The New York herald., 1922-09-01
TUBE TRAINS SMASH !
IN FOG, NJURING So
Manhattan Bound Cars in
Meadows Ram Others
Waiting for Signals.
STEEL WORK BUCKLES
Commuters Fight to Get
Out and Doors Are Pried
Open by Crews.
M0T0RMAN BADLY HURT
Hospitals Care for 20 Victims,
but Most of Them Are Able
to Go Home.
M0TORMAN BADLY HURT

In what is described as IAN unprece-
dented fog" an electric Hudson and
Manhattan tube train carrying eight
carloads of commuters from Newark
to the Hudson Terminal, Manhattan.
over the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks.
smashed into another train similarly
laden and destined, on the Kearny
meadows a mile east of Manhattan
Transfer at 9:20 A. M. yesterday
At least thirty-fve persons in the
trains were hurt. Twenty-nine re-
quired hospital attention. Most Of the
injured were able to go home after
treatment.
The worst off is Michael Burke, the
motorman of the train that did the
humping. He had applied the emer-
gency brakes and was doing his best
to stop his train when the shock of
the impact threw ,im through the
glass window of his box. Surgeons at
the Newark City Hospital took fifteen
stitches II. his face and he may have
internal injuries.
Joseph Cain of 1877 Ridgewood ave-
nue., Newark, also at the Newark Hos
pital. has concussion Of the brain and
a possible fracture of the skull
Newark and Jersey City hospitals
were taxed by the demand for surgical
attention. Many of the injured were
cared for temporarily in the Jersey City
tube station. The fact that compare
lively few of the travellers were hurt
badly is attributed to the steel construc-
ton of the coaches-they buckled but
did not splinter--and to the fact that in
nearly every car many persons were
standing, so that they were thrown
against and acted as cushions for one
another.
According to Oren Root, president OF
the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad
Company. the trains involved cannot be
described as those OF that company, be-
cause the line is perated jointly by It
and the Pennsylvania Railroad. and the
Pennsylvania exclusively owns and oper-
ates the part between Summit avenue.
Jersey City. and Newark.
Bu-Se's train left the Park place,
Newark, station at 8 :o7 o'clock, seven
minutes after the one 1t hit The first
train, say investigators for the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. stopped east of Manhat-
tan Transfer to enable the motorman
to see whether or not the signals were
set against him. Before he could get
started again the other train came up
from behind and rammed 1t.
T.. X. Mari. assistant superintendent
of the Pennsylvania. who went TO the
scene, said the fog was so thick 1t was
impossible for the motorman of the sec
ond train TO see the one ahead. The
second train. said Mr.. Mari, was feel
ing it's way at rate of less than fifteen
miles an hour.
All Fight to Get Out.
Passengers said that at the moment Of
collision the concrete flooring of the last
car OF the leading train buckled and the
roof split. One of the passengers on the
second train reported II as stopping so
suddenly near the Hackensack River
that the motorman of the second train
did not have time to stop within safe
distance.
The passengers felt the train jerk as
the emergency brakes bit into the wheels,
and in the next instant the floor buclsled,
glass broke, the commuters fell or were
bounced against the floor or sides of the
cars or against one another. and every
one who was able to do so began fight
ing to get out. The train crews pried
open the doors, carried out the injured
and sent for ambulances The New Jer-
sey Public Utilities Commission began
an investigation.
Pierre r. Garven, public prosecutor,
also started an inquiry.
There are thirty-hve names In a list
OF injured prepared by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. Those listed at hospi-
tails were. besides Burke and Mr.. Cain.
Frederick Banks OF 400 Passaic avenue.
Newark Hyman Hollis Of Trenton.
Abram Lowitz OF 95 New street, New
ark: Isaac Kelsey of 575 Ferry street.
Easton, Pa: Samuel Jacoby OF OF
Columbia avenue. Newark and Mrs.
Elias Watob OF 101 Hancock street
Trenton. All the others. according 20
the railroad company. went home.
The Rev. G.. M. Cuccaro of Coytes-
vile suffered n broken left thumb,
George Kaerkher OF Delaware county,
Pa, has broken rib.