New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-09
WHERE THE BLAME LIES.
STREET RAILWAY OFFICIALS KNOW WHO
PULLED THE TROLLEY.
THE NAMES OF THE BOYS WHOSE MISCHIEF
CAUSED THE NASSAU ROAD DISASTER Oh
TANNED BY THE CoMPANY-TIlE MOTOR
MANS CONFUSION - PREVIOUS Eff
FORTS TO SAFEGUARD THE
SERVICE


There seems TO be no doubt that the terrible
trolley accident on the Nassau ROAD sunday was
primarily caused by two mischevous boys, who
pulled the trolley pole from the wire. just Whe'e
the blame lies after that is matter to be de-
termined only by careful investigation. James
C. Church. counsel for the Nassau company, yes
terday afternoon talked frankly OF the accideht
and its causes.
I'm the first place." said he. II want you 10
say that we row have the names of the boys who
pulled the trolley pole from the wire Sunday
afternoon and really caused the accident ana
that they will be prosecuted to the fuii extent u
the law. All the roads have been annoyed by
this malicious mischief, but as no serious acci-
dents had resulted before, they were practically
pcwerless Now there will be little trouble /
think. In proving these boys guilty OF felony ana
public sentiment will support the Judge VINO IN
ficts exemplary punishment on them
When asked as to the overcroWd ding or the cars
Mr.. Church replied: "You may rest assured that
We deprecate that az much as any one IL Is not
a source Of profit to the company, because the
conductors are not able to collect lares' anu
very large percentage of the passengers ride
free From what have Observed am sa'."e"
that this crowdjng is intentional, boys and the
rougher element of young men having iedrheu ny
cynerience that under such conditions they can
steal ride The only practical way to prevent
this overcrowding is to put on more cars, ana
that Is Just what we have been doing ever since
we leased the Atlantic-avo system.
MORE CARS WE'RE ALREADY ORDERED
"About the time We took this lease the company
ordered 200 new open cars. paying S-oo apiece
more for them than had ever been paid by any
Brooklyn company. and stpulating that the cars
should all be delivered in the month of April -
far we have received just seventy OF these cars
Mr.. johnson has threatened to bring suit against
John G. Brill and the st. Louis Car Company ior
breach of contract, and this accident may provoke
him to carry out his threat.
Now with reference To the accident, there Is
this which cannot be gainsaid: The car was new,
Of the meet approved pattern, and supplied WIN
the best brakes, motors and other safety devices
known. The track was new and the wire align
ment as perfect II is possible to make H. Inc
trolley could not have jumped from the wire. be-
cause of this perfect alignment. and the further
fact that the speed could not have exceeded four
ar five miles an hour will wager $1,000 that
the same car may be run over this place ten thou
sand-yes one million--tmcs and the trolley will
not leave the wire The entire blame for not
stopping the car rests with the men in charge OF
il. and this We will be able II show a. the invesii-
CATION"
THE MOTORMAN LOST HIS HEAD.
President Johnson has been experimenting
since the accident. and has a very clear idea OF
the causes of the accident. He said: If the
motorman told the truth about that brake then
| ought to be locked up. instead OF running rail-
road / went to see him at the station house last
night and, after listening to his story and care
fully questioning him, am convinced that while
he may not be criminally careless, he Is too
leather headed to be in charge Of car. He said
he tried the brake and ii would not hold ana
then he reversed the motor. turned on the over
head switch and then turned ON the lever Thus.
instead Of leaving his lever where II was and
turning the overhead switch, he was actually
assisting the momentum OF the car. insted OF
checking it, Another thing | asked him was
how far up he turned his brake rod. His answer
was A couple of turns Now any motorman
who is not absolutely incompetent knows that
the heavier load carried on car the more turns
| II requires to put on the brake.
WHY THE BRAKE DID NOT HOLD.
THE brake" he said. 'is hung from the frame
Of the car and Is adjusted up to its ordinary car
! rying capacity. Now, when this load Is greatly
I increased it brings the frame down nearer to the
| axle. and thus throws the brake shoe away from
the wheel so. instead OF its being two Inches
from the wheel. 1t Is four or five inches away and
requires more than twice as many turns There Is
the car OF yesterdays disaster. without window
broken or d scratch on the paint But for the
broken wheel the car Is ready - run out now We
have the a1fidavits of dozen people who were IN
the car 10 the effect that If every had stuck T.
the car there would have been no injuries to write
about and no damages to settle
Automatic switches will be placed In the Thirty
ninth-st grade. SO that in the case OF a like acct
dent the runaway car can be turned into the bank
! Coroner COOmbs will make an investiga ton. and II
( is now believed that the Railroad Commission will
also take the matter up and fix the blame II pos