Questions

2000 words One-time rights

©-20Qf-Joan Beers

Joan Beers

526 Brookberry Hts. Crossing

Apt. 4022

Winston Salem, NC

27106

QUESTIONS

by Sydni Jo Beers

''What happened?" Inspector John Bray appeared on the scene within 30 minutes of this accident. Bray had been working for the NYC Transit Authority examining train wrecks and accidents for 20 years. In most cases, motorman negligence was the cause. At times, when the man at the helm did not slow down to prepare for an upcoming curve, or observe the red light when another train was within striking distance there were crashes. Sometimes, the trippers were at fault.

This day was unusual in several respects. First, Will Casey, a newly trained motorman,

was driving the train. Second, the trains had been changed a month ago from cars of sixty feet to ninety feet, making it imperative that the train be pulled into the station far enough to accommodate the last car. Third, the robberies that took place within the hour contributed to the tragedy that was about to follow.

As John Bray conferred with his subordinate, Fred Mathison, police roped off the area around the entire station . No one was permitted to enter. Passengers from the first four cars were quickly escorted from the platform and down the stairs.

Will Casey, the motorman, was duly excited. Anguish appeared on his face. He removed his cap as perspiration dripped down his face on this warm August evening. "I thought I was at the right place... that it was O.K. How could this happen? I stopped at the right spot,

didn't 17' Will was disbelieving that he had not pulled far enough ahead to give adequate clearance so passengers from the last car could safely alight onto the platform.

'Was anybody hurt? Tell me, please, what's the damage? What actually happened?" No one answered him, mainly because no one knew for sure how many people had fallen from the train, been killed or injured.

John Bray surveyed the interior of the last car now emptied of all passengers. It was halfway onto the platform and halfway off. There was no way to tell how many passengers had fallen through the open door at the time of the accident.

A significant factor leading to the mystery was the robbery that occurred just before

coming into the Avenue U station. Three men.. appearing to be in their twenties, dressed in the mode of the day - long pants, T-shirts, cotton overshirts hanging loosely - entered the last car. One, with long, dirty,blond hair, went to the rear of the car. Another, swarthy with dark hair and eyes , went to the front , while the third, also with dark skin and hair, remained in the middle.

The conductor was stationed in the center car, awaiting the train's arrival at the Avenue U Station, unaware of the drama that was about to unfold in the last car.

The train was crowded with shoppers returning after an evenng in New York City, with many people getting home from a long work day and others who had enjoyed an evening of good food and entertainment in the city. Fans overhead circulated the warm summer air to keep the passengers' hands from sticking to the poles and straps on which they were hanging.

Among the passengers were Lenore and George Styles, returning to their home in Coney Island after celebrating their two-month wedding anniversary. They had met after work to have a special dinner at their favorite restaurant, Molly Foo, on 34 ^th St. Lenore wore a dress that George especially liked, a light blue cotton. Her long brown hair was tied up with a blue ribbon, setting off Lenore's blue eyes. George, several inches taller, dressed in a tan business suit, looked adoringly at his wife. Following dinner, they walked to the nearby subway station , descended the stairs, and then boarded the "N" train to Coney Island.

Lenore and George stood pressed against the glass doors, oblivious of the surrounding people. Deep in conversation, reminiscing about their wedding day and subsequent two

months of marriage, they paid little attention to the stations where the train stopped. As a local, the ¹¹N¹¹ train stopped at every station along the route, taking approiximately fifty minutes until it arrived at the last stop, George's and Lenore's stop. The happy couple examined their matching wedding bands, which had been a bone of contention between them for several months.

It had been George's feeling that he did not have to wear a wedding band to know he was married; Lenore wanted a symbol of their marriage (love forever, she said) that would bind them together ... until death do them part. While arguments ensued at first openly, weeks went by when Lenore remained aloof, uncommunicative, her hurt feelings not allowing her to pursue the argument. Being sensitive to Lenore's state of mind, and not liking the coolness that had settled on their relationship, George opened the subject of the wedding bands once more.

Lenore was thrilled that he would wear this ring, and immediately set up a time when they could visit the family jeweler, Bob Simon, located in a nearby shopping center.

Gold bands were expensive, costing twice as much as the couple wanted or could afford to spend. Bob Simon came to the rescue by suggesting that he could make the identical design in re-used gold, and no one could tell the difference. The couple agreed.

