The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-29
BRAKEMAN HERRICK'S STORY.
Why He Did Not Flag the Train That Crashed
Into the Sleeping Car Gibraltar.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK. Dec 2s.-Mr. Herrick. father
of the brakeman whose alleged careless
ness caused the wreck on Christmas eve on
the New York Central railroad, near Hast
ings. by which twelve people lost their
lives, was seen this morning by your re-
porter Mr.. Herrick has been, for thirty
five years, manager of the Dinsmore farm,
in Staatsburg, Dutchess county. Mr.. Her
rick said. in substance. that on Saturday he
received letter from his son, and came at
once to this city. Here he met the young
man, supplied him with the money, and
saw him leave the city. His son. he said,
could not understand how he neglected his
duty; be was confused. After the ac-
cident ne went up the road and met
Charles Ray. the brakeman of No. Z, the
train that ran in to the slee ping car Gibral-
tar. Ray, who was on his way to flag the
next tram. first told him OF the accident.
Ray ran on down the track and Herrick
followed him slowly. The father seems to
think that his son will commit suicide.
From those wi ho were in the caboose it was
learned that upon hearing that several per
sons were killed. young HerrIcK lost his
head and rsved wildly. After a time he
quieted down. and. stripping of his coat
u
which he carried. He sat in the corner for
time and then said abruptly: This ends
my railroading; / guess fll skip" With
that he disappeared. The New York police
seem to think that Herriek is not far from
the city, aud do not credit the suicide
theory.
The father of brakeman Herrick, when
he saw HIM on Saturday, got the young
man to make a statement on paper, and
bade him goodbye. telling him he did not
IN han frny hr.n m m W nG RI
ously ILL., because he would be questioned
continually about him. He told HIM to
write no letters, nor would he 1.-THE fatherl
write to him. The statement. which has
Deem sent to Superintendent Mccoy, Is as
follows:
Dear eir-I would say in reference TO the 40
cident north OF Hastings. on Christmas eve, that
when our train slowed up. but while yet moving,
rails, and then ran back to the train which was
still moving, but as IL slowed up more took my
lights and started down the track to stop the
Croton local, then nearly due. When half way
down placed one torpedo on the rail and then
walked down TO the station, thinking
1t better to notify the engineer there than to
stop him again Jefore he was fairly under way.
When got To the station L placed my lights
on the platform. the red light showing south,
and then stepped into the station and inquired
OF the agent lIOw the local was. He said he did
not know. and sat down and remained there
three to five minutes, when heard the train
coming and started for the door, believing IL 20
be the local. But soon as saw the train knew
it was the express. grabbed my light and tried
10 attract the engineers attention, bnt IL was
too late. followed on up the track, hoping that
the train had left twenty minutes before had
pulled out of the way. soon SAW man coming
back with red light. Soon as 1 got TO. him
asked him what had happened, and he said they
had struck something but he did rot know what
il was. 1 went on further and mot another man
and asked II any one was hurt, and he said all in
the sleeper were killed. did not deem IL prudent
for me to go to the wreck and so i turned back
and came TO New York. fully realize the awful
4 inn md faIt
too TINT the tram to come first the local.
ALBERT HERRICK.