New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-05
l6-Inch Main Gives WAY
Near Atlantic Ave. Sta
ton and Torrent Hurls
M a $ onry to Tracks
Motorman Backs.
Saving Passengers
brooklyn Tines and
Cellars of Neighborhood
Again Filled With Water

slxteen-'nch distributing pipe
burst at S:45 o'clock last night in the
excavation at~the junction of Fourth
Flatbush and Atlantic avenues. Brook
lyn, where workmen have been making
repairs to twelve-inch main THAI
burst last Friday.
Water welled up to the street level
OF the excavation and rushed through
b-pavement channels to the INTERIOR
ough subway. The pressure against
the concrete wall of the subway about
thirty feet east of the Atlantic Avenue
station platform became so great that
the wall crashed down upon the east
bound track.
Nostrand Avenue train was lust
pulling out of the station on that
track. The falling masonry spread
out fanwise almost under the bumpers
of the foremost car.
Backs Train Through Flood
The motorman, whose train had not
yet gathered headway, threw on his
brakes SO suddenly that the train
stopped almost within wheels revo-
luton. Then he backed into the sta
tion again, with the water rising rapid
ly about the train.
1t was found that the water was four
feet deep on the eastbound track be-
yond the station and the passengers of
the stalled train had to wait until
shuttle service was established on
the third track between Atlantic Ave-
nue. and Seventh Avenue. The shuttle
was in operation within a short time
however, and as the sale of tickets was
discontinued at the time of the acct
dent, the station did not become con-
gested.
Reserves were sent to the scene from
the Bergen Street police station and
an emergency crew was dispatched by
the Department of Water Supply, Gss
and Electricity, which turned off the
water.
Water percolated into the Fourth
Avenue subway also, but NOT to ALI OK.
tent which interfered with service, the
QIdlidEG SJoIcul DSEtR dElG W Idk.
care of it.
Ci.ce the water in the broker main
had been turned off the f1ocd in the
Interbo1ough subway quickly sub cid.
ed, and the shuttle train was pUr ineo
service while wrecking ere" set te
work on the heap of debris that cov-
cred the eastbound track.
Cellars Filiei With Water
invaded by the food, though not to the
the preceding Friday. That break oc-
covered until the water stood eight feet
deep in the cellar of the Brooklyn
Times Building, and in others was
from five to seven feet deep.
Last nights break was discovered
promptly, and, since it occurred in an
excavation where the pipe could be
identified readily, the water was turned
off almost Immediately. The 16-inch
pipe which broke is directly above the
12-inch one on which repairs were
being made.
"The Brooklyn Times" whose presses
had just been started Thursday
after the cleaning and repairs made
necessary by the food of last Week
nad TWO IeeC Oh water IN It's cellar last
night. Water stood at about the same
depth in the cellar of the Liggett drug
store, which also suffered in last week s
food.
Firemen set to work to pump out the
newspaper plants cellar, and it is be-
lieved that the presses were not af-
fected.
During the subway tie-up one train
was halted between the Nevins Street
station and the Atlantic Avenue sta.
tion and in the twenty minutes that il
had to wait there many of the passen.
gers became impatient and were with
difficulty persuaded that it would be
unwise to venture out upon the tracks
Finally the train was backed tp the
Nevins Street station and the passen-
gers were discharged.
BY IL p. m. the firemen had the
Brooklyn Times Building and the Lig.
gett store clear of water.