The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-06

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cident would be placed at once.
| Trapped in the darkness. with the
tunnel filling with the choking smoke
from burning insulation rubber, many
were rendered unconscious. Others,
utterly panic stricken, tore loose
from the clutches of more cool-headed
who would restrain them. and attempt
Gu to find their way through the
dark, smoke filled tunnel to an exit
Some fell by the way, unconscious.
Others fought their companions IN
frenzied panic. That there was not
more than 100 actually killed was Que
to the speedy arrival Of firemen VINO
tore open manholes and ventilator
gratings, lowered ladders and brought
down lights so that the victims couid
see
For nearly two hours Chief Kenlon
and his men worked in relays getting
passengers to safety. Hardly one
was brought out conscious. All am
balances of the city and all pulmotors
available were rushed to the scene
Streets in the vicinity resembled
battle field Unconscious forms were
stretched out everywhere, while up
and down the line the doctors hurried
administering nrst aid. Some were
able to go home. Others were mace
comfortable in theatres, garages ana
private houses. Yet as an evidence OF
the magnitude of the disaster the
hospitals contained emergency pa
tients this afternoon as follows: In
Polytechnic hospital, sixty-five patients,
of whom six were in serious condl-
ton. In Bellevue hospital, five wom-
en- and three men, of whom two wom-
en- were in a serious condition. In
Roosevelt hospital twenty-five, OF
whom FIVE are in serious condition.
In West Side Simoa, five The one
death was woman, not yet identified,
who died shortly after being taken to
the Polytechnic hospital. The situation
around Fifty-ninth station was the
worst on the subway system but under
Central park where the tunnel is
narrow and low, hundreds Of women
tainted and there were serious pam
les. There was no smoke panic here,
however.
This afternoon it was feared that
the subway cannot be put In full oper-
alton for at least week. Trains
are running along Van Cortland park
to Broadway and 137th street on the
Broadway line and from Bronx park
to 149th on the Leno1 avenue branch,
but no one was prepared to say when
through service can be resumed.
Fire Chief Kenlon, who led the
rescue work at Fifty-fifth street, told a
graphic story of what took place I'M
der the ground.
st was chamber of horrors down
fence as fireman have witnessed
such scene. There were TOO people
In the stalled trains. Men and wom-
en- were sitting stark in their seats,
with eyes glazed and faces turned up,
Others were crawling
around on the floors, knocking down
those who were unconscious. and
trampling those who were lying on
the floor Many had fallen uncon-
scious while crawling through win.
dows. Others had fallen in their mad
rush, attempting to grope their way
up and down the tunnel on their way
to the Fifty-fifth and Fifty-ninth street
entrances. We found men propped
up against walls at vents where they
crawled to get fresh air. Others were
on the tracks and between the tracks"
$50 to Hospital.
NEW YORK, Jan. 6.-At 11:10
O'Clock Fire Chief Kenlon said he did
not believe anyone was dead in the sub
way accident. He estimated that 500
were overcome by smoke. At this
hour $50 persons had been taken to
the Polytechnic hospital alone.
In Total Darkness.
NEW YORK, Jan. 6.-Thousands OF
lives were endangered and 1t Is fear