Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-05-12
Ciiv's Fight for
Abolition is
Stronger
GATES RAISED

Following an accident at the New
Brunswick avenue crossing of the
Lehigh Valley railroad in which he
sustained fractured skull aud NOR"
tai internal injuries, Alexander
Persini, OF so Catherine street, New
York, succumbed at the city hospital
at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. While
the gates of the crossing were raised
and while no tiagman guarded the
safety of pedestrians and traffic the
"hurdy gurdy" machine, pulled by
Persini and a fellow Italian between
the shafts of the organ on their way
up New Brunswick avenue, had near
ly cleared the westbounj track when
light engine, said by eye witnesses
to have had speed of fifteen or six
teen miles per hour, struck the rear
of the piano, dashlng it with the two
Italians into the roadway alongside.
Persini was nearest the "hurdy
gurdy" and received the hardest
blow, being knocked into the air sew
eral feet. On falling he aligIted on
a number of stones. His head, just
above his right eye, struck large
rock, which fractured the skull, and
one of his left ribs was broken and
tammed through his lung. DR.. NJ. s.
Meinzer was called and had him re-
moved to the city hospital, where he
lived for just twenty-seven and one
half hours in q semi-conscious condi-
ton. His body was shipped to New
York last night by Undertaken James
j. Flynn. The other italian was
knocked down, but only stunned.
Coroner James j. FLYNN is con-
ducting a rigid investigation of the
accident to determine the exact par
ties responsible for the fatality, and
will hold an inquest as held after the
Sewaren auto bus catastrophe to
place the blame on the proper party
or parties.
The accident came at time, II
seems, to vindieate the city's request
/ TO the Public Utility Commission for
the elimination of grade crossings in
/ the city, showing the death traps
which the gates system really affords.
An investigation will be made by the
railroad to ascertain those RESPONSE
BILE for the fatality, Flagman William
Venable, of 321 Market street, who
was In the gate tower at the time,
| has been suspended fer the present.
| However, this appears to have been
| the first accident which the veteran
| tlagman has had at his crossing after
being stationed there for thirty years.
| Flagman Venable had lowered the
gates about l o'clock Saturday after
noon for train on the eastbouDd
track which after doing some shift
ing pulled clear of the crossing to
the upper yard of the railroad. The
gates had been closed for more than
five minutes and much traffic had
| collected outside of both gates. When
| the train was clear of the crossing
the fagman raised the gates. but
when they were about ten feet in
mid-air he heard the gong ring for
the light engine on the westbound
track. This was his signal to close
the gates, but in the meantime about
fifteen vehicles. besides number OF
pedestrians. were in the act of cross
ing the tracks. Realizing that he
could not then close the gates and
shut the people and vehicles in the
death trap, he kept the gates hoisted.
On the opening of the gates the
ftwo Italians, in tandem drawing the
hurdy gurdy, had started over the
crossing. In the act of pulling the
machine their heads were bent down.
ward and they did not see the ap-
preaching engine until it was almost
upon them, when they made a siren.
, uous effort to clear the track, the
last one before they reached the New
Brunswick avenue roadway again
: But they were too late and the fast
r approaching engine with it's pilot
caught the rear right wheel of the
= street piano. The part of the engine
! just above the pilot caught the rear
end of the machine and after smash.
} ing it hurled ii into the street on the
} right. The hurdy gurdy carried
both men with 1t, Persini, nearest
. the machine, receiving the greater
blow, being hurled farther away.
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