New-York tribune., 1891-03-07

4 TERDICT THAT MEdNo oO-hE
The proceedings begun for the purpose Vi
fixing the responsibility for the tatal COLLISION
in the tunnel have arrived at point not oluci'
reached in similar cases lnqueSts after 1~i-
road disasters generally rcsul. in verdict Whlch
has no real value or significance and causes ho
inconvenience in any quarter. OccasonailS d
subordinate in the service of company Is hel'
guilty and subsequently indicted for malsIauSh-
TOR but even then the chances are that the case
will never be brought to trial This inquiry Is
romar,able for the fact that the jury looked
bcvond the primary agent or agents OF destruc-
tion. and condemned the officials OF the New
York. Ncw-Haven and Hartford Ralroad, nom
whom train-hands take their orders. There may
be. it is true, II difference OF opinion as 10 inc
precise intention of the jury. IN pam I'M
cuage they find that the condition OF the aU-
mosphere in the tunnel was such as to account
for if not excuse Engineer Fowler's failure to
see the danger-signal; and for his default they
hold his superors responsible. 1t is to be noted
that they do not directly cenSure the NeW-1 ork
Central and the Harlem railroads, with which
the Ncw-York, New-lIaven and Hartford Is as
>ociatcd in tho joint management OF the Grand
Central section, from Forty Scc0nd-St. to Mott
Haven The natural inference nevertheless IS
that the Jury believed Fowler technically guilty
but morally innocent because of the smoke
steam and fog which obscured the signal and
that. we Judge from his uttcrances and action, IS
he CoroncrS Interpretation of the verdict.
As VIC said few days ago, the system by
which an enormous traffic has been carried on
under most difficult conditions with remarkable
safety for long period ought not to be con-
dcmncd by the snap judgment of amateurs as II
il were crimnaly defective. Those responsible
for its creation and maintenance have gwen
constant thought 10 the subject and they would
have been willing at any time, we believe, to
make a change which they were convinced
would be an improvement. They will now
recognize, probably, the force OF recommended
tiOns cmanatirg from a body Of prc-emncntly
saglcious and practical men respecting better
| light and ventilation, the use of anthracite coal
the employment of additional Signal-men, COM
munication between trains in the tunnel and
uniform rate of speed. re take the roof of the
| tunnel, aS Mr.. Dcpew expressed it, and make
the passage an open cut from end to end, is
assumed to be impossible. To make single
| block OF it would greatly impede traffic, the
| OllLCldS say. IL int~t lNb pl'IVNIAlDiN az
| sound il NAV be worth while to consider the
| feasibility and advantage Of making extensive
| openings above the various signal stations. ~
any rate, it is reasonable to assume that rs n
result Of this disaster the railroad authorities
will find means. with or without the help of the
| Legislature. to make travel above Forty second
=, sill safer than it is now.
| The second branch Of the investigation d-
rected by the Coroner and represented IN the
verdict related TO the part played by car-stoyes
| in the disaster. On this point the Jury leave
no room for doubt as TO their opinion. They
| &" find that the New York. Haven and Hart
| ford Railroad Company is Immediately re>pon-
| ,iblc for the death by Surocatign and burning
Of John Murray and James Il. Flynn, which was
caused by the upSctung Of a car-Stove in the
Boston and Albany ear under the charge Of
the Ncw-Yo;k. Ncw-Eayen and Hartford Rail
road Company, and setting fire TO the wreck 10y
reason Of the co!liSon.' No such degree Of pop
| ular Indignation exists, we believe. in conSe-
! qucnce of the recent disaster. against the man
| agcmcnt of the tunnels aS against the powerful
corporation which has persisted in dciying the
law and public opinion by using coa-stoyeS in
its cars No sensible person desires 10 see the
railroad officials for whom warrants have been
issued subjected to vindictiye persecution, but
we believe that intelligent public sentiment
woud approve determined effort to punish
those officials of the NewIork, Ncw-llaycn
and Hartford Company who have controlled It's
action. have caused the law to be continuously
and wilfully evaded, and have now burned at
least two persons TO death.
|