New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-26
JURYMEN VISIT THE TUNNEL
THEY WATCH FOR SIGNALS AND INSPECT
THE BLOCKS.
THE INQUEST IN THE CASE or THE FoURTI
AVE-. DISAsTER-IMPORTANT TEST
M0NN TAkEN.
MONY TAKEN.

MONY AIKEN.
Coroner Levy and the jury selected to inquire mo
the cause OF the accident in the FOurtl-aTc. tunnel
spent the forenoon yesterday in visiting the scene Oh
the disaster, and in examining the signal SeF\'c'
About 10 a.. m. the jury assembled at the entrance
N the Eighty-sixth-st. station. General Manager
Platt. Central Station Agent John Franklin ana inc
engineer, Fowler, were with them. y visit was hr't
made to the uptown side Of the tunnel ana - inc
office of the signal man whicl, is stationed at EI-hH
.ixthst. The working Of this signal oH!ce eNcltca 10
little interest. Here was found a young man nanleu
Appnll, apparently not much over twenty years "''
In charge Of all the levers and electric apparatus
To an observer lie certainly appeared - have a IFc'P
deal TO do and the system of signalling looked COM
plicated, but the manager explained all fhHy u ''
iurymen and explained that /. was not possible 1T
anv mistake to be made. y system Of electro "H''
worked by buttons keep the signal men along tne
line informed of each others dOiGgs, and set signals
in the Office which indicate the state Of the blocks III
each direction. The approach of a train on ono
block is announced to the men all along the lI"e'
The system Of signalling. which in many respects Is INC
same as used in the London tunnel. is 80 arraitcu
that no operator works Independently. Each op-r't''
has eight or more levers which he uses to throw inc
red, green or white lights into position. II Is MS
duty further TO attend to a Morse electric Key anu
keep a record Of paSsang trains.
The jurymen seemed surprised that so muc'
should be required Of one man. some SUI
gestcd that it would be much safer 10 ha'u
two men on duty, but young Appel thought that al
extra man would confuse him in his work.
The darkness was intense in the side tunnel eS
pecially for about five minutes after a tram mu
passed. At such a time the tunnel becomes hneu
with smoke. 4 red light was tested under sucN
conditions, and it could not be seen nifty ici away
At IL 80 Manager Plat had a special car III re'u'
ness and a trip was made to the Harlem river Ill 'O
side tunnel and back to the Central station on ~
main track. The car was drawn by LiSht Eh4l'c
No. {. the same that was thrown from the track Oh
the morning OF the disaster. Assistant DISTRICT
Attorney Lyon rode in the cab. in speaking OF MS
trip in the side tunnel he said " l could not see more
than twenty feet ahead Of the engine. We were rgh'
on the signal lights before we could see ITEM
The down trip was quite satisfactory. The tunnel
was clear from all smoke ana there was no trouble
in seeing all the distance and home signals Wan
agcr Plat explained the working of the home signal
at the entrance 10 the seventy seconds st. block
The large alarm bell which works with the red ligh'
signal was in good order and responded when INC
manager pressed the small levers at the side Of Tx
rail.
At Ghe opening of the af ernoon session Engineer
Fowler was recalled to the stand and questioned IL
regard to the signals on Friday morning. lie con
frmed his statement made on tuesday that he and
his fireman saw all the signals along the track. lie
said that he could not have been mistaken in taking
a red light for a white one. The red light became
darker in a fog, and the fog had the same action on q
green light. lie did rot know whether the shop train
was stalled or running at the time Of the accident, but
said that the train could not have been running al q
fast rate Of speed. lie testified that it was a rule OF
the road that all signal, had TO be seen. If they were
not, the engineer was compelled to stop his train and
find them.
"Woxld it have been possible for Won not to have
heard the alarm bell if II had been rung1" asked on;
luryman.
1T would not. though I have not had an occasion
before this time of ever hearing this bell. But it can
be heard above all the noise.'
do you not consider that You are in danger from
the time you enter the tunnel until you are out Of IT.
asked Coroner Levy.
"No, sir. We depend on the signals"
The fireman, Charles j. Wellington. was called