New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-05
TRAM SHOWING APPROACH TO FATAL CROSSING |

heard the crash / jumped out OF bed.
hurried into my clothes and was one Of
the first 10 help rescue the bodies"
According to Superintendent Thornton.
man who said he was J Wright ~
No. 1900 Broadway. SAID he was In an
automobile not far behind Pells and
heard the whistle sounded. william
White. of Wreck Lead. also told Easton,
according 10 Thornton. that his little
girl heard A. 4 man who said he was
VI. Madell. OF No 800 Eastern Parkway.
Brooklyn. also gave his name 10 the rail-
road officials as a witness who heard the
warning whistle. He said he was IN an
automobile about one thousand feet be-
low the crossing ~ the time Another
witness for the railroad was f.. Larner.
night operator at the sub-station. who was
walking up from Long Beach. 80 feet be-
low the crossing on his way 10 work.
He too. heard the whistle, he said.
Reckless Auto Driving, Says Peters.
The following statement was made by
Mr. Peters. president Of the road, to-
night at bis Garden city home:
As long as reckless automobile drir-
ers exist. serious railroad accidents viii
happen. While the accident at Long
Beach last night was regrettable. ! am
at "A complete loss TO understand how n
was possible for the driver Of the Pell
machine 70 have such collision. At this
point. of all other places on the Rocka-
way division, the tracks are visible for
over a half mile IN either direction. Fur
thermore, the tracks are elevated. and the
electric trains all loom 40 IN both direc-
tons.
The electric cars were all under con-
troll and this fact was borne out by the
fact that the train was brought 10 a
stand within three hundred feet OF the
accident. II certainly was not the fault
Of the railroad. ne have 10 run on steel
rails. and cannot dodge about like an
automobile on highway. Furthermore.
there are bells and signs. which not only
warn but loom up at night to warn the
automobile drivers off the tracks.
1T seems 10 me that when the legs
latures commence to make laws for rail-
roads they should give some attention 10
highway laws. and make II a criminal
offence for drivers of high power cars TO
rush across tracks in the manner in
which it daily happens.
Wants Rigid Highway Law.
AT Long Beach on Sunday there were
probably two thousand cars. These cars
passed over numerous crossings. and At
the speed with which some OF the ma
chimes cross the railroads 1t Is remarkable
81, VI
regret that these happen. and one OF the
best ways to suppress this speeding is TO
make laws so rigid against passing over
tracks recklessly that the laws will be
respected.
we try 10 do our best 10 protect them
We have over 40 protected crossings.
which cost us more than $4,000 In wages
yearly. and | doubt II there is another
road in this country that does likewise
When one considers the thousands OF
cars that cross the tracks on Long ISL
and and the few accidents. II is remark
able that more accidents do not happen.
Commissioner Decker. OF the Public
Service Commission for the I'd District,
will visit the scene OF the wreck to-mor-
row. / think he will agree with me that
10 go dashlng across the tracks AT this
point. when cars can be visibly seen in
both directions. is a criminal offence.
During the last month We have elimi-
mated fourteen crossings-six at Cypress
Hills, two at Jamaica, two at Oakdale
and others at various points. We have
already spent millions. and millions more
will be necessary before all the crossings
are eliminated
The public Ia demanding faster trains
and Long Island is becoming more thick
~ populated, and as we have to main
tain schedule and run on rails. these
accidents will happen as long as ordinary
precautions are ignored.
'If the town of Hampstead would buiid
a new road across the meadows to Long
Beach both OF the railroad crossings
would be eliminated.