St. Paul daily globe., 1891-12-29
HERRICK STILL FREE.
His Father Fears the Careless
Brakeman VIII Suicide.

Brakeman VIII Suicide.
NEW YORK. Dec. 2S.-Mr. Herrick.
father Of the brakeman whose alleged
careleSsness caused the wreck Christ
mas eve on the New York Central near
Hastings by which twelve people lost
their lives, was seen this morning, and
said in substance that Saturday he re-
ceiyed letter from his son and came at
once to this city. Here he met the
young man, supplied HIM with money
and saw him leave the city. His son.
he said, could not understand how he
neglected his duty; he was confused.
After the accident he went up the road
and met Charles Ray, the brakeman of
the train that ran into the "Gibraltar."
Ray, who was on his way to flag the
next train, first told him of the acci-
dent and ran Oh down the track. Her
rick followed him slowly. The father
seems to think that his son will commit
suicide.
From those who were in the caboose
1t WAS learned that upon hearing that
several persons were killed, young Her
rick lost his head and raved wildly.
After time he Quieted down and.
stripping off his coat, threwit down and
put on pea jacket which he carried.
1IC LII bLO LOltlCl lOl Il IlAlN anu lnOll
said abruptly; "This ends my railroad
ing; l guess IN skip" With that he
disappeared. The New York police
seem to think that Herrick is not far
from this city and do not credit the sui
eide theory. Herrick's father got him
to make statement on paper and bade
him goodbye, telling him he did not
want TO hear from him unless he was
seriously i'll, because he would be ques-
toned continually about him. He told
him to write no letters, nor would he,
the father, write to him. The state
ment which has been sent to Supt. Nc
Coy is as follows:
Dear Sir: would say, in reference to the
accident north of. Hastings Christmas eve,
that when our train slowed up, but while yet
moving. dropped off and placed two tor
pedoes on the rails ana then ran back to the
train. which was still moving; but as il
slowed up more i took my lights and started
down the track to stop the Croton local,
then nearly DUE, When half way down l
placed one torpedo on the rail ana then
walked on down, to the station, thinking 1t
better to notify the engineer there than to
stop him again before be was fairly under
way.
When I got to the station placed my
lights on the platform, the red light showing
south. and then stepped into the station and
inquired of the agent how the local was. He
said he did not know, and sat down and re-
mained there from three to five minutes,
when l heard the train coming and started
for the door, believing il to be The local. But
as soon as saw the train l knew it was the
express. 1 grabbed my light and tried to at
tract the engineers attention, but it was too
late. 49,
followed up the track, hoping that the
train had left twenty minutes before had
pulled out of the way. 1 soon saw a man
coming back With red light. Soon rs l got
to him ssked what had happened, and he
said they had struck something but did not
know what it was. / went on further and
met another man ana asked If any one was
hurt, and he said all in the sleeper were
killed. / did not deem it prudent for me
TO SO 10 the wreck. SO turned about and came
to New York. fully realize the awful posi-
ton am placed in, and can only say felt
too sure the train to come first was the local..
ALBERT HERRICK.