New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-19

Then noticed a sound though something
had hit the car he testified Il also noticed that
We were going very rapidly After the sound
Of something hitting the car there came a bump.
This after very short interval I became
exceedingly nervous and apprehenslve. and felt
as though something going to happen.
When the crash came threw the table
which We're playing cards into the aisle and
crouched on the floor, and the train sped on.
coming to a stop gradually. There was no Jerk
as Of a sudden stoppage.
Flames shot up along the side Of the car. and
some one yelled Fire I remained in the aisle
and was the last TO leave the When
got outside the motor seemed to be on the
track"
Robert F. Ballet. engineer Of maintenance of
way for the New York Central called. Re
fore he could be asked any questions Coroner
Schwannecke declared a recess and excused all
the witnesses until 10 o'clock this morning, when
Mr.. Ballet will go on the stand.
WRECKAGE CLEARED AWAY
All signs. practically. of the wreck had been
removed Yesterday The tracks had been
placed ana realigned and the roadbed resur-
faced.
The examining OF the railroad men continued
e. the track side The party first visited the
tracks under the bridge and then walked north
to where the motors stopped. The rail with the
chunk dug out Of II was shown TO the jury. the
coroner testifying how he had taken possession
of it. sFrom the testimony II would appear that
n part of the top Of a rail had been clipped off
the southerly end. and the northern end of the
next rail to the south of this had been bent out
ward. This second rail was bent out thirty-six
inches to the north. the bolt heads of the con-
Meeting hshplate having been cut off as though
by chisel
Gil,
believe that the speed of the train was such as
TO make It sway heavily after passing the curve,
and while swaying to one side the motor forced
part of OF the rails outward and snapped
off a part of the next rail. All hut the last car.
was carried over this break until the last car
hit the bent rail and left the irons smashing the
third rail The rail ripped through the over
turning coach and jolted the other cars off the
track. The train was going at such high speed
that the motors were not stopped for nearly halc
a mile after the last coach was thrown over
Coroner Schwarnecte appeared to be the only
person connected with the case able to form any
opinion He declared himself thoroughly con-
WINGED that the motor cars also left the rails
because no other cars reached the spot where tho
motors stopped, and the ties at that point are
scored and cut deeply by wheels The railroad
o1hcials have stated positively that the motor
ana the first two cars did not leave the track
other visitors to the scene of the wreck were
three members Of the State Railroad Commits
sion-Mr. Baker. Captain Dckey and Mr.. Rock
we'll who was a New York Central conductor
before he became a railroad commissioner They
came to the unofficial opinion that the wreck
was caused neither by defective rails nor excess
sive speed They are inclined to believe that it
was caused either by break or defect in the
motors the coaches
They had SDec{al trafr ,,-o..i1ol
and were accompanied by General Manager
Smith and Chief Engineer Kipprick. OF the Gem
trail. and their own electrical expert, Charles r.
Barnes. When they returned they went to the
Murray Hill for luncheon, and then took the
o'clock train for Albany.