New Britain herald., 1918-11-02
9S CRUSHED To
DEATH IN TUBE
UNDER BROOKLYN
"Green" MOtorman in Charge
Of Wooden Train Wrecked
J in Rapid Transit Subway
CREW IS ARRESTED;
HOMICIDE CHARGED

Cars Were % Years Old and We're
Used in Spite of Order to Replace
Them With Steel Coachcs-NIan at
Controller Declares Brakes Failed
to Operate - Accident Followed
Labor Dispute.
New York, Nov. 2.--With the death
toll placed at 9S by the Brooklyn po-
lice, rigid Investigations were under
way today by the Public Service Com
mission, District Attorney Lewis OF
Kings county and Mayor Hylan, 10
determine the blame for the wreck
last night of n Brighton Beach train
"of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit COM
pany in the Malone street tunnel
Brooklyn
Yesterdays strike Of motormcn,
and motor sWitChmen of the company,
which was coincident with the ira g.
edy, was settled during the early
morning hours. company officials
agreeing to reinstate 90 discharged
viously had refused to obey the order
of the war labor board and take back
tho men.
Interest in the investiga ton CEN
10 uemLolom 's!M7'I uuHIIM no poIol
the ill-fated train, who was arrested
on charge of homicide at his homo
carly today, after he had fled from the
scene in terror. Mayor Hylan who
Wis in ho 10
station soon after his arrest. issued
this statement:
Lewis admitted to me that this was
his first run over the road. He said
he was going 80 miles an hour. No
man should be allowed to run a train
without at least three months train
ing.
President Timothy S. Williams Of
the Transit company, asserted that
although Lewis was motor switch
man, he was a trained man" and
capable of running a train. Lewis was
pressed into service yesterday, it was
said on account of the strike.
Wooden Cars 25 Years Old.
Another phase of today's investiga-
tion that attracted interest was the
fact that the train of five cars was
composed of wooden cars, declared to
be at least % years old. Most of the
cars were reduced to splinters. The
public service commission ordered the
company to replace its antiquated
wooden rolling stock with steel sew
cral months ago. but the company
cOntended war conditions made it i'm
possible.
Identification of the dead. the ma
nT v-1
progressed slowly at the morgue to-
day. Many victims were so badly mu-
tilated that identification was almost
impossible. More than 100 persons
were injured in the crash, according
to police estimates and it was be-
licved some Of these will die
All during the night thousands
were attracted to the scene Of the
disaster the greatest traffic accident
in the City's history, hundreds of anx-
ious men and women in search of rel
atiVes went to police stations where
the bodies were taken. The bodies
later were removed to the Kings coun-
ty morgue.
The striking employees of the tran
sit company returned to work todav
and traffic on the Brooklyn subway
and elevated lines was restored to nor
NAL. Regret was expressed by the men
that their attempts to force a settle
ment from the company had resulted
indirectly in the wreck.
Crew Charged With Homicide.
4 William Lewis, the train dispatcher
pressed into service as q motorman.
and Samuel Russof. q guard on the
trim, were arraigned in a police court
today on a charge Of homicide and
We're held for examination on Thurs
day. The magistrate refused to
grant a request made by an attorney
Tor the transit company that the de-
fendant be admitted to bail.
Lewis told Mayor Hyland and the
district attorney today that he went to
work at o'clock yesterday morning
Continued on Seventh PaEe)