The New York herald., 1922-01-06

and not upon any defect of equipment.
Reading from the company's rules, he
divided culpability between Anthony G.
-Abraitis. motorman of the following
train. and Peter Brennan and John
Moran, rear guard and conductor re-
spectively Of the stalled train.
Mr.. Keegan said he could think or no
reason why Abraitis vaould not have
seen the four tall lights that were burn
ing brightly on the stalled train ahead.
The motorman had passed the periodical
examination for range and accuracy OF
vision and for color blindness i'll the
spring Of 1920. On a clear night. such
as last Friday was. those lights. he
thought. should have been visible mile.
The witness admitted that since the
company had installed the block signal
system on its express tracks on both
elevated and subway lines its only rear
end collisions have been on local tracks.
While being questioned on the COM
pany's disciplinary methods the witness
said that within four months it had dis
missed two motormen, both OF whom
had been more than sixteen years In the
service and another who had been with
the company forty-one years. All were
discharged for rear-end collisions. The
witness explained that all curves and
switching points already are equipped
with the automatic stop apparatus
Mr. Keegan said: I'm forty years OF
operation. carrying billions OF passeh-
gers. we have had fewer passengers
killed than are killed by automobile ac-
cldents in the streets Of New York every
ten days"
"If YOU should install steel cars on all
the elevated lines" asked the examiner
would 1t be necessary to strengthen the
elevated structure"
"AlI our Sixth avenue line would have
to oe wholly rebuilt if you put any sup,
stantial increase of weight on it, ana q. i
of lower Ninth avenue wouio nave "
be completely rebuilt.
Patrick Gallagher, motorman OF the
stalled train. testified he could see no
possifIe excuse why Abraitis, the other
motorman. could not stop his train
Conductor Tells of Wreck.
/ John Moran. conductor of the train
which was run into testified that Peter
Brennan. his rear guard. had told hlfn
after the accident that he was standing
on the -ear platform OF the last OF tne
four cars, swinging one or the req tan
lamps. when he saw the other tram com
ing on "at a pretty fast speed he
said le dropped the lantern and rushed
through toward the front end or the
car.
Moran admitted e,c had not personally
rome back TO the rear car to see that
I Brennan was performing his duty
The commissions inquiry will be con-
tinued This morning. when one OF the
witnesses will be George II. Pegram. the
interborough's chief engineer. Officers
Of the 3. r. T. are expected to Follow
Joseph A.. Mccartney. chief OF the
rolling stock and equipment division OF
| the Ninth avenue "L" line. and James
K. Hearn. one of his subord mates. ex-
amined yesterday by Benedict ID. Dineen.
| Assistant District Attorney, stated that
the eight cars on the two trains had
been inspected week before the col
ljsiou. and were then found to be IN
good condition. They told Mr.. Dineen
that cars are taken to the repair shops
every seven or eight days. upon compile
ton of 900 miles of operation. and are
inspected. Every nineteen months. they
said. cars are completely overhauled
Both men said the first and second
| cars of the coliding train were so padiy
damaged that Il was Impossible 20 ten
if the air brakes had been out OF order
| prior to the crash. II was the claim OF
Anthony G.. Abraitis. motornan. that
they had not responded when put on
Daniel X. O'Rourkc train dispatcher
said there had been no complaints our
| ing the day of the wreck by operators
of either train prior to the collision.
Other witnesses will be called to-day.