The following is a reflection of my thoughts and personal experience on the events of September 10 and 11, 2001 while in NYC on business. September 11th was a day I will never forget. Several days following 9/11, upon my return from New York City on that fateful day, I recorded the events as I witnessed them.
Nathaniel Gilchrist, September 2001
I had planned one of my frequent trips to our Manhattan office in New York City for a two-day business trip for September 10 and 11, 2001. Being a frequent traveler to New York City my customary routine was to take the train to Newark, N.J., transfer to the Path Train in New Jersey, and shuttle over to the World Trade Center.
Such was the case on Monday, September 10, 2001. Our office was only a short two blocks from the World Trade Center. Always upon arriving at the World Trade Center I was always amazed by the immensity of the structures. Not only the height of the Twin Towers, but also the immenseness of the underground plaza with all the below street level floors and shops. The mass of people moving from trains to their respective places of business always left an impression on me as to how thousands of people could do this so efficiently day in and day out. Everyone in an extreme rush as they headed for escalators, exits and elevators.
I had arrived at the Trade Center prior to 9 A.M. on the morning of September 10th 2001. Before leaving the shopping plaza in the Towers I stopped at a favorite coffee shop for a “New York Bagel” and an orange juice. My receipt reflected an exact time of 09:03. Little did I know in exactly 24 hours the very shop I was sitting in would become buried in the rubble of World Trade Center.
The business day of September 10th was typical, and following a day of meetings, I had a nice Italian dinner in Little Italy that evening with a fellow co-worker. I retired early to my hotel for the night, anticipating another day in the office on September 11.
I chose the Millennium Hotel having stayed there before, and because it was within easy walking distance to 75 Park, our New York office. The Millennium is on Church Street and is directly across the street from the World Trade Towers. I was on the 16th floor on the night of September 10th. All rooms face the Trade Center. It was always a habit of mine to open the curtains to get a full view of the towers, and what little else I could see of Manhattan. Such was the case as I ended what had been a very typical, but enjoyable day in New York City.
It was during the middle of the night when a minor event took place that may have been in hindsight a premonition of things to come that morning. Around 4 A.M. I awoke to the sound of the hotel fire alarm. I remained in bed assuming it to be a false alarm, and an all clear would be forthcoming. After a few moments I could hear quite a bit of activity coming from the hallway so I decided I should get up, dress, and head for a fire exit. As I was getting dressed a report came over the hotel speakers saying that it was indeed a false alarm and everyone could return to their rooms. An odd occurrence to say the least on what was about to occur in a few short hours.
Upon arising on the morning of September 11, 2001, the full view of the Trade Center, with the normal noise of an awakening city greeted me. The morning was clear, the sky was a bright blue with not a cloud and it promised to be a beautiful day as compared to the rain of the previous day.
Our office being a 24/7 business, I had decided to go over to the office early that morning to see some of the nightshift management team before they went home, and to make a full day in the office before having to catch the afternoon train for my return to Lancaster.
It was exactly 08:00 when I checked out of my room using the automated phone checkout system. Upon leaving the hotel I couldn’t help but notice what a beautiful day it was going to be. The sky was solid blue without a cloud. The temperature was very comfortable which made the short walk to the office pleasant. As I walked through the plaza of the Trade Center to Park Avenue, little did I know what was about to unfold in only a very few minutes.
Upon arriving at the office after a brief walk of only 2 blocks, I immediately went to the 3rd floor of our building and greeted some of the staff from the nightshift as I had planned. The dayshift people had been arriving, and we were in the middle of what was considered the morning “shift turn”.
A co-worker, also from Lancaster, had joined me by that time as he had stayed at a different hotel uptown, and was planning to stay another evening. We were just beginning a discussion with one of our New York co-workers when a tremendous explosion took place that jarred the windows, and everyone immediately knew something major outside our building had just occurred.
A New York employee, a young lady from Jamaica, immediately exclaimed, “What the heck was that?” My immediate reaction was that something major in New York had occurred, but there was probably no cause for alarm.
Since we were only on the 3rd floor of our building, I peered out the window to see if I could see anything. The World Trade Center was on the opposite side of the building, so it was not visible to me.
