New-York tribune., 1910-01-01
KILLED IN WRECK
SPENCEF TRASK DIES
IN COLLISION.
Freight Train Crushes Sleeper
IN Which Banker Vas
Riding.

Spencer Trask. prominent as a fnan-
cier, a philanthropist and a patron of
the arts, was killed in a train collision
on the New York Central at Croton.
N. Y, yesterday morning A fast
freight, rushing to New York with silks
from the Pacific ports, ran into the Mon
treal Express, which had stopped at a
block signal. Mr. Trask was the only
passenger killed. One was slightly hurt
and a negro porter was seriously injured.
The responsibility for the wreck is not
plain, and the Coroner arrested the
tower man and two men of the freight
train crew pending an inquest.
Mr.. Trask left Yaddo, his estate at
Saratoga, for his customary twice a week
visit to his office in this city. He took a.
compartment in the Pullman sleeper
Escort, which was coupled to the second
section of the Montreal Express. This
was an earlier train than the banker
was accustomed to use. The train was
two hours late, and reached Croton
shortly before O'Clock. A block signal
showed that there was another train
ahead, and the express stopped. Most
of the passengers were dressed, many of
them at breakfast at the forward end of
the train.
The freight, running at thirty miles an
hour, struck the train without warning.
Mr. Trask was dressing in his compart-
ment. at the forward end of the car. The
car crumpled at the impact to mere
mass of debris a s the engine went
through and crushed the car ahead. A
search discovered Mr.. Trask dying in the
wreckage His body was not mutilated.
and he lived a minute or two. An alarm
was turned in. which brought the fire
department and a number of physicians
to the spot.
Scipio Jackson. the negro porter of the
Escort, was crushed and suffered
broken leg. James E. Bell, porter of the
Eversham, the car ahead was treated for
heavy bruises, and Charles Simpson, of
Brooklyn. suffered injuries of the back
and arms.
Word was sent to Mr.. Trask's part
ners in this city, and Acosta Nichols, a
brother-in-law, hurried TO the wreck to
take charge of the body. Late in the
afternoon it was carried to Saratoga on
q special train. After an hours delay
the Montreal train continued to New
York. arriving at 10 o'clock. The wreck
age blocked both tracks. till 2:3O o'clock.
delaying trains for several hours.
An inquiry to fix the responsibility
was started at once. DR.. Amos O.
Squire, of Ossining, the Coroner, arrested
Eugene Flanagan. engineer of the
freight; Z. Shufelt, conductor, and Will
lam Bellew, the man in charge of the
block station He also ordered the road
to produce E. B. Ridder, f1agman of the
express, who left the scene with his
train Another investigation was started
for the railroad by c. F. Smith. general
superintendent who went at once TO the
wreck.
Ridder, the fagman, by the rules of
the road should have started back along
the track as soon as the train stopped
and walked until he had met and tagged
the next train following. Moreover. the
preceding block signal should have been
set showing that the express had
stopped in the block. The engineer Of
the freight should have stopped on see
ing either signal. The track was
straight for a long distance back from
the express, and it was daylight.
The block signal next back from the
wreck was found to be set to show
danger. and to be in good order. but the
Investigators have not yet learned
whether it was SO when the freight
passed it, Bert Kilmer. conductor of
the express, says that he ordered Ridder
to go back with his flag. How far the
man actually did go is not settled. Pas
sengers say that it was not more than
two car lengths
The block signals used were automatic.
with manual control. and should have
shown the danger, even If the express
had come to a stop slightly beyond the
block tower Flanagan. the engineer, is
said to have asserted that he had
clear track. according to all signals.
Francis NJ Winslow. District Attorney
of Westchester County, is aiding the
Coroner in his investigation. AT late
hour yesterday Flanagan, Shufelt and
Bellew had not succeeded in getting
bail