The evening world. Newspaper, January 28, 1903, Page 3

ENGINE ATRED NO TRUSTED EMPLOTE { Manager Besler, of the Jersey Central, Declares that He Cannot Account for the Failure of Davis to Respond to the Signals of Danger. : ‘ , Human Fallability, He Says, Is the ‘ One Interpretation — Precautions Taken to Prevent the Employment of Engineers Suffering from Color Blindness. ‘W. G. Besler, Vice-President and General Manager of the Jersey Cen- tral Railroad, gave the following statement concerning the wreck to an vening World reporter to-day: “There is but one expression that can be used in trying to give any explanation of the wreck last night—that is, human fal!ibility, With the , latest signals, both pneumatic and electric, that inventors have devised, and with a straight stretch of tracks for eight miles, consistent with human probability that such an accident could happen on ,@ clear night. “We are entirely at a loss to understand how an engineer under sucht ircumstances could drive his engine into a train ahead. There must have been a lesion of the brain or a momentary lapse of the faculties. “When I saw Davis in the hospital last night he told me: “Mr. Besler, E simply saw nothing ahead. That is all that I remember.’ “Now, Davis has been an engineer for the past six years. He is mar- tied and lives in Philadelphia. His record shows him to be a straight and honest man, always sober and careful to a fault in handling the throttle.” STALLED TRAIN NOT TO BLAME. “With all proper signals displayed, every protection against disaster, her engineer comes plunging along and drives his engine into the rear of an- other train that had been stopped because of a minor accident, but which was well within its rights, and which had taken every precaution to pro- tect its passengers and itself. “What the man had on his mind we don’t know. What he was doing, what he was thinking of to plunge headlong into such a wreck, no one can tell. “The first thing I asked when I got to the wreck was, ‘What does Davis gay for himself; how does he explain it?’ “The crews told me that he didn’t see the flagman. I wanted more than that from him and all I could get was, ‘I didn’t see. I didn’t see.’ “He was mortally wounded at the time and in great pain. With his mind in the condition that it must have been when he made that statement, ne cannot place much dependence upon it. “Davis was not overworked, for the day’s labor of an engincer between eems utterly in- have what is called a poo!. One-third of the force is composed of Central men and the other two-thirds of Philadelphia and Reading employees, Davis belonged to the latter and was a regular engineer,” NO REASON TO BE WORN OUT. “Is it not possible that he had filled in as the substitute of other en- @ineers and in consequence was worn out and in no condition to take the road when he did last night?” “He was a regular engineer, but he could have done that. Assuming that he did, however, and that he was making his second run he would have only been working ten hours, and that would be nothing for a man who had started out fresh in the morning.” “Could he have been color blind unknown to the officials of the com- pany?” “I hardly think it. possible. The Philadelphia and Reading Company ‘$e most particular with respect to color blindness or any affection of the ‘eyes. It examines its men every two years and so, in view of that, we must presume that Davis came under the rule, as he had been there for six \yeare.” COULD HE BE COLOR BLIND? “Could not color blindness occur suddenly—within a very short period wet time?” “1 am not an expert, but I'recall experiments made by the Philadelphia ‘and Reading showing that men after @ run of 260 miles on one of the fast mail trains were not as acute in sight as they were before beginning the run, In Davis's case, though, this could not apply, for he was just starting out with his eyes supposedly fresh, “He ran a mile and a half beyond the cautionary signal, That is a ‘green light and had he been attending to his business he would have known ‘that the next block would display a danger or obstruction signal of red, His ‘duty was when he saw tho cautionary signal to have slowed down and be prepared to stop at the next block, but he kept on going, running three- of a mile beyond that and into the next block, past the danger signal half@ mile more, until he brought up against the local, M’ CARTHY COULD NOT SEE DAVIS. “The fireman, McCarthy, could not know what Davis was doing. engine they had was what is known as a wide fire-box, with one cab. The ngineer occupies the cab and the fireman is back in the pit, and from his {njuries must have been at work at his fires, for he 1s badly scalded.” “What about the statement that the Jersey Central cars are mere egg- phells—old wooden things that will collapse at a shock that