of the subway entrances, man holes
and yentilators and screams for help
could be heard. It turned out, how
ever. that while police and firemen had.
all they could do in bringing out the
unconscious, Including score or more
women who tainted, the early reports
had been exaggerated.
1t was more than three hours after
the accident that the last passenger
was rescued, and during that time, in
the streets nearby, there was contin.
uous procession of 2ambulances and
private automobiles removing the in.
jured to various hospitals.
WoRsT5iN HISTORY.
The accident was described by the
police as the worst In the history OF
the subway. During the first excite.
, ment the authorities seriously consid.
cred blowing sections of the street on
either side OF the scene Of the accident
to let fresh air into the tomb. As it
was. gangs OF men were set to work
with flame blowpipes blowing holes in
the concrete, while others got to work
with pickaxes.
Fire Chief Henlon said that when
his men entered the two trains they
found many passengers sitting in their
seats unconscious, Others lying in the
aisles and everywhere evidence Of a
terrible panic. The floors were strewn
with hats and torn clothing. Still 9th.
er passengers were found lying or .he
ground beside the track. Practically
every window of, the cars were broken.
.I