The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-07

commodatlon. the constant delays and the slow
time made by the train OF course the physical
cause " the disaster; ana Just so uch as this
detention can be traced TO the poor Judgment OF
the train-despatcher VINO sent the company's
highest engine out to draw train OF nine heavily
loaded passenger cars, the home management
must be held responsible when the fact is known.
THE PASSENGERS
on the excursion train we're. therefore, tired and
worried, anG the most remarkable fact OF the ac-
cident Is mat no ladies among the party suffered
any disastrous effects from the shock and the
fright which they must have received. There Is
no evidence far as ootatnable, that the eX.
cursion train even stopped at woodsourg, and
certain 1t is that no despatch was sent from there
telling the conductor OF the regular train up 10
Williamsburg 80 come ahead" The reason for
being positive in THIS assertion Is that the
most careful inspection yesterday elected The
TACT that the southside Railroad has not tele-
graph station at Woodsourg. THIS dsposes OF all
the theorizlng as 70 incompetent telegraph opera
tors. For once In the history Of ralroautng the
fsgmen ana the operators are not involved IN the
dispute.
EASY OF SOLUTION.
The question or culpabillty then becomes very
simple. One conductor was evidently running on
the time which belonged 10 the other. one IRAN
was a regular daily express, leaving Rockaway at
an advertised hour; the OTHER was an extra train,
! without recognition on he time schedule. max
ing It's trip on an extraordinary occasion as best
| it could. The engineers and nremen or
/ the two locomotives were. lar as can be
learned, equally competent men. The locomotive
Norwood" wing the excursonlsts toward
the seaside, was IN charge OF Henry Ashmead,
with Cornelius Slocum as fireman. The engine
"Aontaukn OF the regular rain to New YORK,
had the redoubtable George miller at Its hrottle
valve, ana the courageous fireman, william Finn,
who is now struggling between life and death IN
consequence OF his vaor The conductor OF the
regular express was Jesse Hubbard, young man
OF experience and caution. The conductor
OF the extra train John Holdridge.
garoing whose previous record little could
be learned yesterday. 1t Is presumed that he
held reg ular appointment as a conductor, but 1T
| could not be ascertaned. The solution OF the
question OF responsibility, as expressed by rail-
road men, rests with the man who was running
on the regular schedule time OF the other. In TINS
regard the minds OF all raIlroaders are already
made up. Exactly wko this u.s. whether the
dead or the living con luctor or Mr. II. C. Poppen-
husen, general manager OF the railway, the Cor
oner's Jury Will be best qualified TO determine.
THE UPWARD TRAIN.
The story OF the journey into toe jaws OF death
made by the people on board the regular express
train from RockawaT best be told in detail in
the words OF George Miller the engineer of the
locomotive Montauk. Engineer Miller says
We lert the beach at ROckaway on the time &C.
cordlng to the new schedule and came up to Far
Rockaway. There l went the side track, being
the first In, and waited ten minutes. Then five
minutes additional were allowed ior variation in
watches. Somebody then concluded that the
extra train coming down from Valley Stream had
stopped at Woodsburg. Did conclude so ? / was
not in charge OF The train, What data there was
/ 90 not know, nor nave been able to ascertain.
At any rate | was ordered 10 go ahead slowly TO
the end OF the switch, and did so without a second
thought. man bad been sent ahead from our
train to open the switch, in the absence OF any
switch tender ana Of course we had to slow up
Till he locked the switch and got on board.
This was the most fatal loss Of time TO us
OF all. Had We saved even this minute of time
don't think the accident would have occurred, or.
at most, do not think that a single life would
have been lost. The reason9 Why, beyond the
curve where the collision occurred the track is
visible ahead Tor a considerable distance, and we
should have seen each other IN time 10 cheek up
enough TO prevent any serious damage. As the
man before spoken of lett the switch and jumped
on the train MI Poppenhusen standing on
the front platform Of the baggage car, and heard
him call out TO the conductor, poor Hibbard
GALL is RIGHTr'
This, in railroad parance, means 60 ahead all
is rlght.n / had mold OF the lever and pulled
shern wide open. The Montauk went ahead with
all possible speed for had light train and 'ssher
was "good" Tor at least six lul coaches. We sailed
into that curve at the rate Of at least eighteen
miles an hour Through the trees saw from the
cab window the other train. blew for brakes
'shut her on" clean and then Jumped. / fell
in the ditch uninjured, save a few slight bruises
Tne crash came before could get ON my feet
but as soon as | could ran forward 10 the wreck
Nc ahu or
none OF the wounded should be scaded. / found
poor Finn my fireman, among the coal dust and
rubbish IN the tender He was unconscious. l
have said about all want to until the inquest.
What do think OF it, l can only say that the
extra tram ought 10 have waited at woodsburg
Goodby; must go home to Babylon.
THE DEAD.
John Enlers aged forfy-nve years. died from
fracture OF the pelvs. me thigh completely
torn rom It's socket. His lie was insured for
49, COO. He was real estate agent and lived in
Brooklyn.
William II. Gould, aged 80 years. His left leg
was severed from his BODY, just below the knee.
lie survived the accident Just fifteen minutes and
dleo from hemorrha4e lie was poor, and. leaves
wife and one cSild
Jesse NJ. HIboard aged thirty years, died from
internal hemorrhsge. He had no less than seven
ribs crushed. He the conductor OF the
regular tram, ana resided In Flushing, Long
Island. His podY removed to this city
yesterday ana will be transferred 10 Bridge
port Conn, the former home OF his family, for
inierment. He leaves widow only twenty-five
years olo and two children, one aged twenty
three months ana the other TOUR months.
Philip Hartman, aged forty years, was TANNED
between the cara. He died- from The crushing OF
stomach and bowels. was a cigar dealer, and re-
sized at No. Az Broadway. Williamsburg; leaves
vile and children.
p. {. Phier aged forty-nve years DIED from
fracture OF the skull and internal injuries about
the epigastric organs. Was a varDIsher by trade
ana resided at No. 23l North Seventh street, Will
lamsburg
/ h uno Thurmur aged thirty-fve years. Both
legs we're severed from his body; WAS found in
| a O lie hnn