, 1873-08-23
THE LATE CATASTROPHE.
Opinions Of Experts on tho Wind
Ing of Watches.
Conductor Reano Still Fugitive from
Justioo..-suggestions.

1t tho inquest on tho bodlca Of the victims t.
tho railroad disaster, h1r. A. 3. Hamilton teHtf
flod that watch, If wound up too tight, would
frequently atop, md might remain still until 4
sudden tar started tho wheo1B moving ngain
R1r. Joseph Il. Schmidt, q practical watohman
challenged Mr. I1amilton'a statement, and says
SIT is impossible to atop watch by winding toe
tight. 1t cannot bo dono unlosa you bronx the
spring rsono othor part Of tho watch " A 70.
porter Of The TRIBUNE called yesterday on soy.
cral practical watchmahers to aco whothor Mr,
Hamilton Or Mr. Schmidt waA right. hrr. ". O.
Patton, Of tho firm Of Patton Brothers, said It
was an utter impoasibility for watch to be
"ound up 30 tight as to atop without breaking
something. It nevor was dono aud novor could
20 dono. ue was glad to ~dce A1r,
sch1nitit's statement, which waa substat,-
s osesont 5ni so Of s IT, ors Ms2n of 1aeos w"s M
hardiy practical experience enough to give an
not break by tho watch bolng ovorwound, tho
teoth q the barrel or Of tho oentro-vheel would
probably Kivo away.
hir. Aliaon, in charge Of A1atson 4 Cot watol,
department, agreed gonorally with n1r. Schmidt,
thotiSa IN poor or low grado watch thore was
possibility but no probability that it would stop
Without breaking tho main spring.
hlr. A: T. Leech, of Mayo i %. agreed gem
orally with Mr.. schmidt. Some watches could bo
"oand up tight and not stop aud not broak. He
oaen1pnhed 60 thiB by winding up number Of
Watches tight, whom they continued to moyo.
ssomethtng would DO brokon.
Mr. McElwain, corner OF Randolph and Stats
streets, thought . watch could not be wound up
a;s sna SOP without breaking. Talking Of tho ac-
thlng to rely on. It was possible for watch to
stop at any moment, md no train should de-
pona on one watch; As gouoral thing, the con-
duetors of freight trains wero paid low wngeB,
TINT 916 watch. A 915 watch was m unrelia-
plo article. It might stop ut any moment. nnil-
roatla shonld DO compelled, in his opinion. to
furnish al conductors with reliable tinne-pieccs,
exposed to public view, by which conductors aud
engineers could regulate their watchos. No
TRIM should bo allowed to leave station until
the conductor aud engineer had compared thor
u The general opinion sustained Mr. Schmidt.
Ihoro ia baro possibility that witch could
stop without broaking after being oyervound.
ont 1T was very improbable.
WAS IT uEANE7
OF tho Alton Road, received tho following dis
patch yesterday morning:
,,oaina 0aInAnos' 3 H. AYE ~ l:soa nj saw
ths town today sud beluve ho is here now. What
La to bc aone3 Answer. WILLIAM Bs1ITu.
Agent I. G. II. II.
h1r. McMullen replied in genoral terms a,-
Tlsing him TO consult the authoritios there, aud
II there appeared to bo any foundation for the
belief that it was Boane, to haye tho man do
tanned until somo person wont down to identity
him.
1t is very likely. now that q reward has boen
offered, that similar dispatches will be received
from othor quarters, and that every unknown in |
diyidual ia small town will DO exposed to the
rlsk Of T. being takcn for Boane. The railroad Of
himself, aud they would not bo very |
much surprised were he to appear at their ollice.
suoaE8T1oNs.
To fhe Editor of The Chicago Tribune:
SRI: Ordinary ability, with energy and push
will make successful politician but only OK
Eraordinary ability and grasp Of mind can tfl the
requirements OF statesmanship. Ordinary buBi-
noBs-tact, with caution and experience, will de-
velop worry respectable banker; but to DO q |
great tinancior requires far highor range Of
thought and action.
:. To build railroads doea not necossitato genius;
It merely requires capital and engineering skill. |
energy and pluck, overcoming al obstacles, push !
our wondrous network Of iron from Atlantic to
Pacific. But to manage railroads with Bllro safe-
y for l1o and property committed to their
transport, il to grasp tho whirwind, aud ro-
luires genius,-in its broadcast senso, common
3enso.
Tho succcss, tho worry e1istonce, Of any great
,nterprlse is dependent upon perfect syBtem,-
he sure carrying out Of it's minutim and suroty
II detail is vital to railroad-management.
Tho watch from tho hoadquartora-ot1ice should
oc unceasiug, and tho facilities for information
Along tho wholo limo uevor interrupted.
Each passenger ind freight train should and |
ian he geographically followed up from both
sndh @ of any route, and their position md con-
ditlon kept constantly and accurately char
ted,
The vital duty Of conductor is to hayo his
Ernln on timo. Circumstances may aud do oc-
cur when delay happens. Under nuch contlitions
20 movement should be mado on any conduo.
tors individual judgment. Move only when the
ncxt station has boon notified, and sajefy.ans,ce1.
received ,-neTer allowing any't 'train 10 delay oil
mon sent back and ahead
Let such attention to detail govern the modus
operandi Of headquarters, aud collision would
20 impossible, It can DO done, and our laws
x.-.. GEonaE 1inpaERs,
WOODLAND ILL.,, Aug 2O 1873 |