New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-29
TIE TBlGEDY on LONG ISLAND.

TIE Tragedy on LONG ISLAND.
1t is painfully evident that the Long Island
Railroad is in urgent need OF thorough reor-
ganizaton. For years the complaints OF pas
sengers on its lines that II was NOT managed IN
so liberal. cnterprisng and efficient manner
as most of the conspicuous railroads OF the
East are managed have been numerous and
earnest In many WAYS it has been made clear
that the policy of the read was not s'tllcIently
broad and generous. and that the system of
MANAGEMENT was not sufficiently prompt. quick
and alert in details. Fault-hndIng has been
frequent in regard to bitches, jars and delays
in the movement of trains, especially IN the
ncghborho0d of Long Island CITY. 1t Is true
that the Long Island Company operates great
number of short lines that It's excursion buSl-
ness is of immense proportions that ITS net
work of railways running to all parts of Long
Island is complicated, and requires much more
than average ability and care for its success
ful opcraton. But the problem of providing
safe. ouck and convenient means OF transit
TO all parts Of Long Island, and especially to
and from points only a few miles distant from
Long Island City, is by no means lnSoube.
1t is only necessary for Mr. Corbln and his
Board of Directors to get the right sort OF
men. and TO hold them To a strict account;i-
bility.
II will hardly be disputed in any quarter that
the dreadful disaster of Saturday night is eX-
tremcly discrcditabc to the management. The
investigation Of the circumstances OF the June
accident. in which a number OF lives were lost
and many persons were injured on the Man
haitian Beach Line at che PaIkvilc tunnel,
male il plain that such loss OF HE would have
been impos>iblc on railroad equipped with
the latest improvements and provided with
thoroughly disciplined and intelligent force OF
employcs. The massacre of Saturday night
was even worse II was incxcrsabe from every
point of view. All the accounts agree sub
stantaly that reckless, hot-hcadcd engineer
was running n crowded excursion train from
Rockauay down the grade toward Long Island
City at n hazardous rate OF speed. IL i
a disputed point whether the proper Signals
were displayed in time but IT can hardly he
denied that this engineer was running b! the
signals at a dangerous rate of speed, and was
negligent in the extreme. With careful attcn-
tion TO his duties on the pant of this engineer
50 frirhtful disaster could no, have occurred.
II he had taken the pains which il was his duty
to take there might perhaps have been slight
rear-end collision but il j. unqucSionnble that
this man is largely responsible for the appalling
loss of life. and the Wuunding and manning
Of many people.
The more extensive the disclosures as 10 all
the incidents attending this disaster the hotter
will be the public indignation and anger at the
conduct of certain employees Of the Long
hn Il oil chs
difference to the Sulfcrncs Of the crippled and
wounded The train hands appear to have de-
serted in their hour of extremity the unfortu-
nate people who were torn with agonizIns pam.
In every way dcplorablc mlSmanagcment.
hardness and failure 10 meet the cNgcncleS oil
the situation apparent. On any we'll
managed railroad relief t. the suffering would
have been afforded much more promptly than
II wa, given on Saturday night. There Is
annie proof of positive lack of humanity on
the part Of many employee of this ralruad,
who showed no anxiety and 10 cagcnc>N Ia
give the quickest possible relief 10 the bruised
and wounded victims of railway bundcnng.
This disaster will cost the Long Island Raj
road a great deal of money in suits for dam
ages but il will cost il far more in reputation.
II is impossible = find excuses ar apologies Tor
a management that is responsible for two such
disasters within "A few weeks Is that n the
Parkyilc tunnel and the massacre near Bush
wick Junction.
Mr. Corbn and his directors ought I'M
mcdiatcly T. take their whole force of as
sistintS and employees in hand. After two
such accidents aS these in one summer they
cannot convince the travelling public that they
have the right sort of men in the right sort OF
places on their railroad. Until an entire rcyo-
luton among the officials and employees OF the
Long Island Railroad takes place Mr.. Cprbn
and his associates must expect that the de-
vclopment Of Long Island Will be sadly
checked that the business Of their railroad
will be seriously crippled. that the di>trust in
their administration of this important system
will be widespread and profound. Not only
that. Some people ought 10 90 u States
prison on account Of this BuShwict butchciy,
and the proper authorities should lose 10 time
in finding out who are the suitable candidates
for cells.