Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-07
500 TRAPPED| IN
SUBWAY; SCORES
OVERCOME BY GAS
Frenzied Men, Women and
Children Fight Way
to Safety.
ACCIDENT Is FEET
BELOW N. Y. STREET
Explosion in Motor Control
Box Starts Fire, Result
ing in Panic.
THREE ARE LIKELY TO DIE
stores and Sidewalks Tnrned Into
Emergency Ho"pitnIs as Victims
ACCIDENT Is FEET
BELOW N. Y. STREET
stores and Sidewalks Tnrned Into
Emergency HospitnIs MS Victims
Arc Heacued.
LEY Associated rress

NEW YORK. auly G.-Trapped in 4
dark suoway tunnel rceking with ga.
fumes and smoke, scventy-hve fee.
below tho street. nearly 500 men.
women and children passengers on
an East Side train OF the Inter-
borough Rapid Transl. Company to-
day were converted into a frcnzied.
shr!eking mob. almost third o.
whose members were overcome be-
fore they could fight their way TO
safety.
Three probably will die. Police Of
iciais said II was a miracle many
we're not ,ramplcd TO death
bad Spot for Accident.
worse spot for such an accident
scarcely could have been found than
Lexington Avenue at Sixtieth Street.
where the train came TO It's sudden
| halt. There is no express station
between Grand Central Terminal. at
Forty-second Street, and Eighty
sixth street. The express tracks are
three tiers down beneath the local
tube OF the /. r. T. and the cross
town tunnel OF the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company. and the only exits
are narrow little spiral stairways ut
Fifty-third. Fifty eighth and Sixty
| third Streets. These were jammed
with fugitives from the scene be-
low.
little fire cx,inSuisher. whose
contents were turned on a tiny blaze
in motorman's control box. was
held responsible by police and fire
officials for the clouds OF poisonous
fumes and smoke sent swirling
through the tunnel.
, More than three score OF those
overcome required hospital treat
ment. while about 100 were treated
en- the streets and in emergency hos
pitfalls.
Car Fills With Fumes.
The train-a ten-car Jerome Ave-
nue. e1press, heavily loaded-was
crashing along its subterra way
, beneath Lexington Avenue shortly
after II o'clock when passengers in
the third coach were startled by an
explosion which blew open the door
of the drivers compartment. A shor,
circuit had occurred
Pa,rolman Fred Norman who
was riding in the car, seized a hre
eNtinguisher from Its rack and as
the train ground to a sudden halt,
rushed to the compartment and shot
the contents OF the e1tinguIsher on
the splitting flames. which were eat
ing the Insulation from the control
box wires. Instead OF checking them.
he declared, the eHtinguisher served
TO spread them. and in n moment
the car. and soon the entire tunnel.
we're choEed with smoke and fumes
Bullying the panic-stricken paa-
| sengers into some semblance OF or
der, Patrolman Norman seized
woman who had been overcome.
clambered down into the darkness
| OF the tunnel and commanded other
| male passengers to follow his ex-
ample.
Climb Long stairway.
He CROPPED his way with his burden
to Fifty-ninth Street. and led the
refugees up long, winding stairway
10 the street.
Then he, sent in alarms which
brought all available fire apparatus,
ambulances and police reserves in
the vicinity rushing TO the scene.
and plunged back down the stairs
to rescue other victims. He worked
until he dropped. and was sent home
In Mayor Hylan's private limousine.
In the meantime. passengers in
the other cars of the stalled train,
ignorant al first OF the cause Of the
delay, were growing nervous, and
the guards opened the doors and ad-
vlsed them to seek safety. Smoke
and fumes poured in as the doors
were opened. and they dropped fran
ticaily to the tracks and began MAX
Ing their way toward the tar-away
Continued on Page II. Col G.)