New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-19
CROSSING LONG A MENACE
Lincoln, N. j., Citizens Blame
Railroad for Dual Fatality.
TWENTY YEARS UNGUARDED
Townspeople Say Vigorous Pro-
tests Went Unheeded-To
Ask for Indictments.

Indignation at white heat was expressed
yesterday by citizens Of Lincoln, \. j., at
the running down OF an automobile by an
engine Of the Central Railroad OF New Jer-
sey at the crossing Of the town road Mon
day afternoon, resulting in the killing or
Mrs. Samuel Fucker, Of Pelham Manor,
y. Y and the Rev. Nathaniel r. Foster, OF
Brooklyn. The chauffeur. Eugene Nauheim'
narrowly escaped death. George Harris,
chairman Of the township committee placed
the blame for the accident on the railroad
and declared that the crossing was allowed
10 remain VIGOROUSLY unsafe despite the
protests of the townspeople.
81 heard the crash and turned in time to
see the persons in the automobile dragged
along the track" Mr.. Harris said yester-
day The train did not stop for twelve
hundred feet, and all three Of the victims
were hurled distances Of more than hun
dred feet so fast was the engine going
when II struck the car.
This is an outrageous thing, which for
years we have tried to get the railroads to
remedy. II is Il double crossing, the tracks
Of both the Lehigh Valley and Central
Railroad passing close together at this
point. We have repeatedly asked for pro
lection in the form either OF gongs, nag
man. signal tower or gates but the COM
panes replied that they would do nothing
State Commission FIouted.
in 1919 We took the case before the State
Railroad Commission at Trenton and after
a hearing that body advised the railroads
to take measures to protect the crossing
They have done nothing except 10 put up
signs right at the tracks, with the words
Danger, Two Railroad Crossings Any
body can see the tracks as soon as he can
see these signs The State Railroad Com
mission at that time had no power 10 en-
force ITS recommendations.
Mr.. Harris said there were ten unguard-
cd railroad crossings in the township, al
though none ~ them was as bad as this
one.
Much the same sentiments were express
~ other residents. among them N. f.
Writ postmaster al Lincoln.
This crossing is a continual menace to
the townspeople," he said. and a source
Of terror 10 parents who send their chill
dren 10 school in East Bound Brook. Every
morning and afternoon a bus containing
eighteen or twenty children has 10 cross
that terrible place 4 count was once kept
on the number Of trains passing there. IN
Guiding freight. passenger and special
and II I remember rightly there vas an
average Of one every three or four minutes
This menace 20 the community has eN-
,sted for twenty years. and although <or
three years there has been vigorous agi-
tation against H. no effort 10 protect us
has been made by the companies"
At the offices If the Central Railroad ~
New Jersey II vas denied that topographi-
cal features or trees made the crossing dan
gerous or that any requests for gates or
other means Of protection had been re-
ceiyed from the citizens. The order Of the
state Railroad Commission had been com
plied with. II vas said by placing danger
signs beside the tracks. which, II was de-
cIared ought 10 IL enough for careful
drivers
The bodies Of Foster and Mrs. fucker
were taken In charge by Walter Runyon.
An undertaken at Dunellen. acting for the
families Fosters body will he sent TO his
family M Cream Ridge. - J.. FOR burial IN
Friday Mrs fuckers body will be buried
M Pelham Manor her home, tomorrow.
II was said Yesterday az the Somerset
UospitaI where Nauheim, the chauffeur.
was taken. that he would probably recover.