New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-30
THE LATE COLLISION on PHR
HARLEM RAILROAD.
INVESTIGATION BEFORE CORONER
O'DONNELL.

Coroner O Donnell yesterday held an inquest upon
HE body Of John Lawson, who fatally injured by
the collision on the Hare Railroad on the morning.
of the 22d inst An investigation relative to the cause
Of the collision was also instituted. MajorGeneral
Sanford appeared counsel for the Harlem Railroad
Company, but the Coroner forbid any Interference,
by que,toning witnesses, &C., by counsel but per-
utted suggt stiOns TO be made to him in writing by
the General. Tie following persons were sworn as
Jurors: Stephen Taylor, Augustus Leland, Ed. a.
Smith, John Milmonih, E. Lupse, I. ID. Skillen and
A. Foster The evidence adduced is as Follows:
John Eliot of Greenbush n. Y, being sworn,
stated that he was Superintendent of the Harlem
Railroad at the time of the collision; the road ex-
tends from this City TO Cbsham -Four Corners; wit
ness has the supervision of the road be has under
him hsgmen, swtohmeD ana statonmen, whose duty
il Ia provide aBst the occurrence OF accidents on
the line; the particular duty Of hagmen is 20 keep
passeIs on the track, and TO give warning OF the APP
proach OF trains; there are four hagmen stationed
between Fiitisth st and Harlem. aud this num-
Der the Company think sufficient; the hagmen
aTv also required to remove any obstruction
such as pieces of rock, &c.-tnat may TAU
upon the track; there il an arrangement by which
The New Haven Railroad Company have the use OF
the track between this City aud Williams Bridge;
they however, are not required TO furnish hagmen:
Oh Wednesday morning, at u o'clock witness heard
that accident had occurred on the road and imme
dihely proceeded 70 Fifty ee nth st. where he found
New. Haven and Harlem train, which had come IN
colllioD; the trains were locked together and two
OF The New Haven cars were of The track, and the
Harlt III engine was broken il was the White Plains
Iarlem) train that rsH into the other; IT left White
Plains at o'clock, and had kept regular
ume il was passenger tram, and It's speed
was about twenty. five miles per honr; the
New Haven tram was delayed at the forkville
turn out by the Har IN freight train, which had run
Of the track at Eghty-sixih at; | understood from
the conductor of freight train that his main had
been thrown off about II o'clock that morning. and
the collision between the White Plains train end the
New Hay,n freight train occurred about o'clock
the same morning; there sufficient time 20 send
back the necessary caution to any approaching train
after our freight train had been thrown off; bat this,
il seems, wss not done.
VIM. l.. Worther sworn, says-l am Nice-PresidSnt
of the New. Haven Railroad Company; on the morn
ing Of the 22d inst informed that collision had
occurred near 5sth-st. there Is an arrangement be-
tween our Company and the Harlem Railroad Com
pany whereby our trains should run on the Harlem
Road from Williams Bridge to New York when a
train belonging TO our Company Is checked from any
cause we dreet the conductors OF all our trains SINH
lary situated to send back red light at night and
RED flag in the daytime TO warn approaching trans;
in oil cases where any of trains are stopped II IL
the duty Of the conductor send back his brakeman
with the necessary caution 10 the approaching
train; | offer the printed copies here shown
as en- explanation OF our arrangement with
the Harlem Railroad Company; both Companies
interchange the printed copies of our respective
regu lations ar 10 be guide TO the conductors
when one freight train was stopped at the forkvle
tunnel il became the duty OF the conductor TO send
back his brakeman, or so himself, with the necessary
caution the approaching train and if the time for
the approaching train Wa nearly due 1t became the
imperative duty Of said conductor 70 send back his
brakemso or 20 bin self, and convey the caution 10
the approaching tain.
Cha. Stevens, being sworn, said: On the morning
Of the I'D inst. was coming from Harlem TO this
City on the White Plains train, anc on approaching
Fifty. eghth.st, our train in collision With the
New Haven freight train; counted I'VE cars IS b.
longing 10 the tram was sitting in on the irst
ct at on the forward car next the encer; think our
train going al the rate OF 80 miles per hour AZ
about quarter before o'clock, heard the whistle
blown twice, and in lees than minute W. struck the
New Haven freight train; there was msn a. ding
st The door, inside, WHEN the whistle was blown, and
be iamedstey sprsDg to the brake and e1srted him
self in checking the speed of the tram Their vas rain,
but very little fog that morning, and IL va. day
Eight when the cOlh on took place.
Iii :. Quintsrd, being sworn, said: aul the
Assistant Superintendent Of the New Haven Rail-
roaG Company. / have been in the employ
Of that Company six years; in case any OF cur
trains stopped on the road from any cause, our
miles make IL imperative ON the conc Of the tram
10 send signals back TO notify any approaching train
Of such npediment en- the road; these signal. are
10 be taken by the brakeman by the conductor un'
til the signal would be BY the approaching tFain
if the time Of such train be due all the conductors
GIctIstaLe tAas Icy orc ~ N-sc SUI seP' - = n.
vent collisions, by conveying back the necessary sig-
uals there are tao red lights every car al night
ore inside and the ether the tail end OF the tan;
the conductors furnished with the timetables and
rules of the Company, and nsst that they should
be governed by these tables and rules
Thos. Edwards, being sworn, said am employed
by the Harlem Railroad Company as conductor, and
have been in their employ IN that capacity upward
Of twelve year; reside a. YOrkyille, and got on
the White Plains train this st.iios on the morning
Of the I'D irs;; IVES not N the discharge OF duty
thsn hut Nss eoEirg 70 the City 20 take back my
ovb trsin; I wac oa The rear platform Of The tlrd
cor fTuu the - CINE; ~ were approaching Fly
ei.l fh.st Eherc the col son took pace, ] b.i