would not "feaze an ordinary modern coach?” “I will answer that by referring you to the patrons of the road. Ask them what kind of cars we provide. The cars in the train that was smashed jwere good ones and had given satisfactory service, Their frames were not ‘of steel, nor are new ones for which we have just contracted to have them, Bteel, to the dest of my knowledge, is only being used in the big seventy- foot Pullmans and in heavy coaches of that type.” DOESN'T LIONIZE THE ENGINEER, “Davis should be given credit for one thing; he stayed at his post to the Jast,” interrupted Chief Counsel De Forest, Mr, Bealer. “I don’t understand that he did,” said the General Manager, | IT can understand he sustained his injuries by jumping. As to the brakes ‘being applied, passengers say that they heard them p ut on just a moment before the collision, or as it was occurring, but the breaking of the alr and gteam pipes would have caused that, too, {The property loss is not worth talking about. It will not amount to ‘more than $12,000.” “A wonderful feature of the wreck is the small injury sustained by it lost only its cab and was pulled back on its wheels, as he east bound train did not kill any one, nor do any damage, That dicot sted emaetynacte henadiin That this Pill ny Jersey City and Philadelphia is only five hours, The train crews on the run; ‘The | who had been listening to) “From all) BURNING WRECK OF PHILADELPHIA FLYER AND BOUND BROOK TRAIN, IN WHICH isis 8 WERE caine AND peeled HURT AT Asie tal Le NJ. <x OF S094 $9009 $-40008O000< Possible Mechanical Warn- ings Were Given to Engineer of the Philadelphia a ANY ONE WAS SUFFICIENT Despite These and the Flagman, wae Stood Directly in the Way Wav- if ing His Red Lamp, Engineer i: 3 Crashed Into Doomed Train. Unofficial investigation to-day places the sole blame for the catastrophe upon James H. Davis, engineer of the New Jersey Central express which plunged into and ploughed its way through local. Whether Davis was drunk or blind or in the possession of his Isual powers, may never be known. He is unconscious in the hospital with « fractured pelvis, lacerated and burned, and there is no hope for his life Hila fireman, Samuel MeCarthy, also escaped Immediate death, but 4s in the samp ; |hospital suffering from frightful bi He was unable at noon to tell the of the wreck and is everybody else who knows «he fi about Tnsisege Davis's condition when he stood at throttle, Four Warning Signals, These facts, however, are Indispitable: be: a 2 4 is true is shown by the fact that it has but a few scratches on the sides of its cars."’ DOUBTS GRAND fURY REPORT. “What about the charge alleged to have been made a year ago by the Monmouth Grand Jury, with reference to an accident at Belmar, to the effect that the Jer: Central was-not modern, was old-fashioned and should be improved? “That accident occurred on another road,” said Mr. De Forest. “We simply run our trains over it, but nevertheless I do not believe the jury made that report.” “The Jersey Central,” resumed Mr. Besler, “wouldn't think of putting out trains or equipment that was not safe. It would not be good policy and it would no pay. Our equipmen‘s first class inevery respec. Itis true we have cars that were not built this year but we keep our stock up to a good standard and the moment anything gets to a point where its usefulness is ended we retire it immediately. “Only three coaches were damaged in this wreck, and that and the in- jury to the engine’s cab comprise the total damage. As I said, it’s not worth talking about. “In conclusion I wish to say that I'll stack up the employees of this road against any in the world for efficiency, judgment and for a knowledge —and a working one, too—of all that a modern railroad man should have at his fingers’ ends.” RAILROAD OFFICIALS MAKE The officials of the Jersey Central and Philadelphia and Reading ‘Rail- roads, headed by Vice-President and General Manager W. G. Besler, are deep in the investigation started last night shortly after the wreck at West- field to shed as much light as they possibly can on the causes of the dis- aster, if any besides Engineer Davis's carelessness or failure to obey signals were responsible, Every employee who had anything to do with the despatching of the two trains that were in the smash- up, the members of their crews, yard- men and switchmen who could possibly have any knowledge of the cir- cumstances is being examined individually in the Jersey City offices of the company, The statements thus far made agree practivally with what is already known, and should anything develop to change it General Manager Besler promises to give it out at once. “I want the public to know,” he said, “that we want to find out all there is to be found out about the wreck. We are not doing anything secretly, and we court any