New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-18
UNIFOIDIBLE. SAYS RO1D


The attitude of the railroad officials is that
the accident was absolutely unayoIdabIe The
principal point an which criticism has been
strongly directed is in tine use OF the old wooden
cars which were apparently too light 10 stand
the speed at which the train was travelling
The motorman, Edward s. Rogers Is held alb
soutelE alameless by the officials.
This formal statement was issued at the Of
fees Of the Now York Central < Hudson River
Railroad in the afternoon:
The investigation by the officials Of the COM
Of the accident.
There is evidence that a break in one Of the
wheels occurred ut the point of deraiIment as
pieces of the broken wheel were found ut that
point rail broke in almost the same place
but II IS impossible to say which Of these caused
the deTailment. or which resulted from #
Inc rail weighed one hundred pounds to the
yard and the records show that 1t had been on
the track for less than one year. This is the
heaviest weight of rail in general In the
c9uHu!. Inc track. also. was well balasted
with stone, and in perfect alignment The
ties We're in excellent condition. and the gauge
OF the track was secured by the most approved
form of tie plates
The electric motor was new and had been
tested thoroughly on an experimental track be-
fore being permitted to be operated in service
and all wheels under the motor and eouiDmenf
were Of the standard steel tire construction In
a matter Of such grave Importance il is not nos
SlDie 10 determine definitely the cause Of the
accident in such a short period Of time Ever,
effort, however. IS being made to determine the
cause.
Early In the afternoan the officials were told
by II. II. Rockwell. State Railroad Commits
sioner, 10 make and return a complete state
ment concerning the wreck giving all details as
they appear on the records Of the company and
the results of all their Investigations This re-
quest, Mr.. Rockwell said. was made in accord
ance with instructions received from Governor
Hughes earlier in the day
The State Railroad Commission will give a
public hearing on the wreck. at the boards New
York offices, No. ! Madison avenue, on Wednes-
day morning at 10 o'clock
Assistant District Attorney Smythe ana Mr.
Mcguire and Mr.. Manley, Of the District At
torney's office, had a long consultation with the
executive and operating officials of the road. at
which they We're assured that the Investigation
being conducted by the District Attorneys office
would be aided in every way by the officials Of
the Central. Later they visited the scene Of the
wreck. Mr. Smythe said that he examined with
particular care both rails and wheels examining
the track from the Woodlawn Road bridge
north to the overturned cars. The rails he said
were in good order at the point where the cars
left the track. Further along, he said he found
the outer rail torn loose. None Of the spikes
boiling II 20 the ties had been drawn from them
but the pressure had cut every one of them off
flush with the ties. The ioosened tire which
some think may have caused the accident. in
his opinion was not torn off until after the cars
had left the irons.
The speed Of the train is the most mysti-
Tying point, and one on which the railroad off,
Gals. in spite OF positive assurances seem to he
without authentic knowledge Vice-President
a. II. Smith declares that the train probably
was running at forty-six miles an hour II left
the Grand Central Station on time at 6:13
o'clock. and was held up for six minutes Mt
Mott Haven. At Bronx Park, where it was due
at Gas. 1t passed at Gal. at just GAP the cur