South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-01
Engineer Denies
Blame for Death
Of 43 Passengers
Canadian Flier ThrottIeman
Makes Statement Follow
ing Accusation
L. ]. Parkinson
STAFF Correspondent.


PORTER, Ind, Feb. 2S.-"I had
the right Of way and I am not re-
spOnsible for the tragic deahs of
3 passengers on my traIn," William
Z. Long, engineer of the Michigan
Central train which was struck by a
New York Central train here early
Sunday evening, declared Monday
when told by newspapermen al
Michigan City that the blame Of the
tragedy had been placed on him by
Carl J. Cook, towerman at the cross
ing. Long had been privately cues
toned throughout the morning by
officials Of the New York Central
company.
After had struck the buzzer
there was no block placed against
me and I thought the road was
clear. I cannot understand why the
blame Of the wreck has been placed
upon me-" he said.
Guards Starsment.
Further attempts to gain state
mentS from the engineer were fruit
less. His words were guarded and
it was evident that he had been
warned by officials not to comment
on the case. His full statement VII
be given when the Official investiga-
ton Of the wreck is made by rail
road and civil authorities. he said.
Although this investigation was
originally planned TO be held in
Michigan City Monday afternoon il
is understood that is was postponed
until Wednesday morning. officials
of the companies would not make
public the time Of the hearing
Long, whose home is in Jackson,
Mich, has been I'm the employ IF
the Michigan Central company for
several years, and his record, officials
say, has been faultess. George
Block, Of Michigan City, fireman Oh
the i'll fated train. would not talk
when questioned soon after the coll
lision and he could not be located
during the day Monday.
At noon Monday, when a bodies
had been removed from the wreck
age, officials predicted that the death
toll had reached its highest figure
and work was then directed in the
clearing Of the tracks
Many Unidentified.
This little hamlet today was the
! scene Of pathos and excitement
Relatives and friends who had beeh
! informed that their loved ones were
on the i'll fated trains, rushed from
place to place as the victims We're
being taken from the debris ia an
effort to identify loved ones. The
mangled condition of many of the
victims made recognition impossib bic
and II IS probable that many graves
VIII be over-shadowed by markers.
bearing not the names bestowed
upon them by their parents.
Anxious parents who had hurried
from Kalamazoo 10 the scene believ-
ing that their nine-year-old daugh-
ter was included in the list of the
wreck victims, were told that the
girl had been sent on the hospital
train TO Michigan City. 1t was inn
possible TO tell them whether she
had been injured The parents
rushed TO that city. made hur.
ried search through s. Anthony's
hospital and then found their
daughter calmly waiting at tn,
Michigan Central depot She ha,
escaped uninjured. although she had
been sitting in the wooden combi.
nation car when the giant locomo-
tive furrowed il way through. He.
! escape was regarded = miraculous
Father on Death Bed.
/ Two young sons of Mrs. Rose
/ Kramer, Of Michigan city who's.
/ body was among the first 10 be iden-
/ (CONTINUED on PACE TEN