New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-08
SW|TCHMAN ARRESTED
FOR COASTER ACCIDENT
New Jersey Prosecutor Asks He
Be Held in $1,000 Bail on
ManSIaughter Charge.
CORONER TO HAVE INQUEST
Demand for More Frequent and
Careful Inspection of Amuse-
ment Devices Follows the
Palisade Park Crash.

n rom ] ne lFlbuU' correspondent
HacKensack. X. J., July Michael RI
RADIO, the switchman who controlled the
signals on the aeroplane coaster at Pail
sade Park, was arrested to-day al the in
stance OF Prosecutor Wendell j. Wright.
charged with responsibility for the accl-
dent last night, In which two men were
killed and a score Of persons injured.
"It was Pirsdos duty to watch each
car until It had passed the dip and
reached the other side I'm safety said
Prosecutor Wright. "He admits the block
sigma! was still at danger. and that, hay-
ing lost sight Of the car ahead, concluded
that the signal system was out OF order.
His carelessncss resulted in this awful
accident.
INV inspection revealed the fact that
this popular coaster Is better protected
with safety devices than some Of our best
railroads. When a car is In the block
ahead, as I may express H. the power ~
shut off in the block behind until the
block is clear. This was the situation
that existed when 1e Clair reached the
block at the siXty-foot dip.
Il have instructed that Pirado be held
on a charge Of manslaughter for the
grand jury under $4,000 bail and have
also requested Coroner Robertson Of
Tenaflv. to hold an inquest at the earliest
rcssible moment. To that end the bodies
Of Olsen and II Clair the two men who
we're killed. were brought rom the North
Hudson Hospital to McNallys morgue,
al Fort Lee. this afternoon. 50 that
coroncr's jury might view the remains.
While Pirado said the block signals
often got out OF order. he admitted this
was the first time in his three years en-
ployment that he had ever thrown block
lever over and let a car pass.
Ash TO prove that the aeroplane coaster
itself was not In any way responsible
for last nights accident Nicholas
Schenck. manager Of Palisade Park. had
IL In fun operation in the afternoon and
evening. and many visitors to the park
rode on II.
demand for more frequent and thor
ough inspection Of roller coasters ana
other amusement devices. az a result OF
the accident. is being urged on the
authorities having jurisdiction over such
devices. Although provisions governing
the construction OF such entertainment
features are generally in effect In New
York and vicinity. the necessity for an
increase in the number Of inspectors
who will see that the contrlvances work
we'll in continued operation is declared
imperative.
The bureaus OF building In the various
boroughs have the duty OF seeing that the
safety Of entertainment features Is as
sured. TO the Borough OF Brooklyn bu-
reau falls the care OF the devices at
Coney Island while Fort George. Clason
Point Park and other similar places are
looked after by the bureaus OF Manhat-
tan and The Bronx.
The building regulations in the bor-
oughs OF Manhattan and The Bronx are
in general patterned on those I'm effect
in Brooklyn. Careful inspections are
made when the licenses are renewed,
once a year. bureau officials say. and at
such other times, often infrequent, when
inspectors are available. More inspect
ors would. il Is maintained. enforce the
bureau regulations, which are considered
effective In form but are allowed to be
Intellectual in operation through lack OF
superyIslon