email201.xml

email201.xml

born-digital

email

unknown

yes

2002-07-29

Hi , This morning (September 11, 2001) was a close one. My morning train was 15 minutes late this morning. Otherwise I would have been in the thick of what happened at the World Trade Center this morning. My normal daily schedule is to catch the 8:13 AM train to Hoboken. We arrive at the station around 9:00 AM. I either take a NYC Ferry or what we call the PATH train to the World Train Center. If timing is right, I'm in the World Trade Center around 9:10 AM. By the time I walk through the lower level to the upper level, I reach the outer doors around 9:15 AM. Needless to say, as you've been listening to the news, this is when the terrorist attack was taking place and the first tower was collapsing around 9:13 AM.

As we were approaching the Hoboken station, around 9:00 AM, several on the train had heard the news via friends who called them on their cell phones about the WTC towers. Many already were looking out the train windows. When I saw several people looking out the window I asked what was happening, and was jolted with the news that two planes had hit the towers. As we got off the train, we were all thinking that we would be able to catch either the PATH or a NYC Ferry over to Manhattan. I think I walked about 100 feet when the announcement came, "All transportation into Manhattan has been suspended. Please listen, as we are arranging a new train schedule and will get you back to your home destinations as quickly as it is possible."

Fortunately the train was announced at 10:25 AM. We sat and waited until the train was pretty full. We left at 11:00 AM. As we pulled out of the station, we could see the tremendous flames and smoke of the fire. The train passengers went silent as we watched the billowing smoke. Someone's cell phone rang. Someone then said outload, both towers are gone. As we looked, we were unable to see the towers, and yet someone behind me said, "That can't be true, I can still see them. The smoke is just hiding them." Yet it was obvious, the towers were not there!

It's amazing. The normal daily ride into Hoboken is usually comfortably quiet. Most riders are reading their morning newspapers or books. A few chat with friends they've made over the years of riding trains together. As we sat waiting for the train to return back to the stations we came from earlier, conversations quickly emerged. Two men were sitting in front of me. Both were in buildings immediately next to the WTC towers. One was in an elevator when the first plane struck the tower. He went back downstairs to see what was happening. As he walked out the door the second plane hit. He said that he didn't even think twice to go back to his office. He spoke of how he ran along the battery area and headed for the Ferry area. He said that he was ready to jump into the water if he had to jump to safety. Most of us had cell phones, but were unable to reach those we wanted to call. Every so often someone's cell would ring, and a bit of news would be shared with those who were around the caller.

We still haven't been able to locate one of our staff members who normally is going through the WTC at that time. I often meet her on the PATH train and walk to work with her. It is possible that she could be speaking somewhere. Hopefully she is safe somewhere! Please keep Marie in your prayer. (Marie was home preparing to leave for Providence, RI for a speaking engagement when the attack was happening.)

I'm safe, but a little unnerved this evening. As I watch the news reports I am more aware that it was the stroke of a late train that kept me from being in the middle of this awful event earlier today.

5:56 PM on September 11th