New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-18

Don't ask me to answer any ques-
ton like that" said the Commits sioner
81 don't think il had anything to do
with the burning out at Fifty-third
Street"
Commissioner Williams thought the
former employees telling the stories
ought 70 be put on the stand to testify
and that counsel for the HolbrooE COM
pany ought TO be allowed to cross
examine them.
"If this story is true, wouldn't some
body be table, asked Senator Thomp-
son.
Certainly the contractors doing
the work would be liable was the re-
ply. IL don't want 10 say that any
body Is trying 70 throw the blame OF
onto anybody else, but certainly u IL
a suspicious circumstance. May | ask
IL q Mr.. Fitzpatrick was instrumental
in giving you any part Of this story
Mr.. HAYWARD said he never heard
Of the man, and the Commissioner
later refused to explain his mysterious
reference.
This Is the only statement made a;
the Offices Of the marlborough:
ave have been continuing from day
10 day our Investigations into the
cause of the short circuiting OF our
cables in the subway on January g.
1915, resulting in the smoke trouble at
Fifty-thiri Street. From time 10 time
we have communicated our findings OF
fact 20 the District Attorneys office,
which has also been conducting an in
dependent Investigation. Our investl-
cation was with the knowledge Of the
engineering forces Of the Public Ser
- ~ he
near Times Square.
we are still conducting our inyes-
LEGATIONS. and when completed We shall
make them public"
The story az sprung BY Mr.. Hay
ward, he explained at the end Of the
day, came from statements made by
Lex Digge. Of 46s West l50th Street,
and William Johnson, of 4l4 West
Fifty-second Street, to Mr.. Breeken-
ridge.
Digga said he vas foreman for Hol-
brook. Cabot e. Rollins. They were
at work on new conduit manhole un.-
der the surface between Sixth and
Seventh avenues in Forty-second
Street.
They had been told 20 expose the
front OF an l-beam 80 some measure
ments could be obtained. They we're
hammering through concrete with q
steel drill, called bull-point. One
man was holding and two were ham
mering. Diggs was away for a few
moments and when he got back found
the men had stopped work.
Drill Hit Electric Wire.
They told ne they struck into
something. and it burned like electric
wire" Diggs declared, land the man
holding the drill said he got slight
shock"
Diggs told them 10 let il alone and
went away. lie meant TO tell it 70 the
but forgot il.
"What was the next you heard Of
it," DiRgs was asked By Mr.. Breckcn-
ridge. -.
"Two weeks ago. They asked me il
7 had seen any FIRE or smoke. They
sent for me, the superintendent did.
! told him ! only knew what the men
told me. He told me there would
probably be q lawsuit about IL"
Diggs said ne saw the Public Service
engineers on the lob every day, but he
never said anything 10 them about the
He was laid of week
or so ago.
In his statement william Johnson,
of 4l4 West Fifty-second Street. when
asked if he was there when the drill
burned" said;
81 was driving the steel. was told
to 90 about ffteen inches. could
feel had hit something soft. ! hit it
again and something huttered. / got
UT on q high bank. 1t began 10 smoke
and saw small blue blaze"
johnson declared he had lost his
lob a short time ago, for what reason
he did not know.
Last night, at the Hotel Biltmore,