New-York tribune., 1922-12-17
Stalled Shuttle Cars Are
Rammed in Rear, Partly
TeIescoped on Elevated
Tracks Near Elder Ave.
Arrest of Dying
Motorman Ordered
Ambulance Surgeons and
Reserves Rush to Scene;
Flying Glass Cuts Many

Two shuttle trains on The Lexington
Avenue line Of the Interborough sub
way. running south between Pelham
Bay Park and Hunts Point Road, col
lIded last night at a point opposite the
intersection Of Wheeler and West
chester avenues, the Bronx. Twenty
fvo persons we're injured, and the mo-
torman Of the second train. Patrick
KeoEh. lies in Fordham Hospital 50 Sc
riOusly hurt that he may die.
After a report Of the accident had
been made to the Transit Commission
orders were sent out 70 place Keogh
under arrest at the hospital. He is
charged with criminal negligence.
The structure at the point where the
accident took place is above ground.
The location is two blocks above the
Elder Avenue station.
First Train Stalls
The hrst train Of three cars, well
loaded with passengers, was driven BY
Mstorman Elmer f. Martin, Of West
Hcboken, n. ]. Charles Hall was the
conductor. The conductor Of the sec
ond train Is named Edgert.
Martins motor was not in good order
passengers on the first train said after
The accident. From Pelham Bay Park
station 20 the point where the acei-
dent took place, the train was
in trouble and made frequent and
sudden stops, picking up again and
moving slowly for few hundred yards
between halts. At last, opposite
Wheeler Avenue, the train stalled.
While the irst train stood at the
intersection, the second train, running
on the same track, left the Elder Ave
nue. station. two blocks away, and run
ming at high speed, crashed into the
rear end Of the stalled train, partially
telescoping the rear car on the hrst
train and the front ear on the second
There was no apparent reason Tor the
failure Of the motcrman Of the sec
ond train 20 observe the stalled tram
IN front Of him.
All Bronx Reperves OFT
Each train carried about hundred
passengcrs. The noise OF the collision
was heard all over the neighborhood,
and thoussads Of persons gathered
around Me scene In a few minutes.
Tho police reserves were called from
every station In the Bronx TO keep the
crowd n order.
passenger in the rear car Of the
stalled train saw that collision was M
eyitable. and were able 20 shout warn
ing. The victims on the fast running
second train had no such opportunity.
Fifteen Of the injured were in the front
car of the second train, and ten in the
rear. car Of the first.
Windows Shower Glass
Glass In several windows was broken
and scattered among the passengers by
the force of the collision. The vesti-
bulea Of both cars alfecJed were crushed
and twisted BY the force Of the blow.
Class was also showered on the street
beneath the elevated structure, and sew
eral pedestrians had narrow escapes
from Injury from this cause.
The station master Of the Elder Ave
nue station heard the noise OF the
erash. and Immediately threw OF the
power by neans Of the emergency
switch In the station. Patrolfnan Henry
Hettriek, OF the Simpson Avenue sta
tion. was on post nearby and also
heard the smaah. He ran up the stairs
~ the station and down the track
toward the wreck, calling 70 the station
master 70 turn in an alarm OF fire and
call ambulances. a few minutes after
wayd Drs. Schwartz, Goldman and Le-
vine arrived with ambulances from
Fordham Hospital. Deputy inspector
James II. Post, Of the. Fifth Inspection
District, arrived shortly after and TOOK
charge Of the police end Of the emer-
gency.
Policeman Reseues Motornan
Hettrick found when be reached the
wreck. that Keogh was the most
serioualv injured. Most Of the other
,ictIms were able 70 walk, but keogh
,-ss rrumuled unconscious on the floor
Of the front car, surfcunosa P .
tangled mass Of twisted steer nett
rict ertrieated the rnotorman from the
.-eeekare. and. carrying him across his
shouldsys. returned 20 Elder Avenue
station. where he eommendeereo an
automobile, and took the injured man
10 Fordham Hospital.
Robert RIdgcway, chief engineer for
.h. transit Commission, with CHIEF
rnv;seer t'rs Of Operations Lahey, reached
~ seene about half an hour after
80 coiiision. They made an inyestiga-
ttr,s .n On the spot, which resulted IN
the M report which led 10 Keogh being
nisced under arrest. =
pobsrt Ridgway, chief engineer for
a.. Tysnsit Commission. issued the
selloe,lnr statement late last night;
$50 fsr as the investigation has
~ops the responsibility for the aeei-
,csutlnuss % eass ll1l