The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26
TIE YORKVILLE TUNNEL ACCIDENT.
Conclusion Of the Inquest Into the Death
OF Mr.. Launitz-How stElectricaP'
Signals Are Worked ON the Harlem
Road-A Verdict OF Censure.

Conclusion Of the Inquest Into the Deaf h
of Mr.. Launitz-How "EIectricaP'
Signals Are Worked ON the Harlem
ROad--A Verdict OF Censure.
Coroner EickhoG continued the inquest into the
manner OF Mr. Launitzs death yesterday morning
The testimony OF Michael Prunty, the swiSchman
who was the cause OF the accident, will be read
with interest by all who ride trains going from
and coming to the Grand Central Depot. as it ex-
plains much OF the mystery which has heretofore
surrounded signal block,' sign boards and the
like.
Joseph H. Franklin deputy master or the Grand
Central Depot, deposed that he had made an in
vestigaton into the cause OF the disaster In com.
pany with Mr.. Touce, and found that 1t was caused
by misplaced signals. The signal was misplaced
by switchmaa named Prunty. The rest OF Mr..
Prankin's testimony was only a corroboraton OF
the statements made by the conductor and Mr..
Toucey, which were published on Tuesday morn
ing.
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
James NJ Brown, the engineer OF the New Haven
train was next called. lie lives at stamford
Conn.,, and says that on the morning OF the disas-
ter mis- train met the Harlem train at the north
entrance OF the Yo-kville tunnel where 1t mad
stopped he renamed on the tresselworK bridge
Until the train ahead had disappeared; the signal
then showed "all right" and he moved on and did
not stop until he came in contact with the Harlem
train; about minute before he stl uck the Harlem
train, he heard some one "hollon TO him. but ne
could not hear anything that was said; the tunnel,
he says. was too DARK Tor one TO discern objects
ahead even at short distance.
ELECTRICAL" SIGNALS.
Mlcnael Prunty, tue swltchnan, was put on the
staho anu s"ore as loH0ws-On the morning OF the
accident, January II, he was standing near his
shanty at Ninety ninth street; he saw the Harlem
train pass In and noticed that the signal showed
train had gone In he noticed the signal was at
danger" stu daring the four and half minutes
remained on the tressel bridge; having re-
celved orders from Mr.. Franklin TO change
showed red, he reversed 'I ihe board ard and d
the New Haven train came up and
went into the tunnel; the electrical signals are
not worked by the trans the man at the north
end OF the tunnel can WORK the sigma at the south
END, and ptce uersa he has been "A the employ OF
the Harlem Railroad Tor twenty years and was
discharged the uay alter the accident oy Mr..
Franklin, who said he made himself TOO special''
in changing the signal, notwithstanding that he
had previously ordered hini 10 do SO.
The testimony OF Ii. WILCOX the conductor OF the
New Haven train, contained no new facts.
On being recalled Pruniy sad that he often had
occasion to change the signals az many as twenty
i've times d2y.
An aNdavit from DT. Staecklln. OF the German
HOSPITAL, was read, which stated tnat Mr.. Robert s..
Launitz mad died Of pyemia and suffering conse.
quent upon injuries received. Deputy coroner
Marshs testimony corroborated this statement
THE VERDICT
All the testimony oeing IN. the Coroner charged
the iury Tney retired, and after snort absence
returned with the following verdict
We and that Robert e. Launitz came g his death IRON
nures received AT the collision in the Yorkvle tunnel
bctwe cen Harlem and New Haven train. on the morn
ing of the 2s OF january that the said collision wous
not have happened had there been proper system 9
signals Further thar the instructions given to switch
me are pcit enough. and leave too much room
Tor part OF said switcnfnen
and lastly that it Is criminal neglect 10 allow two tram
the same track TO enter VI be ~ The tunpei ~ '
baIpe tjIns