The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-16
TIE HAlLEn RAILROAD DISASTER.

THE HllLEn RAILROAD DISASTER.
Conclusion OF the Inquest-A Verdict of Gem
sure Agnins, the Railroad Compuny-Tho
Switchinan Held for tho Action OF the Grand
Jury.
The adjourned inquest which was commenced last
Friday at fremont, Tor the purpose OF elcitng the
circumstances surrounding the death OF Thomas
Hammond, fireman, at the junction Of the Harlem
and New Haven Railroads, particulars OF which
have already appeared In the HERALD, was resumed
at the first mentioned place, by Coroner Bathgate
yesterday. Having heard that police officers were
III search OF him, Patrick McGerty, the switchman
through whose negligence the accident occurred,
delivered himself up TO the fremont police last sat
urday. A relative who accompanied McGcrty
asked permission become the atter's security until
such time his presence might be required, but the
request was very properly denied by Sergeant Steers
VINO communicated with the Coroner. and he
ordered the man TO be locked up pending the
inquest. 1t may here be stated that at no time since
the accident took place did McGerty attempt to cen
caa any portion OF the facts in relation thereto,
although they all tended to throw the entire rcspon-
sibity Of the disaster on himself. According his
voluntary statement, McGerty, it appears has been
employed by the Harlem Railroad Company some
twelve years, part OF which time he has worked
as a track laborer About three years ago he was
employed as swtchman az the junction, where he
renamed for perhaps ten months. At this time
there were four switchmen employed two by day
and the same number at night. This switch guard
was then reduced TO two and he, with another,
was employed in Q different capacity by the COM
pany. Some nineteen months since he was again
placed on switch duty at the junction, and as Win
be seen by his testimony given below he
was instrumental in throwing New Haven freight
tram from the track at the same place at midnight
by the displacement of the identical switch which
cost Hammond his life ana which might have
resulted in an appalling calamity. Considering that
nearly sixty trans pass the junction daily, fregnted
with the hives Of perhaps tens Of thousands who
travel over both roads, the action OF the Harlem
Railroad Company in permitting this men TO retaia
the Key to ruin and disaster appears somewhat SlIi-
guar.
the train whose testimony did not vary rom that
gwen by him last Friday, and winch appeared IN
the HERALD OF Saturday. HIS testimony showing
that the signals cali rightn were seen by the tram
hands on It's rst approach to the junction. and that
they were afterwards reversed when too late, was
fully corToborated by Augustus WISE and Elmer
son Har 81 ,s VINO were on nco eSatd
These men TESTIFIED that, az was their
duty, they had applied the brakes when nearing the
junction. 70 check the speed OF the train TO that
OF the regulation requirement Of about eight miles
per nour. A few moments later, when the engineer
:! ously applied. Their evidence also went to show
that Harlem Railroad trans always come to q full
stop at the Junction when gong north, and that they
onfy slack speed, without stopping except when sig
/ nailed TO do sol. while proceeding south.
| have been employed by the harlem Railroad CON-
pany switchman at the Junction, and was there
at the time or the accidents have been stationed
there, the last time. tor about nineteen months; my
duty was TO turn the switch and 10 give signals to
all trains as they passed up or down; the
train that passed down before the accident
was a New Haven train, due there at
tnrty-one minutes past seven; went out after 1t
passed and lxed the signals right, but suppose
forgot to straishten the switch for the Harlem down
train, leaving the switch right for New Haven
trans and the signals right for Harlem trains;
when the Harlem down train was coming 10
the Switch Of thtrty-two minutes past eight,
l went out OF the switch house holding
q waite light in my nand, and standing by the
signal post as the IRAN was approaching the
switch, saw thar the rails were wrong; at this
time the train about thirty feet rom the SWITCH
and seeing could not change the switch In
time altered the signals and ~ was changing
these the engineer b.ew "down brakes;n the
trala then ran Oh the track, aud the en-.
glne went about eighty or ninety feet before
going over; after this the first man |
saw w sa5 ,nc wha va H.. gu sns
nim tine switch was wrong; ne then went up to the
switch; WINE | was standing there some passen-
answered taat had cleared out; sono one else then
said was lucky TO get away; at this timc had put
my lamp down and they Old not Know me, ana
beng AFRAID to remain ! walked away into the
woods.
In answer 70 questions proDounded by jurors
McGerty further testlfed--l was employed OF tlo
rate OF 81 90 Tor twelve hours' WORK; ar. A. W.
Eggleston road master, employed me: there were
two swltchmen at tie Junction nightly about TWO
years ago. bat there Ia only one now: a New
Haven freight tram ran or at the juno
ton about eight months ago, and that was
because the engineer neglected 10 stou
which led me TO believe 1t was Harlem train, ana
/ turned the switch accordingly; thls was about
twelve O'Clock at night; supposed to 70 on uuty
al six O'Clock IN the mUrnlns, until sax n tie
eyenlng aad every other week take the night duty
got there on the evening or the i'm inst til six
O'CLOCK and went on duty TO remain uutl SIX in the
morning. the accident to the Sew Haven
frslaht train was the only one that has
occurred IN 10y time al the lunction then thought
would be discharged, but went TO zee Nj. Logles-
ton and ne sent inc 50 work again han a aarem
freight lran was thrown or. the former wouid have
stopped on seeing signals set for the latter; ! had
not been drinking any liquor thai day nor mat week;
for Inc last eight or nine months ! have drank no
liquor outside OF my own house.
The jury then retired and IN short time brought
In the following yerdct-We find that the deceased,
Thomas Hammond, came TO his death on tue night
or the nth by the upscting OF the engine
Chatham local train, caused by the mspiacement OF
the switch at the Junction, ana hnd mat the acci
dent was caused by the iessne5s or Patrick Nc
Gerty, the switchman and do censure him fDr the
same we also censnre the Harlem Railroad
Company for Keeping In their employ man who
caused similar accident to occur but few months
since. THIS Jury would recommend that oil trains
come 10 q full stop before passing tEe Junction.
McGerty was held III the sum Of $3.50 10 answer
any indictments that may be brought against Ann oy
the Grand Jury
FOSSIL ANTELOPE or THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS.
From the stockton Cali independent November 81