New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-11
THE MOTORMAN'S STORY.
WHITE TELLS HIS VERSION OF THE troll
LEY-CAR ACCIDENT
HE DENIES THAT MEN HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED
IN HANDLING THE NEW MOTOR. AND ASKS
WHY. IF HE Is A FOOL. HE WAS EN-
PLOYED IN SO RESPONSIBLE
A PLACE?

PLACE'
Charles G.. White. the motorman who had
charge OF the runaway the Nassau Com
pany's line last Sunday, refuted some OF Presi-
dent Johnson's statements yesterday in regard
to his management Of the car. If his story Is
true it places the company and some of its en-
poyes in a bad light before the public. White
says his car was equipped with a new type or
motor called the Brill. in whose use no motor
man had been fully instructed. He referred to
President Johnsons statement that he was
fool. and then pointedy asked why railroad
company should allow a fool TO be In such
responsible post he occupied. White then
made this statement In regard to tho brake on
the
few days previous to this accident order was
that no slack should be taken from the chain when
the power is on. and that excuse Will be given
The order rO Was dreetei especially to old motormen
and violation Of it was to be met with hs Sad IN
going up the hill with the car had to pul ious
moo o the To have ali his slack Wound up so as
TO be able to catch the car nsiananeousy psi9 ore
the old type Of motors not near so much slack was
required the Brill motor. When car ~
loaded heavily as mine was on Sunday more
slack was Of necessity required Before could re,
cover the slack the car dr!fted backward rapidly.
head switch of and fed the controller to NTH
notch A. the car was going opposite TO rns a s
ton the motor and check the car This switch witch;
every instont As we neared Third-ave. thought
that as l had new type OF motor would pun me
the controller 10 the fifth or sixth notch. knew
that nothing that | would 90 could make the car
60 any fa na ana 5 mS hav pehh eec threw on
The controlIe- and tanned the brake down with all
ny rail Them the wheel broke and
K. s'e1 Mr. Su-
perintendent coleman called on Ut in the cell tod
him my story and also made statement similar IN
Wei Mr. Johnson comes out now with the announce
ment that l pulled the reverse ever
THE RULE oBEYED.
"I carried out his rule and the big weight on the
car served 10 give an added momentum to II when
The pole went oy and thereby caused It to drift back
ward Most Of the freight the rear end and
this caused the ear to tlt thereby making only one
pair Of wheels available for the brakes. even they
had worked properly. This same car had already
done one days work with another crew before took
charge OF IT. took 1t 3:25 p. m and when d!d
SO the conductor who had been relieved told me tho
pole was bad that II II was not fixed his successor
arss as am2Sd X the Ts o so Mas there
with a moderate load The brake then see med TO be
ali right Coming back the pole began TO give rs
trouble. Jumping on al curves ana cross wiIes 4,
Neyns-st and Atlan'lc.avc found mat me oraKc
Official OF the road who was at hat point asked me
why id So and told him what the trouble was,
ran 70 the barn on Twenty-lhirl- caloiuI;!, aiI
came 10 the conclusion that The fault was win mo
tracks and not with the brake
WHAT THE STARTER SAID
r told the star,er at the barn In the presence or
several men that the pole poor and tho brake
very mean on a greasy rail lie replied Go along:
We will make a car specially for you AT Twenty
seventh-st on a down grade, again had 20 use tho
reverse 10 stop the the brake would no. work
Again thought IL the fault OF the rails. and
that when got away from under the elevated rail-
Is no crease dripping At Thirty -ninth-s. on tho
hill four lengths up hill the pole went of and The
accident occurred have described II. The track
was not sanded The system OF the company In
working the men IS bound to result in accidents
The men make one trip and when they reach the
terminal are placed on another car and sent out
without a chance OF knowing in what condition the
car is in Not moment Is allowed for examination.
Under the old regime, that Is the Atlantic Avenue
Company. had plenty Of time TO examine he
vorking o. tho We also required under
that MANAGEMENT to report at the end or every trip
ANYTHING that did not work properly