What I did observe were lots of people running in every direction. Already sirens had become evident, and we quickly realized something out of the ordinary had occurred. I thought it was interesting that the person I had been talking with began packing up her briefcase indicating she was leaving. She did not know yet what had just taken place, but remarked the last time a major event took place, which just happened to be the first bombing of the Trade Center in 1993 she was stuck in New York for days. She indicated she was not going to let that happen again.
Within a few minutes several people came into the office, one of whom was an employee who had just left our building from the night shift. It was obvious that he was in shock. He told us he had just seen a plane fly into the World Trade Center. He said he heard the roar of the engines and looked up to see the plane crash into the building. Someone asked if it was a small or large plane. He said he didn’t know, he said it was just a plane. Just as quickly as he had run into the office, he left, leaving us wondering if it was a jet liner or a small craft. We were all of the impression it had to be a small private plane, piloted by either a suicide pilot, or a sightseer who had made a grievous error in judgment. At that moment the thought of a terrorist attack had not entered our mind.
I was scheduled to attend a production meeting at 09:00. As I made my way to the conference room I stopped by a television which had been turned on and was already showing live pictures of the burning inferno. As I stood there in disbelief a second plane entered the picture and crashed into the second Tower. It was immediately obvious that we were under a terrorist attack. An announcement to evacuate the building followed within seconds.
I went back to the office to grab my overnight bag and to gather up my Lancaster co-worker. I told him to take his briefcase as well because I knew we would not be coming back that day.
We had just a short three flights of stairs to go down, as elevator service was already dis-continued, where we entered the street. It became apparent that would be the extent of the evacuation plan for there were already 100’s of people everywhere. We knew we would be on our own from that point on.
We looked in disbelief at the destruction that literally overshadowed us from only 2 blocks away. Several gapping holes with flame and smoke pouring from them appeared immediately before us. Wiring, cables, and debris hung from the building. The air was littered with blowing paper, mixing with the heavy black smoke. The wind was blowing in the opposite direction so there was no smoke, or smell of smoke readily apparent from our vantage point.
As we stood there shocked by what we were seeing we could see survivors at the windows all around the upper floors of the building. It was then we realized that some of the debris that was falling from the buildings was not debris at all. It was people either jumping or literally being blown from the building to their deaths. It was a sickening sight to witness.
By that time the presence of police and fireman were all around us. The police began a push to start moving the crowd back and out of the area. As I stood there looking at the scene before us, I witnessed yet another person leap to their death from the North Tower. At that point I told my companion it was time for us to get out of there, I had seen enough.
We decided to start making our way uptown with the idea to try and get back to his hotel for his bag, and then to the train station. We thought we might be able to get a cab once we got clear of the area.
By this time people were on the streets everywhere. Most trying to vacate the area like us, others making their way towards the tragic scene most likely out of concern for and in search of family and friends. Police and fireman were descending on the area in great numbers. As we got to one corner we ran into several of our New York co-workers. As we stopped to talk, my companion went one way and I went another. Almost immediately we lost each other in the huge crowd.
I knew he would make his way back to his hotel, so I continued on my way to the train station some 3-4 miles uptown. As I crossed another corner some 10 blocks from the Trade Center I ran into 3 of my New York co-workers who also were heading for the train station. They had a portable radio and 2 cell phones and invited me to join their group. One of them was anxiously trying to contact, via the cell phone, a daughter who worked on the 91st floor of the North Tower.
The circuits were jammed making it impossible to get any calls through.
As we began to distance ourselves from the Trade Towers the reality of what was taking place as confusing and shocking as it was began to set-in.
On the street many people were frantic, hysterical, as I’m sure they had family and friends working in the Towers at the time of the attack. They like my co-worker probably could not make contact with them, and were deeply concerned for their welfare.
The streets were filled with caravans of emergency vehicles making their way to the disaster scene. We were monitoring the radio reports when we heard of the attack on the Pentagon. Confused as we were we felt an all out war must be in progress. We begin noticing the military jet aircraft in the air over New York City and wondered if another attack was emanate. I remember thinking how awful it would be if one of those pilots had to shoot down a jetliner to prevent another terrorist attack on a New York building. The radio reports were unnerving as we tried to make sense as to what was going on.
News of the Pennsylvania tragedy soon became known through our portable radio. We could only wonder how many other attacks were to take place. The constant reminder of the military circling the city gave reassurance that our military forces would take control.
