New-York tribune., 1919-10-22
Motorman Taken to Hospital
Il Prisoner When Local
Telescopes Express Be-
fore Dawn at l75th St.
Firemen Go to Rescue
Accident an Unavoidable
cease of Human FactOr,"
Officials Say After Inquiry


found near 177th Street, The Bronx,
telescoped the rear car of stalled
Second Avenue express before Gavin
yesterday morning, killing three and
lnjuring fourteen passengers. The mo-
torman, Ivan Boyd, of sos West 178th
Street, who was hurt internally, was
taken to Fordham Hospital Il prisoner.
Boyd says he saw no tail lights on
the train ahead and that when, almost
upon it, he gimpscd its bulk in the
darkness his brakes failed. Deputy
Public Service Commissioner Edward
Glennon, following al inspection Of the
brakes, declared they were IN good con-
dition. The motormar admitted they
had operated properly when he left the
174th Street station.
The seven cars of the Third Avenue
train a Bronx Park local, were wooden,
as were those OF the express. which had
halted about 100 feet north Of 175th
Street.
Happens BEFORE Rush
The crash occurred a few minutes
after d. m, before the beginning of
the morning rush period, and there
were only Twenty-Five persons in the
front car OF the local. In addition to
the three who are dead and The four
teen whose injuries necessitated med
ical attention, the remaining eight were
cut, bruised and shaken up. The dead:
James P. Talon, twenty-five years
old, OF l69 East 10th Street, The
Bronx, an Interborough guard OH his
way to work.
Morris Siegerman, fifty years old, of
1Ss ST. Nicholas Avenue, The Bronx.
Harry Eitinge, forty years old, of 3S2
East 18th Street, The Bronx.
The Second Avenue express train
without passengers was being held for
4 signal TO move into the fremont sta
tion. The local was being driven at
high speed. The crash was heard
blocks away and an instant later the
score of panic-stricken men in the
first car of the local found their com
psrtment quarters through the
rear car of the other train, glass and
splintered wood raining about them.
Firemen Summoned
Patrolmen Carlton Hunger, of the
Bathgate Avenue station, heard the col
lision and ran to the nearest fire alarm.
Hook and Ladder companies 27 and 3S
responded and by the time their axemen
had raised their ladders and ascendod
to the - structure Drs. Levine, Baum,
Merkin and Ford. Of Lincoln and Ford
ham hospitals, were at their heels, with
four ambulances waiting.
While the tiremen newcd into the
telescoped cars the physicians estab-
lished an emergency hospital in the sec
ond coach of the local. There those
of the injured who could be sent home
were treated, while others were given
first aid and dispatched to hospitals.
Tallon's body was removed to the Bath
gate Avenue station and those of the
other two victims to Fordham morgue.
Crctona Park is just opposite the
or H. or
and women on their way to business
gathered. Inspector Walsh. in charge
Of the police, was bard pressed to keep
the crowd from underneath the strrc-
ture, where there was constant danger
of falling glass and debris.
Through traffic on the Third Avenue
Il" line was held up for several hours.
Officials Early on Scene
District Attorney Francis Martin of
Bronx County. his assistant, AL Cohn,
in charge OF the homicide bureau
Frank Hedley, newly elected president
of the Interborough, and Deputy Pub
lie Service Commissioner Clennon ar
rived early.
at is Just a case Of the human
factor" said Mr.. Hcdley "Accidents
&C this kind are bound 20 happen
He explained the failure to operate
of the "anti-climber" device, supposed
to prevent telescoping, to the terrific
force of the collision.
In a statement made at Fordham
Hospital to Mr.. Cohn and Detective
John Mccarthy, of the Bathgate Ave.
nue. station, Motorman Boyd asserted
his train was going but eight miles
An hour.
Motorman 25 Years Old
Boyd, who is twenty-five years old
has been an Interborough motormar
for three years. Before that he worked
as fiagman on the Central New Eng.
land Railroad and as d fireman on the
New Haven.
Yesterday afternoon eight guard,
who were on duty on the two trains
appeared at District Attorney Martin:
Office in response to subpoenas ant
made statements.
About nine months ago collision
in which girl was killed and sew
eral persons hurt occurred within 10(
feet of the scene of yesterdays acci
dent
Public Service Commissioner Nixor
issued statement in which he sale
investigation had shown that tht
brakes we're in good working order
and that, although the motorman wa.
an experienced man, the mishap car
only be laid TO the personal equa
ton He called attention to the fac
'he collision happened on IL straigh
track and an upgrade. Mr.. Nixon addet
tnat inc use of wooden cars must con