170 PERSONS GASSED.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1922, Page 1

170 PERSONS GASSED.

NEW YORK, July ?.

Great excitement was caused ill New York, to-day, by a mishap iii the underground railway, which resulted ill a panic and in 170. passengers being . made unconscious by fumes. By a coincidence the mishap is identical with a similar occurrence in the same locality 7 years ago, when 180 passengers were gassed in the same way. An express train, composed of 10 steel coaches, was brought to a. standstill just above 59th-street on the Lexingtonnvenue line by the blowing-out of fuses. Whether or not an explosion ignited a quantity of gas escaping into the tunnel from a main lias not yet been ascertained. but loud reports followed by total darkness created instant consternation

among the passengers. The guards refused to open the doors of the train, which they control by'levers. It is alleged that a policeman then broke several windows with the butt end of his pistol and passengers climbed into the tunnel through the windows. As the tunnel was filled with fumes they were speedily overcome. Ambulances were quickly summoned, and firemen hauled the fainting men, women and children through manholes from a depth of more than 50feet to the street surface. Many passengers were given pulmotor treatment, and at one time 22 of them were stretched out unconscious on the pavement of one of New York’s crowded .thoroughfares. The New York underground claims to he the safest railway in the world. There are two tunnels at the point where the accident occurred. The ex. press tunnel being underneath the local one. | THREAT TO A HANGMAN.

Threats to crucify an executioner named Ellis if ho hanged Ohius Riopel the convintoil murderer of a Mine. Clermont, were made b.v a party of his friends who appeared at Ste. Seholastiqtie gaol in a motor-ear this morning, They fled when detectives appeared. Riopel went to the sen fluid without confessing. He said that he “died for

love of others.” The yictini was killed in her home and the house was burned. Her son, who was stabbed and left for dead, was the means of convicting Riopel.