New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-25
THE NEWS IN THIS CITY.
WHAT WAS DONE BY THE CENTRAL
OFFICIALS.
PRESIDENT prrFw's STATEMENT As TO THE
CAUSE or THE DfsAsTEE-THE ESCAPE
or THE CONDUCTOR.

PRESIDENT pEPEws STATEMENT As 70 THE
CAUSE or THE DfsAsTEE-THE ESCAPE
or THE CONDUCTOR.
The news Of the wreck near Garrison did not
reach Nev-York until some time after II had oc-
CURED The reason for this was that the con-
ductor. whose duty it Is. in the event OF any
mIshap 10 his train to telegraph to headquar-
ters was floating out IN the Hudson River on
top OF car. and when he was safely brought
10 shore IL was almost an hour before he rcgained
lis faculties to such an extent that he could act
intelligently He vas the first 10 send word.
and it was about S o'clock in the morning when
the message came TO the Grand Central station.
The mysterious disappearance Of the train be-
tween two signal stations had been recorded.
and there vague uneasiness manifested.
but the first mixing u what had occurred came
in the conductors dispatch.
The message electrified the Office. I, sent
in to H. Walter Webb. ,hrd vice president OF
the railroad who is also in charge 81 the operat-
ing department Mr.. Webb rot AT the Office.
but his private secretary \ G. Leonard. at
once communicated with All the officials of the
road Chauncey VI. Depcw. president Of the
railroad received the news al his home I'm West
Fifty fourth-s'. over the telephone. lie at once
went 70 the Grand Central station n get fullest
particulars John VI. Toucey. general MANAGE
Of the road. lives near Gsrrlsons. and just az
word being sent to him dispatch was re-
ceived saving he had heard tho news and was
the ground. II. Il Mccoy. superintendent OF
the Hudson River Division. lives at Tarry town.
He also hurried to the scene ~ the wreck. and
from him came the first Intelligent instructions
as to what Was best To do. He icloSraphod FOR
diver to go down and through the sunkcn
cars and max, an examination \ diver was
hurricdly sent for. and at u o'clock armed with
his diving apparatus. he atartcd Tor tho
wreck on special engine Edgar Van Ftten.
general superintendent. came - The Grand cen
trail Station and remained there al dsy and
until late a. night
WHAT MR DEPfA SAYS ABOUT IT.
President Dsrew. after talking with the incr,.
bers Of the crew ~ the Vrcc KIDD train no came
in on the train following made This statement.
This tain il known ~ 80 g.. or tho state
Express. It comes through from RuGaio and
is due here ~ Il 80 o'clo,k Tho train vas pulled
by engine 80. ST. ono - the finest engines on
the road and the enEine-drivcr was 7 Foylo a
tried engineer. Who has been onrloycd ~ an on
gineer by this road since October I. 1>6s The
train crew was on - iho most Trustworthy
in our scryicc. Everything pcn, well until this
spot vas reached. when suddenly tho train
lurched. swung around and slid of into tho
river The train composed II an engine one
baSsage-car. orc combination smoking and bag
gage car. one coach and six sleeping cars
The locomotive and the FIRST part ~ the train
rolled OF into IN" river The cause Of the acct
dom. 50 far a. vc can learn. vas the COLLAPSE
Of the cnbsnkncnt. The water had washed
In here but rigid inspection by trackwalkcrs
had shown no serious damage Within the last
year We have gone over this part - the road
strengthening Inc "mbaukmcnt and putting IN
new rails We took ont The old seyentv-pound
rails and put I'm rails Weighing ono hundred
pounds.
40 sign or WEAKNESS THEN
"Firiy minutes previous TO The collapse of the
cmbankmont The Atlantic Express one ~ the
heaviest trains on thu road Numbered across
the track here without any indication ~ weak
ness. Thirty minutes before a heavy train
pounded over the track going m. other way.
The whole thing Is now In such a chaotic con-
dition that II is impossible TO tel just what
caused the breakdown. Perhaps II viii never
he known just what It was It is ono 81 those
things ono could forcsee or provide against"
Edgar Van r.ttsn. IN general superintendent
gave the same statement as Mr.. pcpew He
in touch with his men at work on the
wreck all day and kept getting bulletins about
the progress made. The members Of the train
crew thai were not seriously injured or killed
came -. once 20 the Grand Central station. T.
o. Parrish. the conductor. escaped with a scratch
his nose and general shaking up. He could
not talk cohar-l;ly ahou; the wreck. He was
in tho forward when the crash came He
says that oil he remembers some one swim
ming OUT TO the and cutting an opening in
the top with An Ak, through which he camhered
and later he taken of. after floating on
top Of the car for some time. He doesn't remem-
Der who IL that cut the hole through which
~ escaped.