The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-23
Fireman's Statement.

The wrecked train was making nearly
fseventy-flve miles IN hour when the ac-s
acldent occurred, according to Fireman
Aaron Gorham, Of Norwalk, who, badly
bruised, but otherwise uninjured, mirac-
2ulously escaped death. 7 III
I'VE were speeding like wind, y said 4
Gorham, when the engine left the track.
It occurred SO quickly that I little knew
What happened until we crashed into
the Mentor freight house. I neither heard
nor saw the engineer after that The en-
glne overturned and some how the tank
managed to fall upon me, but not heavily
and ! was sheltered by It, I lost con-
sclousness from that terrible blow which
I had received upon the head and knew
nothing until was dragged from UNDER
meath the wrecked engine !. n 5
Conductor Alexander Hammond, OF the
limited said: 81 u II Il 5353ss y ri
"r rushed back to the switch imnle-
adiately after the wreck. 1t was open and
locked open. I tried at and found that 1t
worked all right. The switch light was
out. Not a wheel rolled over the switch
since No. 10. the east-bound Chicago and
Boston train. went through forty-fvel
minutes before"
D. G. Moon, assistant general superin-
tendent Of the Lake Shore road. after In
yestigating the cause OF the wreck, made
this statement to-day:
II have made a careful and thorough
examination, The switch was open 1
am satisfied that somebody, having
key opened the switch with malicious
Intent. The train did not jump the track.
A quantity Of first class mall matter
was destroyed by the fire which con-
sumed all except the two rear coaches.
lac mall was largely composed OF through
pouches from the West and destined for
eastern points.
Boy May Have Done II.
1t Is possible the investigation to-mor-
row will develop that a boy meddled with
the switch at Mentor last night and
caused the wreck Of the Twentieth Gem
fury Limited William Usher, ticket agent
at Nickel Plate road. and James
Barnes Of Wllloughby. reached the
wreck twenty minutes after 1t occurred.
On the way to the wreck they met a hoy
carrying lantern, Tho boy said that
no had ben down to shut u switch. Tho
men went on to the wreck and fou,id
tho switch open and locked The mon
were of the opinion that tho boy thought
there was a freight ahead OF the Twel.-
sticth Century and opened the switch to
let 1t through to take a siding.
II. s. Storrs, general superintendent OF
the Lake Shore said that the clue would
I be investigated Tomorrow, although he Is
inclined to doubt the story that a boy
had possession OF a key and could turn
the sritch,
Twenty Hours Again. @
(By Assocla ted Press.)
NEW YORK, June 23-President New
man of the New York Central and Lake
Shore Railroads said to-day that the
twenty-hour schedule Of the Twentieth
Century Limited train on the New York
Central-Lake Shore line will be restored
at once In place OF the 1S-hour schedule
on which the train had been running
for only a few days. President Newman
said: 81
"s!nce the sad accident which hap.5
pened on the Lake Shore, have had
a consultation with the operating off,
clals, who have explained that the aocl,8
dent was caused by a misplaced switch,
and was not d;ia' to the speed Of the
train. and they assure me that the pres
ent schedule can be safely and easily
maintained. While agree with the OPP
Grating officials that there Is no physical
reason why the schedule should not be
continued, nevertheless, In my Judgment,