New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-07
THE COLLISION FULLY EXPLAINED.

RECKLESS DIsOBEDIENCE OF THE CoMPANfs
PRINTED RULEs-THE CONDUCTOR OF TIE lhiN
FROM BROOKLYN IN FAULr-sPEClAL REASONS
FOR CAUTION DIsREGARDED-THE PLACE OF The
CALAMITY A THOUSAND FEET FROM FAR RoChA-
WAY STATION
The calamity of Monday afternoon upon fur
ser investigation appears 10 have been plainly the re-
suit of reckless disObedence of the rules OF the COM
pany IN the running of trains The rule for the guidance
NJ conductors in their employ distinctly states that the
eastward bound trains from Brooklyn, f. d. to Hocka-
way the right of after IL o'clock NJ noon ior
Ten minutes after the schedule time, and an extra hVe
minutes is be allowed by the waiting tram Tor Va-
ton of watches After the expiration of this time the
bcated train-which in this was going to Rocka"
loses lis right of way the train going westward 1t
was the failure of Jesse NJ Hibberd tie conductor of tho
sat bound train observe this rule thai the disaster
occurred.
Conductor Hubbard left the South Eghtlst station in
Brooklyn L. d., with his train punctually on time al
1890 D. n and due at Valley Stream at 1:2i p IN.
The cars were heavily laden with passengers and ddnot
reach Valley Stream until 1889 p. M, fully 10 minutes
after the schedule time and within one minute OF the
time when the train should have passed the Roekaway
train at Far Rockaway. According to the printed rules
the conductor should have kept his train In waiting AT
Valley Stream and 1t is asserted that he was advised not
oleave Valley Stream until the ROckaway train came
in OF this there is no definite proof but IL is certain
that the train started on its way, and IT is believed,
BY direction the conductor who however, had the OPP
portuHiiy of placing his train on siding at Woods
bury, two stations beyond Valley Stream ON the
Rockaway branch. He would have been out
OF danger II he had this, as his time
for running between Valley Stream and Woodsburg was
elk minutes making the time for his arrival at Woods
burg las p. m, or a clear ten minutes before the
ROckaway train had right 10 leave The station at Far
Rockaway. Hbberd must have known that he could not
have made the distance between Woodsburg and Far
in ten mi as
and il required fully minutes to travel between those
SwO stations by the schedule time Hibberd mad always
received the credit OF being careful conductor and 1t
was expected that when he left Valley Stream so much
behind time he certainly would have stopped at Woods
burg to have let the Rockaway train pass him. His
failure on Monday to his usual precautions and to
have run upon the woodsbTg siding when lie found
himself belated, excited great deal of surprise among
all the railway officials.
when the Brooklyn train left Valley Stream tele-
graphic dispatch sent TO Far ROckaway, stating
that the train 10 minutes bchindhand in starting
And this was taken by the conductor Of the ROckaway
train as a guide for his action He knew that by the
rules this delay would give him the right OF the road
The Rockaway train under the care OF Augustus lio
bridge, conductor, started on time from the Neptune
House at 100 p m and arrived at Far Roekaway at the
schedule time, lao r. IN. There the Brooklyn train
should have passed. Hodridge's train put on the
Gdng where it remained until 1855 p H., allowing the
usual minutes right Of way for the eastbound tran
and the minutes for the variation OF watches Know
ing from the teeraphc dispatch that the Brooklyn train
was Is minutes late reaching Valley Stream and had
thus lost its right Of way, and there signs of
It's approach the woods and the prevented
any one at Far Rockaway from seeing train at the Law
renee station the stopping place above Iiodrdge
considered that the line clear, and started his train
When the Brooklyn train reached Lawrence, at 1:oZ
D. No. IL 10 minutes behind time, having lost an adj
dOnal minute after leaving Valley Stream IL WAS,
therefore minutes after the time when the conductor
permitted by the rules 10 the ROckaway tram
Of Far ROckaway and IL required four minutes 10
reach that station by the schedule there was no posi-
by that the Brooklyn train could get TO Far R"ckaway
before the five allowed for variation Of watches
had expired and the ROckaway train had acquired the
night OF way. =,
when the engineer noticed the approach of the Brooklyn
train at full speed II too late TO put pack 10 the
station which he had Just lett He gave the alarm
Whistles and reversed the engines. III Is apparent Oy tc
destruction Of the locomotive Norwood, Which drew the
Brooklyn tran and of the train itself, while the 0comO
tive = ntauk and the ROchaway train were very much
less laged, that the greatest force came rom the
Brooklyn train The shock TERRIBLE ana the lstal-
tnoOus ruin very The alarm whistles caused con-
ductoT lOdIidge To to the platform, and while lie
was hanging by he rail, looking out TO see what had
snshed and he fell outward to the ground In this way
his lie was saved.
The region where the accident occurred was very
tpaIsey settled by farmers and Others ana some NIUE
time was necessarily required to assistance Mean
while the excitement on the wrecked train was intense
fortunately there very few passengers on the Rock
away tram as the had left the beach at too early an
hour Tor the holiday visitors to leave their sport The
conductor Hodudge although injured went back TO Far
ROekaWay station To procure assistance The Brooklyn
train was crowded, aud the destruction of life occurred
upon 1t.
TIE