Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-11
THE TUNNEL DISASTER.
D strict Attorney Jerome Inspects Scene will
Admit Engineer to Bail.

New York Jan. l0.-The surgeons at
Bellevue hospital said, today. that
Thomas p. Murphy, whose leg was am
putated. last night. as result of in
iuries received in Wednesdays tunnel
accident. had rallied from the opera
tion and had good chances of recovery.
Murphy's nerve in telling the rescue,s
not to release him from the wreck if
50 doing would endanger others. at
traoted much attention to him and he
is probably in Il way one of the most
remarkable patients Bellevue has ever
seen.
Three funeral services over bodies of
those killed in the collision were set for
today at New Rochelle. The first was
that of William Legs, manager for b.
Altman & Co.. at his late residence at
, p Nj This was to be followed by
funeral ceremonies from Oscar Negro
WITT at O'Clock and for II. g. Dimon
at o'clock.
Arthur Whitley, who was scalded and
! hurt internally. was in critical con-
dtion, today. He is is years old and
vas employed as clerk by the United
Verde Copper Go.
| John NJ. Wisker. engineer of the
White Plains local which ran into the
Norwalk train, had recovered. today.
| from the nervous collapse which fol-
| lowed the wreck. He became more
cheerful. yesterday. after his wife
called to see him.
Three of those hurt. George Winter.
Winfield SchultZe and E. A. w. Nc
Cray, were not so well. today. Winter
was burned. his left leg was fractured
and he suffered much from shock.
Schultze and McCray were badly
burned and each has a broken leg. A.
W. Adams. the carriage manufacturer
Of this city. a patient in the New York
hospital, was better, today.
Mayor Low has sent the following
letter of sympathy to Mayor Henry 8.
Clark of New Rochelle:
In the name of the people of the
city of New York, | beg to offer to your
stricken city our heartfelt sympathy.
1t may well be believed that an acct
dent such as has thrown New Rochelle
into mourning is deplored by every
body. The duty remains with the liv-
ing to see to it that the lesson Of so
costly a disaster shall not be lost.
District Attorney Jerome, State Rail-
road Commissioner Baker, Assistant
District Attorney Girvan and Supt.
Franklin of the railroad, made a trip
Of inspection through the tunnel on a
locomotive, today. A thorough exam
nation of the tunnel was made. in
Guiding the workings of the block sig
nal system. Tests were also Of the dis
through smoke and steam in the tun-
nell. The signals in all their workings
at 59th street and seth street, where
the accident occurred, were gone over
and closely examined and tested.
Al the end of the trip through the
tunnel, one of those who had accom-
panied Mr.. Jerome said they had found
the atmosphere fairly clear most of the
way but al Goth street they We're en-
vcloped in a cloud of smoke and steam
| SO dense that nothing could be seen.
| On the return trip the tunnel was clear.
At esd street the green light showed
plainly. that being the cautionary sig
ma. before entering the block below.
and the observation engine slowed up
until the red danger signal was seen
at 18th street. The bell rang, but the
torpedo did not explode. The engine
vas stopped, and the railroad officials
explained that the observation engine
was not heavy enough, nor it's wheels
large enough to explode the torpedo as
n big passenger locomotive would do.
Attorney Jerome announced that he
would not oppose an application for the
release of Engineer Wisker on $4,000
bail. This action, he said, was the re-
suit of the investigation which showed
the authorities that charge Of muir
der in the first degree could not be
fmade against the engineer. The charge
that could be made, he explained. was
manslaughter in the second degree.
The Herald, tomorrow, will say: THE
New York Central Railroad will change
its motive power in the Park Avenue
tunnel within a year. Electricity will
be substituted for steam on local trains
as. possible, and trunk line trains will
be hauled into and out of the Grand
Central station by less dangerous
methods.