The evening world., 1891-03-06
Prompt Action by the Grand
Jury Expected to Follow.
Light and Air Demanded for the
Tunnel.
0ostimony at the State Railroad
Commissioners' Hearing To-day.

The public demand that the Fourth avenue
tunnel be lighted BY electricity and ventilated
as promulgated by TIE EVENING WORLD. re-
ceives another indorsement by tue verdict OF
the jury, empanelled by Coroner Ferdinand
Levy to investigate the causes Of the fatal col
lision in the tunnel on Friday, Feb. 20.
After ave hours deli Iteration the jurors ar
rived, at 10 As O'Clock last night at the follow
ing conclusions:
VERDICT OF THE coRoEERs JURY.
81 The Coroners jury, summoned by Coroner
Ferdinand Levy TO inquire into the cause OF
death OF Helen Il. Supple, William Anton Zeil-
per, John Il. Hencke, Micnael Mulane,
James II. Flynn and John Murray In the
Fourth Avenue Tunnel on the morning Of Feb.
20, 1891, do nnd:
"Frst-That the preponderance Of evidence
shows that the signals were properly set at
danger at the time the New York, New Haven
and Hartford train called 10 Y passed them
on The morning Of Feb. 90, and the jury be-
lieved that owing TO the density Of the
atmosphere in tho tunnel, duo to the
presence of fog. smoke and steam,
Engineer Fowler, of the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, did not
clearly see the signal. 1t is further believed by
the jury that Engineer Fowler did not near the
gong II 1t rang on the day of the accident when
his train passed the danger lignt.
''Second-We md the New York, New Ha-
ven and Hartford Railroad Company, Its ofncers
and Directors, are Immediately responsible for
the death OF Helen T. Supple and others here
tofore mentioned, because Of the failure
of Engineer Fowler co distiu Euish
tho danger signal at Seventy second
street, and thus causing the collision
with the shop train, and we further fnd
that the New York. New Haven and
Hartford Railroad Company Ia Immediately re-
sponsibie for the death by suffocation and
burning Of John Murray and James B. Flynn,
which was caused Dy the upsetiing Of q car
stove in the Boston and Albany car, under the
charge OF the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad Company, and setting nre
70 che wreck by reason OF the collision.
"Tnird-we would urge the IeEisla-
sure TO compel the New York Central
and Hudson River Railroad Company
% make additional openings In the tuu-
nsl in order TO provide tor better vepti-
latios and light in said tunnel. as from
personal examination we find that the
present ventilation and lisht are inade-
auate, and We do furthe er believe that the use
OF anthracite coal when additional openings
are MADE win contribute TO the safety OF the
trafnc.
"Fourth-We further believe that the pres
ent system Of the use Of one man in the signal
cabs in the tunnel s insufficient for safety, and
We earnestly recommend the employment OF
two at all times We further recommend that
each outgoing Nand incoming train. when
passing through the tunnel, be advised OF the
reasonable headway. And we further recon-
mend that a uniform rate of speed be adopted
for all trains and engines passing through the
tunnel.
"William II. Wlckham, Foreman; Gustav
II. Schwab, Jordan l.. Mott John ID. Grim
nina, j. Seaver Page, Isaac V. BroEaw, julien
NJ. Elliott G. c. Williams, Andrew Mills,
Isaao Hamburger, Schuyler n. Warren, David
X. WnliA"
FOR LIGHT AND VENTILATION IN TUE TUNNEL
The action of the jury in urging the Legs-
lature TO enforce the lighting and ventilation
OF the tunnel IL generally considered rs the
most effective way In which to obtain the de-
sired result
PreAidsnt Chauncey NJ. Depew intimated in
his testimony before the jury that II the LeRis-
lature demanded 1t the Central Company
would willingly light the tunnel, but he could
not see how It could be satisfactorily venti.
lated.
IL has been shown In THE EVENING WORLD,
however, that tunnels can be lighted and
ventilated and should Asssmblyman Byrne's
pending bill become q lava consummAtion
earnestly desired by every representative oi
The travelling public-it viii undoubtedly be
found that the Fourth avenue tunnel can be