A month before the June wedding date, the jeweler called to say the bands were ready to be picked up. George begrudgingly admitted they were beautiful and that he would be pleased to wear his.

Now, at 9:15 pm, approaching the Avenue U station, events were to transpire to forever change the lives of many passengers on this "N" train and to end the lives of others.

At a previously arranged time, the three robbers began to brandish knives, screaming that the passengers empty their wallets, jewelry and valuables into the large gym bags each was carrying.

"Do what he says," whispered George to Lenore, as he located his wallet, money clip, and credit cards and hastily threw them into the bag that the angry youth was holding in front of him. Lenore searched her purse and dumped her wallet and credit cards into the bag also. Quickly, George signaled Lenore to put her ringed hand behind her as they again put their

backs to the doors. The three thieves continued threatening everyone with their knives if they did not contribute to the loot already stolen.

The train slowed, pulling into the Stillwell Avenue/Coney Island Avenue station. Before

the train had stopped, the three hoodlums raced ahead two or three cars, ready to make their escape when the train came to a halt.

The second tragic event was about to occur. Will Casey, inexperienced with handling a train with ninety-foot cars, stopped at the place designated for sixty-foot cars, unaware that the last car was not totally alongside the platform. As the doors opened, the three thugs escaped down the stairs. At. this very moment, Lenore and George, still pushed by the crowd against the doors, were thrust out of the train and flung through the railway ties, hurtling down to the street below. Their screams caused passersby and an approaching motorist to look on with horror at the scene. Several bodies were sprawled over the sidewalk and street, Lenore's and George's separated by approximately eight to ten feet. Many people congregated outside the shops and

cafes.

George had hit the pavement on his back, then flipped over. Lenore, too, was found

facedown. Within minutes, police were on the scene roping off the entire street and the stairs leading to the east platform of the elevated line. Ambulance sirens were heard in the distance.

Both of the couple's faces were mutilated beyond recognition. The skulls were crushed where they had first hit the pavement. Lenore's blue hair ribbon lay dangling across one cheek, her hair laced with blood. George's glasses hung down from one ear. Their limbs were twisted, apparently broken in many places. Inspectors Bray and Mathieson approached the bodies.

Several other bodies lay nearby. It was now almost 1O pm.

Both inspectors began quizzing the gathered crowd. No, no one could identify any of the fallen bodies, all believed to be deceased. No, the train's entry into the station had appeared normal, noisy as usual. Did anyone find a purse, a wallet? The Franklins, also passengers in the ill-fated car, reported that the train was crowded, a robbery had just taken place and they were lucky to be alive only because they had held tightly to the upright pole. Did they know anyone on

the train? Could they identify the thieves? These questions, asked by Patrolman Jacobs, were all answered negatively.

Detectives were soon on the scene. One, Detective Foster, a veteran of many years,

leaned over the bodies scattered along the sidewalk. With no personal belongings to be found (they had been taken by the robbers) no identification could be made. A cursory exam indicated that all victims were dead. Several ambulances had now arrived.

The paramedics again checked the bodies for life; none was found. They then began lifting the lifeless forms into the ambulances. Just before lifting the young couples into the ambulance, paramedic Joe Garcia made a discovery. "Look, Detective. I've found something!"

Detective Foster quickly walked to where Joe Garcia was squatting. Joe pointed. "Look

at the rings on these two bodies. They're the same!"

Further examination showed □et. Foster that indeed, the two rings were identical. Poor kids, he thought. So young, married, no doubt of It. Who were they? What parents would call

their children's home for a day or more before reporting their absence to the police?

On August 23^rd, the New York Daily News ran the story of the train accident on page two, citing seven deaths. At the morgue, the twin rings were removed from the fingers of George and Lenore. The inscriptions, ''To George, Love forever'' and ''to Lenore, Love forever'', were included in the news story. Shortly after the paper hit the street, Frank Styles called his local precinct. He, his wife, Mary, and Steve and Marcia Gresh, were asked to come down to the morgue to identify any of the bodies.

The distraught parents were ushered into a room where confirmation of the deaths of their children was made and additional backgrouond information was given. Through her tears, Mary Styles recounted how George had resisted wearing a wedding band, but because it was so important to Lenore, he finally agreed to wear one. It had to be matching, Lenore insisted.

"If It wasn't for the rings, we'd never have a clue as to who they were. Lucky those perps didn' t get 'em", Detective Foster said. 'What a shame..only married two months? What a shame." His eyes watered as he said these words.