New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-26
LONG ISLAND ROAD BLAMED.
THE GRAND JURY,S SCATHING WORDS ON
THE CAUSE OF THE BERLIN DISASTER
30 INDICTMENTS FoUND-GRoss CULPABILITY
OF THE CoMPANY-How PROPER PRECAU-
TIoNs COULD HAVE AvERTED THE
AWFUL LOSS OF LIFE.

AWFUL. LOSS OF LIFE.
The Queens County Grand Jury AT the Couit-
house in Long Island City last evening con-
cuded its investigation into the cause Oh 'he
Long Island Railroad disaster at Berlin on 'he
night of August 26, in which sixteen persons ios'
their lives and more than two-score oil passeh-
gers were injured. Foreman Thomas >. "iets
and his colleagues after a lengthy inVesugauoh'
have failed to indct any one for crlhha' cu'-
pabty in the matter. In lengthy present.
ment Of over 800 words made to the Court
last evening in relation to the investigation oi
the accident. the Long Island Railroad officials
arragned in the most scathng ana pi''er
manner for the loose methods which. the paper
says characterize their management ana 'he
working of the road.
The Grand Jury found that Robert j. Knott
towcrman Of Block No. ). who was held by the
Coroner's jury as criminally responsible for the
disaster, was not proper person to be placed
in the capacity of towerman on any railroad
They also found that A. c. Hegeman Nc
Cormack brakeman. and Smith, night machi-
mist, were careless in their respective places,
and that had the train been provided with
proper brakes the loss of life would probably
have been averted. The jury found the rail-
road company guilty Of gross culpability In its
regulations of allowing three trains within
signal block. Among other things the present.
mcnt says:
We do not indct Towerman Knott. because the tower
in block No. distracted Knott with fonPs ana
signals on the night accident remove from
him every criminalty. No censurc however. Is TOO
severe against the officers OF inc
Long Island Railroad Company for failing to supply pfop"
safeguards. the investga CATION before tbe Coroner
Knott the in tower No. j. held socy responsive
for the accident and IS in the Queens County JAIL
awaiting Of the Grand jury We do not ih1ict
him. because tho evidence before satisfies us that
when Manhattan Beach special stopped at the sera
phore and before 1t had time "a proceed upon its
way the towcrman OF No. repeatedly teIesraph'H
him asking him II the block were clear
that his attention these details ana "
the train which had Immediately preceded was dT'f"c'i
10 such extent when he saw The MANHATTAN Po''"4
upon its way rs from him the responsibility oil
criminal wrOnPdo.ng. We do not present lh''ctn'nS
AGAINST any Of those named for the same fca~ hhol'
j. no responsible than some others we have m'h
toned and we d. mud that the careleSsne's "m'h
ATTACHED D, anv Of such nature ~ " war
rant II, I'm believing they be convicted OF crane
IN causing the death OF the passengers; though II
+ 10 Us entirely coasure Is to- severe Tor IN"
system under which such disaster Is possible. aid no ~
huke too srnp for the whose duty IL was 10
select COMPETENT employees and supply proper machinery
and who faxed 10 DO ~.
At the end Of the reading Of the Grand Jurys
presentmcnt Dstrict-Attorncy John fietnihR
moved for he discharge Of Towcrrlan Knott
who has been I'm Jail since the disaster Judge
Garretson at once discharged the prisoner