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PALMERS DOCK / BROOKLYN EASTERN DISTRICT TERMINAL
Chronological Listing of Accidents, Injuries & Fatalities;
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updated: |
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May 11, 1892
Collision, Marine Vessels:
The steamer Cilurnum collided with a railroad float in tow by the tugboat Lowell M. Palmer. The Cilurnum, 300 feet in length and about 1,370 tons struck the starboard corner of the float breaking some plates. Even though the owners of the Cilurnum sued in Admiralty Court for damages, their vessel was found at fault.
(Author, Federal Reporter, Volumn 58)
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May 27, 1901
Employee Fatality:
Frank Salzman, 35, a brakeman died this morning at the Eastern District Hospital from injuries received by being run down by a freight train in the yards of Lowell M. Palmer at Kent Avenue and North 7th St. Salzman was engaged in transfer of cars from the float to the yard when he lost his footing and fell in front of the moving cars.
(Ray State, Brooklyn Eagle - May 27, 1901)
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December 16, 1902
Employee Fatalities:
Joseph Donaughey and James McDermott (no ages given), both brakemen with Palmer's Dock freight yards; were killed on the night of December 16 by being run over by the locomotive on which they were working, which was pulling freight cars from a carfloat.
Both men were standing on the front footboard of the locomotive, and it is believed McDermott lost his balance while the engine was in motion, and Donaughey in trying to save him also fell to his death.
Engineer Moore and conductor James (no first names given) were arrested and held on a charge of criminal negligence. Both declared that they did not see the fatality occur.
(Tom Hendrickson, New York Times, December 17, 1902)
Specific Date Unknown - 1917
Employee Fatality:
Joseph Kafline, both a team (horse) driver employed by the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal as well as a lessor of wharfage space. A portion of the wharf was "decayed, ruinous and fallen in" (no specific location given) and was fenced off with a sign "Drivers must not enter or pass this gate".
Mr. Kafline none the less left his horse, passed through the gate which was open, and walked onto the ruined portion of the wharf. At this time he leaned against a "stringpiece" (the heavy squared timber lying along the top of the piles forming a dock front or timber pier), of which gave way, and so he fell into the water and subsequently drowned.
(Author, Reports of Cases By New York State Court of Appeals, 1920 - initial filing 1918, appeal 1920)
Specific Date Unknown - 1920
Employee Fatality, Employee Injuries:
1 employee fatality and 15 employee injuries over several occurrences during the course of 1 fiscal year ending December 31, 1920; according to Public Service Commission Summary of Annual Reports for First District Operating Steam Railroads.
(Author, Public Service Commission Summary of Annual Reports for First District Operating Steam Railroads, 1920)
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September 30, 1920
Collision, Marine Vessels:
On September 30, 1920, the dredge Raritan, belonging to the United States; collided in New York Harbor with the steam tug Integrity, belonging to the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal.
(Author, FindLaw lawsuit archives)
July 20, 1942
Employee Fatality:
Charles Braner met his demise on the night of July 20, 1941. He went overboard (unknown reason) from a carfloat which the tugboat Invincible had in tow on the East River.
(authors research, FindLaw lawsuit archives)
February 27, 1944
Collision, Marine Vessels:
The Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal tugboat "Invader" was struck by the Erie Railroad Ferryboat "Youngstown". This collision occurred by the ferry slip on the Westside of Manhattan between Piers 19 and 20.
(Author, FindLaw lawsuit archives)
Accident Report can be viewed here:
Tugboat Invader Collision Report
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January 21, 1947
Employee Injury:
Heagney (first name unknown) was injured while working as a hostler atop one of the locomotives in the Kent Avenue Yard in Brooklyn, New York. He slipped on some grease, fell to the ground, and was injured. He was hospitalized for twelve days on account of the accident.
(J. Roborecky, AtLaw archives)
March 17, 1947
Capsized Marine Vessel, with Employee Fatality
At approximately 8:22 a.m; the BEDT Tugboat "Invader", capsized and sank approximately 500 yards off Pier 7, Manhattan; when it and the carfloat it was transporting were caught in a whirlpool brought on by ebb tide.
One crewman, William Bruck; of the tugboat drowned.
(M. Brusich, various newspapers)
Newspaper articles can be viewed here:
Tugboat Invader Sinking Articles
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July 19, 1953
Locomotive Firebox Explosion, with Employee Fatality and Bystander Injuries
The firebox on locomotive #14 ruptured due to a severe low water condition. The resultant explosion threw red hot debris over 200 feet, setting fire to three other railroad cars. The engineer, F. Marrs; was severely injured and died shortly thereafter from his injuries. A total of seven other bystanders were injured.
Several Interstate Commerce Commission documents, locomotive specification card, boiler modification reports and newspaper articles can be reviewed here:
Locomotive 14 Firebox Explosion
This incident may be the one referenced by J. Roberecky below.
(Authors research, T. Hendrickson research, R. State research, newspaper articles)
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Specific Date Unknown - pre 1963
Employee
Fatality:
A steam loco engineer walked into enginehouse, laid down on bench and died. It was said he had been scalded, but no signs of trauma and looked perfectly healthy. No further information is available at this time.
(J. Roborecky)
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Specific Date Unknown - ca. 1962 - 1963
Collision, Locomotive; with Employee Fatality and Employee Injuries:
Tom Hendrickson recalls reading an article in the New York Daily News newspaper, regarding the collision of a BEDT locomotive in the Kent Avenue Yard, with a fatality and injuries. To his recollection, the incident took place at approximately midnight during a shift change. The collision was severe enough to result in the scrapping of the locomotive (believed to be locomotive #10).
No documentation has surfaced as yet, even in light of extensive research by this author, Tom Hendrickson and Ray State.
(T. Hendrickson)
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March 16, 1973
Employee Fatality:
Trainman Francis Hendrickson was crushed between two freight cars during switching movements in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
(T. Hendrickson)
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Specific Dates Unknown - ca. 1968 - 1983
Tank car of Corn Syrup rolled off carfloat into river:
While spotting carfloat,
a tugboat captain slammed carfloat into side of North 8th Street pier. The
resulting shock caused a tank car to sway side to side, which "popped" the
truck springs which caused the tank car to lean to the unsprung side
and continue rolling into river. Tank car was retrieved by diver placed slings
and barge mounted derrick.
Loaded boxcar of sugar over end of pier:
Engineer was relying on multiple relayed
hand signals. The engineer felt a "bump", and looked at trainman (on ground
relaying signals), who claimed all ok. Engineer continued shoving, feeling
second bump at which time he stopped.
Further inspection at end of pier showed that the end 40' boxcar now had
it's trucks under one end of car (pier end) and the car itself was shoved
over the track end bumper, and was now leaning at angle into water on
one end, still on pier on other. Boxcar was hauled out by cooperative effort
of several locomotives coupled together.
(J . Roborecky)
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