The 1915 New York Subway Disaster

It was rush hour in New York City on the morning of January 6, 1915, when the worst disaster, up until that time, occurred in the underground subway system, injuring 210 people and killing one.  

The New York Times recapped the story the 
next day on  January 7, 1915

Insulation that was wrapped around two electrical cables which provided electric power to the midtown subway system suddenly shorted out, causing a fire and a blackout. The cables were not fireproof.  Toxic smoke permeated the underground tunnels that, lacking electricity, were plunged into darkness.   

Over 2500 people were trapped inside very smoky subway cars and on station platforms. Feelings of panic and desperation grew.  Everyone had one objective - to get above ground to fresh air and safety.

The firemen who were working the underground part of the rescue found passengers struggling to get out of trains. However, with no electricity, passengers found it very hard to pry open the train doors.  Other victims lay on the floors of the train cars having been asphyxiated from the smoke were getting trampled on. 

Firemen recovering from smoke inhalation
January 6, 1915

Firemen handed people onto ladders to bring them up to street-level for emergency aid.  Some victims had to be hospitalized for smoke inhalation.  

Firemen who were working at street level attempted to break through the tops of subway cars.  

Breaking through the subway roof from the street 
January 6, 1915

Firemen who were working the underground part of the rescue quickly found themselves overcome with smoke and came up to street-level to get medical aid.  

Firemen resting on street level
January 6, 1915

 
As soon as they recovered, they went back to help passengers find their way out the heavy acrid smoke. 

          

The scene above ground was bedlam as well. Police held back the rubber-neckers - spectators - because they were pushing and shoving others and looking for relatives who rode the subway to get to their workplaces. 

Crowds of spectators looking through sidewalk
grills at the commotion on the subway below

Streetside spectators in automobiles caused traffic jams as they slowed down to watch the scene.  

The street scene above the subway on January 6, 1915

  

On the street, spectators abandoned their cars to watch the firemen bring victims up to the street.


     

The power was restored to the underground by 4:00pm, just in time for the evening rush hour.  


However, subway service was messed up for a few days until trains returned to their normal schedules.

    
Although there was one death, everyone agreed that this could have been a much bigger tragedy.  Some armchair experts believe this disaster could have been avoided by using fireproof insulation.   


But as Frank Hedley, general manager of the Interborough Rapid Transit System said:  "There is nothing known which will prevent the recurrence of short circuits.  New York received a warning, the next occurrence may be a far more serious loss of life due to the same cause - suffocation. No time should be lost remedying the most serious defect - lack of suitable ventilation at all times."

Here are the headlines of some of the newspapers who covered the story.  The New York Times recapped the story the next day, January 7, 1915, then sort of downplayed it after the crisis was over and services were restored.

The New York Times January 7, 1915 with stories laying blame

                    
The Evening World reported that experts were brought in to remove all perils from the tunnel to prevent another subway disaster.

The Evening World headlines January 7, 1915 stirring up
public fears

The Star Independent reported that preparations were being made to dynamite the streets to let air into the subway tunnels.


 

The Star Independent headlines and details of one death

The above video clip is an interesting 2-minute video about the origins of the New York subway.  Take note of the vintage 1915's clothing as people got on and off the subway trains.

            
If you are really interested in history, this is a 46-minute documentary from 1994 on the History Channel about the origins and building of the New York City subway system with Roger Mudd and Jack Perkins.

                


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