New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-29
MP WERB,S STATEMENT.
THE ENGINEER OF THE FIRST SECTION TC
Blanche SHOULD HAVE STOPPED

Blanche SHOULD HAVE STOPPED
HIS TRAIN AT ONCE.
IT, Walter webb vice president of the New-fOrk
Central Road, representing Chauncey NJ. Depew' sam
YESTERDAY afternoon that the train which was woched
was known as the Western and Southwestern express
for St Louis. 1t always made up in two sec
lions The first section included two baggage cars
three passenger coaches one Buffalo sleeping car and
two private cars Tho two private cars were placed
on the rear Of the section the first one belonging to
NJ E. ingalls,, president Of the Cleveland, Columbus,
Cincinnati and St Louis. and the second to H. Il.
Iedyard, president Of the Michigan Central Road.
A second section was made up of sleeping cars from
New York and Boston, the latter having been added
10 the train at Albany Mr.. and MIS-. ingalls, were
ahead the first private car of the first section,
Mr. Ledysrd occupying the second car with his
party.
In giving an official statement of the manner IN
which the accident occurred Mr. Webb said: The
cylinder head os-the engine of first section, which
was in charge of Engineer Weeks, blew out about
halfpsst IL o'clock last might. The engineer went
ahead for some distance trying to reach the Paaune
Bridge before stopping. After running short dis
lance he brought his train TO sandstill, about two
miles east Of the bridge. the rear brakeman being
sent back 10 flag the second section. The speed
OF the second section, however. was so great that
the engineer. william Horth although he saw the
danger signal unable TO bring his train TO a
standstil BY applying the air-brake ana reversing
he reduced the speed OF hls udn oheHah
The - second section crushed into the rear OF
the private car OF Mr. Ledyald and that in turn crashed
into Mr. Ingalls's car. The latter was bukily con
sttalcted and acted batteiiDg ram on the BUFFALO
sleeper IN which there so many casualties"
MIR. Webb said that the blame for the accident
rested entirely with the engineer OF the first section
As soon rs the cylinder head blew out he should nave
sent a fagman back 10 stop the second section Win
out endeavoring to go any further with hh train
Had he stopped his train as soon as the accident oc-
CURED the rear brakeman could have gone far enough
hack 10 avert the collision. Instead Of stopping al
once the engineer Of the first section went ahead at
reduced rate of speed forgetting that the second sec
ton was gaining him all the time and when the rear
brakeman was finally sent back it was too late to avoid
n disaster It peculiar that the second section
suffered no injury except that done 10 the engine 1t
was supposed that this due largely to the vesti
hlinr which contributed largely 10 the sohdity OF
the train as 10 prevent teescoping. The porter Of
Mr. Ingslls's car was undoubtedly killed by the shock.
The two pgyate cars On the rear
n the first section slightly damaged
They crashed into the Buffalo sleeper destroying fully
hal{ OF II and INF urng themselves little In fact the
damage 10 these two confined 70 the forward
end Oh Mr. Ingallss and the rear end OF MI Leo
Yards car The engine of The second section was
Completely wrecked. The officers OF the company
were promptly Informed Of the accident. ana within
four hours the tracks were clear for the regular
scheduled trains