New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-11
NEGLIGENCE KILLED 40
Engineer Blamed for Corning
Wreck on July 4.
FAILED TO HEED SIGNALS
Drinking Made Schroeder Unfit
to Run His Train, Says Pub
lice Service Commission. "

Albany. Jan. l0.-William II. Schroeder.
the engineer of Elmira, was,primarily se-
sponsibe for the Delaware, Lackawanna
Il Western Railroad wreck at Corning Oh
July last, in which forty persons. were
killed and seventy-hve injured. This is
the conclusion reached by the Public Ser
vice Commission as a result OF its inves-
tigation of the collision.
Schroeder was indicted for manslausn-
ter by Steuben County grand jury. but
the Indictment was dismissed by the coun-
~ judge before the case was brought 70
trial, on the recommendation of the Dis
trict Attorney.
The report Of the commission, made
/ public to-day says:
The investigation of the Corning ac-
cident shows clearly that the primary
cause was the entire failure of Engineer
William II. Schroeder. OF the second
train, 10 observe signals. The train into
which he ran was protected by a full
stop signal go feet east of the rear of
| the train. by fagman $50 feet east and
by caution signal nearly 400 feet east.
All three signals We're disregarded. and
| Engineer Schroeder appears TO have run
! at full speed into the rear of the train
ahead without making any effort to stop.
Schroeder's contention was that the fog
|
| for him to see signals clearly. The evf
dence produced shows that the fog had
! lifted sufficiently to allow signals 10 be-
seen with reasonable clearness. and tina {
had II been as dense as Schroeder stated
no excuse has been developed for his
running at the rate of sixty-five miles an
hour.
The investigation developed that the
engineer had disregarded the duty Of
taking proper rest before attempting the
important work Of running his train, and
had apparently left but Ettle undone 20
unfit him for his work. He expected 10
,, lie called at o'clock in the morning. and
according TO his own statement he did
not get 10 bed before 70 o'clock; other
evidence indicates not before ] o'clock.
He acknowledged drinking during tho
| evening before the accident. He visited
! several barrooms. and one witness stated
that he was seen staggering on the street.
Since the accident the Lackawanna
Railroad Company has prohibited the USo
OF intoXicants by its employees. or tho
use of their time while off duty in
manner that will unfit them for efficient
performance Of duties The commission
approves Of this order. and in securing
| its enforcement believes that the conf
pany ~ entitled To the full cooperation
| OF the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engi-
neers and associations Of trainmen.
The report says that while Lane. nag
man Of the first train. went back s'if'-
Client distance 10 give a reasonable warn
| ing he violated the rules by failing 10
take torpedoes with him.
Unless some satisfactory method can
be found to diminish accidents due 70
carelessness OF employees. the commission
says. 1T appears evident that the use OF
automatic stops must be given. much
! greater consideration I'm the future than
in the past" .... --,s essCvs,
The recommendation N. tlf6' rsport Of
supervisor of Equipment, Buch9na % ihe
commission, that a carrier stag not use
steel cars except where all ,the o. her Gears
in the train are OF steel, does. not pe"t
with the commissions approval ~ sim
glc steel car ut the head of the train NJ
Westport." the report. says you'd prob
ably have prevented tho, Ore which Dc
sire we'd the wooden cars