New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-14
DOHERTY BLAMES ROAD FOR
FATAL WRECK AT STAMFORD

! down TO twenty miles an hour. Ia been
running at from ffty-five 10 sixty few
minutes before. We have to go as fast
as we can to keep on time. We are sup
posed to run right on time, although
we're allowed to run two minutes ahead
of the schedule in the country.
THE Norwalk block for the drawbridse
was caution and then the Rowayton
and Darien blocks were clear. Glenbrook
tower signal was clear and the next SIG
nal west of Glenbrook, was clear, too.
Doherty had been rafting along with
his story up to this point without trouble
but as he took up the description Of the
next stage of his journey his voice began
TO break and culver, and he hesitated ana
CROPPED for words.
THE next one was against me- he
said. "and II was just about three hun
dred feet from the tower. 1t indicated
proceed with caution
We'll did you?" the coroner queried in
a kindly voice.
Il tried to-" Doherty replied. His voice
broke badly and he sat silently staring
at the floor for several minutes. Ills
eyes were bloodshot and perspiraton
stood out on his forehead as his own
evidence brought that scene back TO him.
The man was evidently at the end Of his
string. and Coroner Phelan took pity on
him and adjourned the session until the
afternoon.
Weeps as He Recalls Tragedy.
Doherty had better grip on himself
then, and he took up the most trying
part Of his story Immediately.
1T was down grade there and had
my power shut off. anyway" he said. Il
tried my brake as | saw the home signal
set against me. ] threw on more air. but
she didn't take hold
The engineer was crying openly now
like a child He hid his face in his hand
kerchief and struggled with himself.
Then he took up the tale again.
when I got her about $50 feet away
threw on the emergency brake, but ! saw
/ couldn't stop. ] grabbed the whistle
cord. and at the same time leaned out
of the window and waved at the two
men / saw standing al the back OF the
train They saw something was wrong
and they jumped. | could feel the air
taking hold just a little, but not enough
TO satisfy me that there was any chance
Of her stopping.
Il held the whistle down and then
saw she couldn't stop, so l Just grabbed
the brake valve and held onto IT, / saw
we were going right through. so I just
got ready for a smash. My fireman
looked at me and looked at him. We
didn't say anything; we knew what was
coming"
Coroner Phelan asked Doherty whether
IL the brakes had been In proper order
he could have stopped the train in time.
! Yes. sir" Doherty replied; Il had air
all right but she didn't take the brake.
The air was not right. l knew that be-
fore that afternoon, when ] had to bring
, her 10 quick stops at stations. ought
to have stopped her in two car lengths,
but the way she was going | couldn
stop her in four car lengths
Reported Brakes BAD"
Ii came out here that on Tuesday. when
he had overrun the Bridgeport station
because Of the same defective air brakes
which we're later responsible for the
stamford disaster. Doherty had written
on the workbook Of the Stamford round
house: Brakes no good hold.
| lie said that he had spoken 20 other
! engineers about this and they said, well.
+ that's the same complaint with all these
| engines"
! Challenged 10 name any one who had
| said that. he named Al King, an engineer.
| Supporting his accusation that engine No.
1893 was unwieldy, Doherty named John
! Harmon. an engineer, whom he succeeded
/ on train No. So, as one who had been sus-
| pended on Monday for going by the
! board" at South Norwalk.
| Coroner Phelan later put 40 TO DOherty
| the question as 10 whether he should
! have reported for work on Thursday.
when he wasn't physically able 10 handle
/ the heavy reversible brake
Il didn't expect TO have any occasion
/ to reverse that lever" Doherty replied.
Bernard Smith. Dohertys fireman in
! the wreck. corroborated him on all vital
| points OF his testimony. as did also
| Thomas H. Dunn, the conductor. and
A VF4cou tho no