New Britain herald., 1915-01-06

woman and den1oralized the transpor- tation system of the city
 The fire was said to have been due to an electrical explosion in a conduit between the Fiftieth and Fifty-ninth street stations. The noise, flame and smoke terrified the seven hundred or more passengers of two down town trains stalled nearby, and in their ef- forts to escape scores were badly bruised, many were knocked uncon- scious and still others were overcome by smoke.
 May Cause Dong Delay.
 The subway service, it was said lat er may be tied up for several days as a result of the accident. If this proves true, it will mean that the more than a million persons day carried by sub way trains will be diverted to the sur face and elevated systems.
 It was at first thought there had been a terrible catastrophe, and re- ports reached police headquarters that at least score had been killed. The entire fire department and all the am balances in the city, together with the pulmoter squad were rushed to the scene. Smoke was pouring out of the subway entrances, man holes and ventilators and screams for help could be heard It turned out, how ever, that while police and firemen had more than they could do in bring ing out the unconscious, including the score or more of women who tainted, the early reports had been exaggera- tions. It was more than three hours after the accident happened that the last passenger was rescued and during that time in the streets nearby there was a continuous procession of ambu- lances and private automobiles re- moving the injured to the various hos pitals The accident was described by the police as the worst in the history of the subway. During the first ex- citement the authorities seriously con- sidered blowing up sections or the street on either side of the scene of the accident to let fresh air in the tube Fire Chief Kenlon said that when his men entered the two Talns they found many of the passengers sitting in their seats unconscious, oth- CTS lying in the aisles, and every where evidences of a terrific panic. The floors were strewn with hats and torn clothing still others were found " ing on the ground beside the tracks. Practically every window of the cars was broken.
 Died in Ambulance. A surgeon attach to the Polyclin- ic hospital reported that one Injured woman had died in an ambulance on her way to the hospital.
 Two hundred persons in all were taken to the Polyclinic, the surgeon said. but as far as he knew, with thls one exception, none had been fatally injured
 The fire broke out in a subway train which was one of long line of rush hour trains held up between the Fiftieth and Fifty ninth streets sta- tions by an earlier accident in the power house of the system which tied up the service.
 Collision Was Reported
 Unofficial reports placed the cause of the fire as collision between cx- press trains. At the time of the fire the subway contained smoke from previous fire, extinguished only few minutes before, at the Spring street station.
 It was shortly before 9:3o o'clock that wisps of smoke began to curl from the manhoIes along Broadway between the two stations. The spot where the fire burned fierciest was at a point opposite Fifty sixth street. Hampered in their efforts to reach the blaze. the firemen dug into the having with their axes. They suc- ceeded in making hole above the subway at Fifty Third street. From this opening there belch ed g volume of smoke and flames. Hose was di- rected through the opening, and even hand extinguishers were used.
 Lined With AmbuIances.
 For ten blocks the streets were lined with the fleet of ambulances that came from all over the city A cordon thrown around Broadway by the police held in check tens of thousands of spectators.
 The tie-up started at & o'clock this morning, the busiest period of the rush hour. An hour and a half later a slow express service was started only to be halted by the discovery of fire. Three alarms were turned in. Eight ambulances were sent to the scene. More were called for imme- | diately.
 Many Unconscious Victims.
 From trains stalled between stations fremen emerged bearing unconscious victims. Every available fireman that could be spared was called out to help.
 Fire Commissioner Adamson. who assumed personal charge of the sit uation, sent men scurrying through | out the city with orders to bring every | puImotor available to the scene. Some of the victims died before the pul- motors could be obtained
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