In the wake of all this my New York co-worker had still not been able to contact his daughter, or anyone in his immediate family who knew her status. He became more worried and distraught by the minute.
Our little group had grown by 2 more when we ran into 2 of our regular customers who were also making their way to the train station. They had been in Building Seven of the Trade Center complex and had evacuated after the first attack.
On the streets I observed a transition that has changed my opinion of New Yorkers forever. I had always had the impression of them being somewhat indifferent and not very social towards others, especially on the streets. I was observing a totally different side of New York I had never experienced. Everywhere people were helping others by giving directions, pointing out shelters, directing traffic, making announcements based on radio/TV reports.
Churches were opening their doors to assist. We stopped at a Methodist Church to allow our customers to rest. The church offered their facilities and phones to those that needed them. People were offering to send emails for strangers to their families to let them know they were OK.
Mobile Blood banks began appearing on street corners with lines forming a block or more in length, all anticipating a forthcoming huge need of blood for victims.
We had moved about 25 blocks away from the towers when the first collapse took place. I had been walking with my back to the burning towers when screams and sobs filled the air. The radio immediately told us what was happening, and as I turned all I saw was a huge cloud of dust and smoke.
I remember thinking there had to be 100’s of firemen and police in the building when it fell. We knew instantly they had perished. It wasn’t long before there were more screams and we knew the second building collapsed. We all knew it was inevitable.
As we continued our journey to the train station we began to realize, and confirmed through our radio, access in and out of the city would not be possible. Everything was shutting down. I had been successful in using pay phones along the way to contact my wife and Lancaster office. In one of those calls I learned of a shelter being set up in our uptown office to stranded travelers like myself. I began to formulate a plan to stay there. I also had relayed a message through the office to my Lancaster companion informing him I may meet him at his hotel and spend the night in his room. Knowing I had 2 places to stay I proceeded with my idea to see if any trains were running.
Upon reaching the train station my question was immediately answered when I saw hundreds of people sitting all around the station. No trains were coming in or going out.
By now the events of the morning had settled in. People were getting focused on their personal needs. Our small group had decided to head for the uptown makeshift shelter our company was providing. We stopped at a small restaurant to get a bite before going any further. It was during that time my NY co-worker was able to get through to his family concerning his daughter. Remarkably she had not gone to the office directly that morning but had opted to make a side trip to another place before going to work. She was safe and accounted for. What a relief for all of us, especially my NY co-worker.
Having no where to go, we sat there for several hours monitoring the events of the day on a television in the restaurant. Upon deciding to leave for the shelter, which was only several blocks away, I left the group telling them I was going to check the train station once again. If nothing had changed I would join them at the shelter.
When I walked the several blocks to the train station I was surprised to see the crowd had dispersed from around the station. Upon going in the station it was crowded but I saw there was a train currently boarding for Washington D.C. I asked an attendant if the train would be stopping in Philadelphia. He replied it may only be going to Philadelphia as it had not been decided if they would let it continue on to Washington. I knew if I could get to Philadelphia I could get a commuter to Lancaster, or if necessary rent a car.
I immediately boarded what was a very crowded train. Within minutes it left the station for Newark just across the river. Upon arriving at Newark, 90% of the people got off the train. I was very surprised to find only a handful of people were left on the train for the remainder of the trip. I remember thinking how fortunate I was to have caught this train. I almost felt guilty at my good fortune.
As we left Newark I looked back across the river at the New York skyline and many emotions flowed through my mind. What was now quite visible was the dust and smoke of the tragedy of the day. The World Trade Center Towers which had once graced the skyline were gone. Only 24 hours previous I had viewed them from that very location and had marveled at the accomplishment of man as I had done so many times before. Now as I viewed that same skyline, and the absent of the World Trade Center Towers, I could only feel sadness and remorse for the people who had lost their lives on this day, and anger for man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man. I felt ashamed and angry at the men responsible that had placed so little value on life and their fellowman. I settled back relieved to be out of New York City, and thankful that I had gotten through the day. I felt sad for the many families whose lives were now personally shattered and impacted by those lost. Prayers and sorrow filled my thoughts for those that lost their lives and for their families, especially the police and fireman.
God Bless America!
So Mote It Be!