The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-06
SUBWAY fire.

tOOnt1nuSO from f>d80 Ouc.l
fumes affected throngs of passengers
who crowded the station platforms
All along the line, the sale OF tickets
was stopped. Surface cars and ele-
waited trains were badly congested and
all subway stations were filled TO over
flowing with struggling crowds.
Many persons, imprisoned on trains,
stalled between stations, were over
come by smoke and taken out uncon-
scious by the police.
Brooklyn Bridge Choked.
The tieup started at O'Clock this
morning, the beginning of the rush
hours. An hour and half later
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 immediately.
From trains stalled between stations.
firemen emerged bearing unconscious
victims. Every available fireman that
could be spared was called on to help.
Fire Commissioner Adamson, who
assumed personal charge Of the situa-
ton, sent men scurrying throughout the
city with orders to bring every pull
motor available to the scene. Some OF
the victims died before the pulmOtor
could be obtained. Congestion, the like
of which the city has seldom seen. pre-
vailed at almost every subway station.
At the Brooklyn bridge the Manhattan
entrance was choked by tens of thou
sands. For fifty minutes detachments
Of police reserves struggled with the
crowds there before order could be re-
stored. Elevated trains and surface
cars were packed to overlooking all
over the city. with the throngs that
were turned away from the subway.
Sixty persons were taken in an un-
conscious condition from the scene Of
-, To he Other
hospitals received many victims as
well.
ventilator gratings were taken up
from the sidewalks around the Fiftieth
and Fifty-ninth street stations and
many of the injured were removed in
this manner.
Fire Commissioner Adamson received
reports, from battalion chiefs, to the
effect that the fire was confined to two
subway cars, that several persons had
been killed and a great many injured
and overcome.
Police headquarters answered that
the number of dead was twelve.
Fighting the Fire.
All manhole covers were removed
as well as the ventilator gratings. In
the opening thus made firemen piled
their hoses. Other squads OF f1remen
crawled down through the binding
smoke that poured from the Fiftieth
and Fifty-ninth street stations into
the tube itself, and worked in relays.
Through the smoke could be seen the
flames. The fire started in a train be-
tween the Fiftieth and Fifty-ninth
street stations. Some of the hundreds
of passengers wedged tight In the cars
said afterward that it started with an
! explosion and that the train came al
most Immediately to a standstill
There was a frantic rush for the END
cars Through the open doors at each
! end there poured a stream of mer
and women. who struggled through
the smoke, apparently oblivious Of the
danger Of the third rail. toward the
| two stations. The platforms at these
stations were jammed and in the wilt
rush for the exits some persons were
thrown down and trampled on.
AS the work of rescue progressed
indications were that the number O
fatalities would be larger than frs
estimated. Emergency calls to hos
4 pitfalls brought to the spot every am
/ bulance in Manhattan. AS fast rs tn,
/ unconscious victims were removed
| from the tube they were laid on tn,
Il sidewalk, carried to nearby stores ant
offices and given first aid treatmen
by squads Of firemen and surgeons.
II So great was the demand upon tn
fire fighting forces of the city to nj,
in the work OF reviving the uncon