The morning call., 1893-06-17
BRAKES WERE OFF
Northrop Was Crushed in
a Collision.
The Fatal Accident Due to Careless.
ness and Lax Rules OF the Rail-
road Company.

The Southern Pacific Railroad Company
was held responsible by Coroner's jury
yesterday for the killing of William D.
NOrthrop. a switchman, at Fourth and
Townsend streets, at midnight OF Wednss-
day last.
When Northrop was caught between cars
in the railroad depot he was taken to the
French Hospital by his feilow-workmen,
and there he died in great pain shortly
after the surgeons began to treat him.
The greatest secrecy was observed No
switchman, engineer or other employe of
the railroad yards would admit he knew
aught concerning the death. But 1t all
came out yesterday at an inquest in the
Margue.
About dozen railroad men we're present,
but for, some reason there was no attorney
TO represent the corporation, as is usual
whenever switchman or yariman /.
crushed to death under the cars. The alb
sence of a legal representative caused
considerable comment But nobody ex-
pected that the big company would be con-
demned Oh the testimony OF its own men.
All the evidence was given by railroad
men. 1t was in brief to the effect that the
fatal accident was caused BY a car that
had been left standing without brakes
coming In collision with car and engine
and crushing Northrop.
Charles &. Bradley, the engineer of the
switching engine with which Northrop was
working, said that while he was switching
passenger coaches of the Monterey express
a coach started and ran down against a car
and engine which he was backing up
against the grade He explained that he
had only few minutes before taken the
ear from another, and was in the act of
running 1t over on a side track when, with
out any warning, the detached coach fol-
lowed down aad crashed into his train.
The accident occurred about twenty feet
inside the gate at Fourth and Townsend
streets.
"is there much of an incline or the
grade?" was asked.
quite grade" was the answer
Though l don't know how many feet to
the mile.
"Northrop was standing on the foot
board OF the tender waiting for the proper
time to take out the coupling-pin. when
tho car coming down struck us. There
was a car between him and the ono that
moved down against us. He was killed by
the car and tender coming together and
pressing him between the guards"
Joseph Gleason. fireman. was asked
whose duty it was to put brakes on cars in
the yard. He said it was the yardmen' s
duty. and in this instance the brake should
have been put on. 1t was not Northrop's
duty to do so.
J. II. Kelly testified that the cars had
been standing in the same place for five or
six hours previous 10 the accident. Some
times" said he, ears start by themselves
sometimes 1t takes ten men to move them. ?"
He added there was no rule for braking
cars.
rs it merely to expedite matters that
brakes are not put on?" the Coroner
asked.
Certainly" said Kelly. $50 that the men
wouldn't have to go on the cars and take
brakes off when ready to move them
Fred w. Sater, night yardmaster, said
there is no written rule about putting on
brakes and the men are left to their own
Judgment IN such matters. Wit the ex-
ception Of that statement ne was as dis
Greet as shrewd lawyer and would admit
nothing as to whether the brakes were on
or off. They might have snapped under
strain Of JOLT" he said.
After short deliberation the jury re-
turned verdict finding the fatal accident
to be due to the carelessness and lax rule.
of the Southern Pacific Railroad.