New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-12
THE SOUTH SIDE RAILROAD COLLISION.

TESTIMONY OF SUPERINTENDENT DOUGLASS
CONDUCTOR BATHBORNE'S ALLEGED NEGLECT
OF ORDERS.
Coroner Whitehill of Brooklyn resumed, yes
- -~:.s-.
400, ....v frank. killed by the collision ON the
South side Railroad July A.
Charles W. Douglass superintendent of the road, tes
fed that there special timetable for the 4th Of
July and copy was issued 10 the conductors Tues
DAY the 2d inst extra trains put on the road
that day; II was a regular train which started from
Wllliamsburgh and into the Rockaway train its
proper time of starting from the South Eighthst depot
was AS D. M the train No 16, and the engineer and
conductor James Scott and John Rathborne that
train should have the Bushwck depot at if at
the depot later than that it the duty of the
ducor 20 have waited at Buhwck unless he could meet
the o. pose train the double track; the conductor
and engineer both equally responsible the eDg
ee cod refuse TO 20 on IL he felt thar he could not get
10 the double track to meet the opposite train they
should have waited until the other tram "a minutes
Iar than BIZ or had arrived before preSumng 90 on
that is a rule all railroads and well understood;
Conductor RathbOrne has been on tue road two
wears, aud is looked upon a good railroad man
when he left the depot at Wiamsburgh told him that
the train coming from RocEavay was ON timei Rath-
borne was behind time. which was the reason made
the remark about the other trains Rahborne should have
left Bushwck at $685. but his train did not leave the south
Eghthst depot uh 445, ana tne time 10 buhWle I Is
about 10 minutes; received telegram at the ofice
showing that the Rockaway train had passed Richmond
Hl al sos; tAe laCl mat te 'oChaWay ualu was Oh
Richmond IlHl and that Rathbornes train was
Is DtuIuQ Time shOud nave Deen suInccul
nation to govern HAthbOTne in bis movements; the
NiliamsbuIgh train should have been at the switch
where the collision occurred AZ 500 n was EahbOTnes
duty 10 have waited Bushwic until 5, until the
ROckaway train came in, seeing that he was fifteen min
utcs behind time.
l. j. Lynch, conductor Of the Rockaway train, testi
fed that July he left with his train from the beach
at 1906 arrived tie switch at 53 sharp that was on
time; that made his arriving time at BushWlck 6l7;
he arrived al the end OF the double track he stop
ped feet FROM the switch; witness jumped of the
frain and told the engineer 20 pun down nearer the
switch, which he did; witness then said 20 him, what's
your time" he looking at his timetable when ask
Inc this question; witnesses time agreed with the engl
neers which 56l; he asked the engineer how long
would take 20 BuShwick and he answered that
it would take about four minutes witness then said
ahead" this would make the train four minutes late
engineer started the train, he had the night OF the
track and 20 minutes TO Bushvic the engine and three
passed on TO the single track and tie eng
nCer blew down brakes" he then stopped the train
and witness jumped of, and went TO the engine; before
could ask what the matter was he heard some
claim "hcTe the other train witness narrated
The circumstance Of the collision.
The inquest will be continued to-day.