The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-24
THE TUNNEL FATALITY.

The TUNNEL FATALITY.
Beginning OF tho COrOner's Inquest-Tes-
timony OF the Passengers and tho Com
duotor-A Misplaced Signal the Cause
OF tho Accident.
Yesterday morning Coroner EickhOn opened an
inquest INTO the manner OF the death of Mr. Robert
K. Launitz. who killed by the collision In the
Yorkve tunnel on the (norning OF January q. 1874
Edward II. Belts, of No. SO West 127th street, waa
the first witness called He testified to having
known Mr.. Launitz for three or four years; on tho
morning OF January q he met deceased at the
Harlem depot between 12Sth and l29th streets.
waiting to take the 9:27 train down; went into tho
rear car with Mr.. Lsunitz; the train went at the
usual rate of speed until on the trestlework
bridge at 130th street, where we stopped
few minutes; we again started and got as far
AZ the north end Of the tunnel, where We
stopped again; the next time we moved we went
to about the middle of the tunnel! and after We
we're here about two or three minutes we noticed
q brakeman rush through the car; he grabbed .
red lantern nom under the seat upon which Mr..
Launttz was sitting, and going to the rear plat
form, he waved IL to and fro for some minutes;
he gave US no warning, but from his actions wo
suspected something was wrong; said to my
friend, 'Come, Bob, there's q smash.up;" when l
said this we both ran to get into the car ahead;
was first aud deceased was Immediately behind
me just as got ON the platform the locomotive
of the New Haven train struck our car and 1 was
thrown into the ahead and hurt so that was
unconscious for some time; should think it was
about two minutes from the time the brakeman
showed the red light until the locomotive struck
us; saw Mr. Launitz when he was brought into
the car was in after the collision; Mr.. Launitz
was brought to tue German Hospital, Fourth ave-
nue. and Seventy-seventh street; was sent home
In a carriage from the Grand Central Depot, ana
have not been out of the house since January ~
until to-day.
JOHN J. KETCHUM
of 12SSh street and Second avenue, testified that
he was on the twenty-seven minutes past nine
down train from Harlem on the 21st OF January.
he tesrfes to the stopping Of the train, the same
as previous witness; wnen the stop was made IN
the tumut, he says, he got out and spoke to
along, and the conductor asked what the stop was
for the man said he haA orders TO stop all trains
M % and asked some one ahead could he get
voice In the darkness said yes; come along
slowly about Two minutes alter the engineer era naa
into our iast car; Mr. La1nlts and got MI. mis-
name from him when he was IN the tnlr0 Car anu
Edgar Ketcnum, OF West Morrisania, was next
Launitz to speak to him; saw him get into the
car ahead OF me at the Harlem station on the
M 1o5a 81 street, on tSe
four minutes; we then crept slowly dowa LOW arGA
stopped short, and IN little while pegap e move
slowly into the tunnel; when we were abodt MID
OF the rear car; while in the rear car heard MI.
50 If returned TO third car, and in little while
heard noise and felt q collision; did not leave
se r t tNs hs &
car; be looked pale, and thought he was gong
to iainf; heard he mad been injured on the leg
Nfph IN pR
gone back with red light when we stopped in the
tunnel the accident would have been .preventedi
could see, Was darker than usual.
The dispositions Of e. Hubbele, H. Frank shaw
only corr corr the testimony given ABOVE and
throw no new light on the subject OF Mr.. Launitz's
death.
THE CONDUCTORS STORY
and deposed as follows:-I am a conductor on tue
1874 / mad charge OF the nine A. NJ. train from
Wililamsbrldge; ! knew deceased slightly; dld
stopped on The trestlework bridge 1891 street. be-
cause the New York Central train had stopped
ahead OF US in the tunnel; we knew this by the
black signal which indicates the distance travelled
by a Il ain after II leaves the signal box the New
the signal house and remained there; was at the
rear end Of my train, on the ground, watching to
was Coming behind US I; / saw the train stopped
and went ahead TO see what was the matter; about
time reached the ncou OF uly Iralu tuo
engineer whistle ''up DraKes," and we started on
slowly; the tunnel was full OF fog and exhaust
steam and one could not see SIX feet ahead; when
we were about two-thirds OF the way through the
tunnel we were stopped by torpedo and red sig
mai; when we stopped got out OF the baggage car
and went to see what was up; sent one OF my dag
men back to put torpedo on the track then cried
out to know II | might kaove on and some one said
yes come on slowiy;' No started and had got
about Two car lengths when the collision came;
went to the OF the train and there heard yfoans
and saw two gentlemen assisting Mr.. Launltz out
! OF one car into another; at the request OF these
gentlemen stopped at the German Hospital so as
| to enable them TO procure medical treatment iof
him.
JOHN NJ. YOUNG,
being sworn, said he was superintendent of the
New York Central Railroad and manager OF the
! Msrem road from Forty-second street TO Mott
Haven; he investigated the cause OF the collision
/ and had found that the signal at Ninety.slxtn
street mad been changed sooner than 1t should
nave been; the signal at Ninety sixth street Is 50
arranged that If any rocks are thrown on the Track
the swltchman can set IL at danger" and reverse
to 'All right at Will; the swltchman ut Ninety
sixth street had changed the signal; he was IN tue
employ OF the Harlem road; the reason ne gave ioI
changing the signal was that he Thought the train
had gone through. .,,,ys.o..ou
The Coroner adjourned the case uhth "c""0'~"J
morning at ten O'CLOCK
SUPPOSED DISASTER IN THE BAY.