New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-14
FIX BLAME FOR WRECK.
LIES BETWEEN TWO MEN.
TozoerGsda Refuses to Ans1cer Ques-
tions-M0torman Still Missing.


testify regarding the blame for the elevated rail-
road wreck -9th-ave. and 53d-st. Cornelius A.
Jackson, the towerman at that point. refused
! answer questions yesterday. He would make no
voluntary statement and would not even give in
formation to the commissioners.
Responsibility for the wreck lies between Jack
and Kelly the missing motorman, the officials
OF the road say Whatever information is brought
out by the inquiry In addition To what they know
cannot shift blame from either man, they de
clare Kellys train bore 9th-ave- signals. They
, say Jackson was to blame for giving it route
through 53d-st and blame if he WAS absent
from his post. The switch signals We're set for
6th-ave. train; therefore Kelly was to blame for
running past those signals and to blame for run
ming at full speed past cautiouary signals. in APP
preaching the 53d-st junction.
The inquiry begun yesterday morning. estab-
ished by two witnesses that Kely's train bore its
proper 9th-aye signals. 1t did not establish WhetH-
er Jackson at his post after Il 6th-aVe taln'
which passed his tower Immediately before the
accident, had rounded the 53d-st. curve
The marlborough officials have two statements
from Jackson. taken at different times, and he has
been put through a rigid examination by
them in which II is said, he acknowledged that,
Just after the 6th-ave- train passed, he left his
station in the switch tower for about a minute
The. commissioners tried all the afternoon to
tabiish that fact 1t is expected that the next
session date for which has been fixed, they
viii ask the Inerborough officials produce Jack
sons statements.
When Frank NJ. Baker, acting president of the
State Railroad Commission 1egan the inquiry at
1880 a. m. there q protest from E. P Bryan,
vice-president OF the Interborough. at the haste
with which the commission took up the accident,
The Interborough had been unable to prepare it
self. he said Its officials had not been able to
find Kelly. the missing motornan, and certain
essential witnesses were not hand He asked for
an adjournment. but Commissioner Baker thought
the inquiry could be carried OF. De Lancey Nicou
and Charles A Gardiner represented the company.
Coroner Scholer. it learned was nettled that
the commission had taken up the inquiry so soon.
He fancied that 1t interfered with his work by
diverting of his witnesses Commissioner
Baker assured the coroner. however, that if any
date had been set for the inquest within a
week. the States inquiry would have been post
poned.
Frank Hedley. general manager of the Inter
borough the first ", taess called. He was in
terrosated by Charles Z. Barnes. electrical expert
TO the commission. He said that the employees
were governed by a book os rules, issued by the
company The men chosen after kind Of
Civil Service examination. and their records 70
character and business ability examined
carefully
The elevated structure was thoroughly equipped
with signals Mr.. Hedley went on which appeared
at all switches and curves. These were In charge
OF George Il. Pegram, the chief engineer. Asked
to whether it would possible for the 6th-ave.
tracks 70 be carried the 9t.-ave. tracks
6Sd-st,. Mr.. Hedley said he supposed it would be
possible, but that was entirely for engineer to
decide.
HEDLET DESCRIBES CONDITIONS.
Mr.. Hedley visited the wreck forty minutes after
it occurred, he testified, in Mr.. Barness
questions. Three trucks had left the track, he
said. the second of the six cars IN the train. a
light trailer having fallen to the street while
the forward truck of the third hanging
of the elevated structure. The signals displayed
the front Of the motor car were two white
diSka he tOp0 P Tho o0d -b-ov cfr71
the platform" This sign read South Ferry
sth-ave"
The pot signal was yellow. Mr.. Hedley went on.
q precautionary signal TO warn rnotorrnen that the
switch set for 6th-aye- The home signal some
forty feet to the north of the switch, was green.
indicating that the track free for trains.
The Intsrborough kept wrecking trains. went
Mr.. Hedley, but had picked wrecking crews at
various points along the roads. One only a
few feet away from where the wreck happened.
Ninth-ave trains, according the rules.
supposed not TO faster than twenty-five miles
hour past the 53d-s junction Sixth-ave. trains
taking the curve were supposed TO travel not
faster than eight miles an hour.
s. D. Smith, superintendent of the Manhattan
division OF the Interborough, told about the
aminatIons for the motormen, and their physical
examinations, including the eye tests Train tn
spectors the terminals were supposed TO care
for the tin signs on the trains ne said but the
motorman had to that the light signals on top
of the correct
The switch tower at 53d-st, he said, had two
rooms, one upstairs and down The tOwerman
was supposed to work eight hours day, ana II he
wanted 10 leave his post for few moments must ,
ask the train dispa tcher who with him during
the day to take his place. At night the towernan
would be relieved by the trackman stationed at
that point who understood the signals. About fifty
trains an hour in tbs morning passed 63d-st-, MI
Smith said and in the evening counting express |
trains. 1o2 hour.
The wrecked train had been just about time |
Mr. Smith continued. 1t we'll filed, were all /
trains at that hour. he had seen no fire. but IRE
extinguishers were kept in the dspatcher's ONCE
for such an emergency.
jackson the swtchman. had been employed at |
6la-st since March Z. He had been with the com |
pany for about years, and his record was clean
He went to work 1901 the morning Of the wreck
having left work at a. the gay before
MI Smith said that Kelly had been with the COM
pany about seven months He came from St Louis .
but was subjected the company's examination !
which he passed well Mr.. Smith admitted that he /
had been compelled to discipline motormen for
speeding past the dangerous Junction. He had been
una lie 10 determine what caused the accident he
said and could recommend nothing 10 prevent an !
other
J. 6 Doyle, superint endent Of car equipment, said
that the train wrecked had mad a casual inspection
the day of the accident Cars were Inspected once
in three DAYS. The train was IL perfect condition (
he said After the wreck the head motor ca WAS /
operated under its power. He did not examine !
the brake and aer equipment personally HIS /
assistant examined the controller and found It IN |
perfect condition The hanges the wheels of |
the head truck OF the wrecked were all right; !
the axle was not broken and the gauge right !
The entire train was in perfect condition. Mr.. Doyle
felt sure He could think Of no device on any train
to prevent such accident
George H. PegraH, chief engineer OF the Mammal /
tan division Of tIa marlborough produced maps !
OF the tracks at the 63dst junction and explained
the layout to the commissioners When locOmo- |