information from outsiders that may help us in our work, “Davis has been quoted as saying that ‘he did see the lights and ran past them, thinking everything was all right, He didn't make such a state- ment to any of the railroad’s representatives, He told a man whom I sent to him that he didn't see any signal at all; that he didn't remember seeing any lights, “There is a possibility that the blow-off from the cylinders may have obscured the lights as he ran past. That doesn't seem satisfactory though, for Davis was an old engineer. He knew where the signals were, and it doesn’t seem likely that he would take the chance of running by them with- out looking carefully for their lights—it would be suicide.” FOUR MORE VICTIMS IN HOSPITAL CANNOT LIVE. Distrissing scenes multiplied by the hour at the Mublenberg Hospital in Plainfield since the news of the wreck was spread about the neighbor- ing hamlets, and hardly a moment passed that some grief-crazed wife or parent didn’t attempt to force a way into the hospital to inquire for missing ones, The staff of doctors and nurses worked unceasingly from the time the } first mangled victim of the wreck was brought in until late to-day. Of the thirteen injured ones brought into the hospital three or four are thought to be beyond human aid, Probably the most terribly injured of them all is John Davis, the engineer of the Philadelphia express, Davis | was pinned in his cab under a mass of broken and twisted iron, which frac- tured the bones of the pelvis and tore great gaping wounds in the flesh about the thigh, THE ENGINEER'S DREAD PENALTY, Barly to-day the doctors performed an operation on the man, removing some of the crushed and broken bones, thereby relieving him somewhat of the terrible agony he was suffering, though he is not expected to live many hours, The doctors gay that his death will be accompanied with execruciat- ing suffering, R. M. Ising, forty years old, of Westfield, who was taken to the Plain- \fleld Hospital last night suffering from terrible burns about the head and fractured ribs, has been pronounced fatally injured by the physicians, | Frederick Kaueu, whose entire body is covered with burns and bruises, has also been given up as beyond aid, Evervil Rughton, of Metuchen, whose right leg was 60 crushed that it had to be amputated and who was cut and burned about the head and shoulders, has, the doctors say, a bare chance of recovery, Mrs, Blatcn, thirty-four years old, of Westfleld, whose arms and right leg wore broken and crushed, is not expected to live, _. FULL INQUIRY INTO WRECK, PATHETIC INCIDENTS MARKED THE TRAGEDY. “IT was in a railroad wreck once before and ‘have seen several,” sald a man who escaped without injury, “but never a worse one than this. “Il helped from the burning cars many wh were terribly hurt. All were brave and urged me to aid others who were more seriously hurt. “One woman whom I helped out pleaded with me to save her husband, who had been sitting with her. He had been instantly killed probably, just then the body of a dead mun was taken out from where I had saved I was thankful that she did not see it.” for the woman, Died as He Begged for One Last Look at His Wife, Who Was Being Rescued. The wreck burned for a quarter of an hour before the first firemen came. Men and women who were struggling, unhurt, but pinned down on the top of the wreckage, screamed in vain for help to those who were lifting | out the first they could reach and who had the heartrending choice of tak- ing those near at hand and leaving those who would require more time tq, the flames, One man, about whom the fire was already playing, screamed shrilly to two men who were carrying off a woman who was unconscious; “That's my wife, Let me look at her, Let me speak to her." But before their attention could be called to him by those who heard the cry they had carried the woman through the fence and the wreck had} lurched inward, carrying the husband with it, Two Sufferers He Tried to Assist Expired as Mr. Wall’s Succor Came.} Mr. Wall, of Westfield, stumbled across the body of a man, koth of whose legs were cut off. The man clutched at Mr, Wall’s leg and begged him to kill him. Mr. Wall tried to lift him, and as he did so the man died. | A momen: later he heard screaming trom the gully beside the track: “For God's sake. somebody give me a drink.” Mr. Wali found a man lying there and put a flask at his lips, but before) the first drop could pass the sufferer’s lips he fell back dead, “Don’t Mind Me,’’ Said a Dying Hero; “See What You Can Do for the Others.’’ ‘Don't mind me, others.” While heavy beams were tearing him and flames raging all about him, a man whose identity probably will never be known heroically thought or others whose lives might be saved. The rescuers could not help him, so they turned to others, The man was taken out half an hour later, burned to a Heclan, EIGHT DEAD IN ANOTHER WRECK. Two Southern Pacific Passen- ger Trains Come Together Near Tucson. I'm done for, See what you can do for some of the SEVEN KILLED IK AN ILLINGIS WRECK Chicago & Northwestern . Fast Express Dashes Full Speed Into a Stock Train. CHICAGO, Jan. 28.—In a rear-end ston on Railroad | (rainmen The tracks v TUCSON Two So. trains collided at full speed ent of Tucson Ariz, Jan ern Pacitlo passenger head when runn. ne {fteen mile ewr Hleven curs were Chicago & North rae | the est to-day on Valls, to-day tr onl | FUNERAL TRAIN IN C COLLISION iva have been consumed bs Comm Broken “A relief vain with medical aid brought} eventeen Injured to Tucson first known of the col comin CAIRO. 11 of the tourist ¢ from No. intone tm lana Mais LOULs ng fog today there were several ot Within seventy monutes two collisions oceurred the ST Jun Had Met He Willa Chicago train, escape slight injuries 1 wit SAVOY HOTEL | a sult of wl | away, TO CUT CAR FARES Davis ran his train at a frightful rate of speed past four warning signals, on® within a mile of the scene of the wreck, which would have brought any train a halt, This was burning brightly Garwood, and he was permitted to pa s running slowly, but he did not cheok the speed of hls train. ‘The second was opposite the W station. On seeing it he should hay brought his train. to a stop. ns the Dun-— GUESTS ROBBED Several Thousand Dollars Worth of Jewelry Stolen by a Bold Thief Who Changed Clothes with His Victim. nde, third was on ithe doo ellen train Was stalled on a quarter it anile enst of that point, gee disregardec These are all overhead block 2 lights, ‘but they were not the 2 mings In the path of the fying press. ‘Two brakemen had been sent back, one. by the Dunnellen, the pe by the Westfield local, which ding on the fatal block. Just bes the accident the Dunne! Hep ied in ts rear end man, to start. but the brakeman of ‘of the West tleld train wae still on duty with heron lantern two hundred yards bebind the train. and near that distance east place where the collision cosmo. Signalman at His Post. vidence that this man wa when he saw the exp coming, and an eyewitness i man stood between the r: last possible second, practicaliee to check the oncoming express. is a curve, just east of a spot. Davis may ‘have th locais were stalled on track that track No. 2, on which ning, was clear. The By dae wet and dismal. All of the 1! ever, were vistole and he hi to disregara them, FAMOUS vow ; BELLBOY PUT UNDER ARREST Although It ts denied at Headquarters, it fs a fact that the star men of the Central OMice are working their intel- unwonted extent In an en- pture a thief who has cre- in the big Savoy lects to a deavor to ¢ ated consternation Hotel. It is reported that the culmination of a series of annoying thefts occurred last night when a guest was robbed tn his m of all hi ry and valuabl worth several thousand dollars, and also, hes, which the thief wore leaving his own habilaments be- hina, Denials are made at the hotel that here has been any trouble. But a bell- boy was arrested y ay. charged with stealing $40 worth of jewelry from the rooms of a family named Btein and a purse contaiaing $90 from the room of another guest. ‘The boy was six hours and his but nothing incrim- against him. He held in custody for home was searched, inating wax found Augusta Holmes, Who Wrote. “Hero and Leander,” Born ini Ireland Fifty-three Years Ago.) unable to cope with ‘orted to headquarters n ag Justice Dugro, directed his per- , ina 5’ the ue novel to the PARIS, Jan, 28.—The death of Auguste! Holmes, the planiste and composer of numerous symphonies, including “Here | ani Leander,” was announced went She was born !n Ireland about the your! 1859. When only thirteen years old Auguste Holmes composed a minuet for the rele | ment Artillerle de la Garde, and the. conductor of the orchestra asked her to direct the rehearsals. The first success~ ful composition of Mile. Holmes was “Hero and Leander,” perfomed in I8Tt, Then came “The Argonauts’ ant! “Poland and Ireland.” All these were | performed at the Pasdeloup concerts. AMERICANS KILLED FIGHTING INDIANS. Eight Are Dead in Battle with Yaquis, Who Attacked a Min- ing Town in Old Mexico, ’ A symphonic ode, inspired by the oele- CAN ANEA, Moext brated triplique of Puris de Chayonnes, aA us na abe ‘ Luaus pro Patria, was perforimedydim ar the mining 1885, and {n 1889 the grandest work of t taken life, a triumphal ode, oe & uders tis tnel and of San Marelal against h i A ere ee rance and the Republic, was produce with wonderful success at the Palais Americans, ¢ Lh ae ne om were ki de I'Industrie. ayeey ie AE aH Mile, Holmes was an indefatigable of tits place Seg PARTE merly | Worker, and for that reason she lived | ier apeainr far from the centre of Paris, In Rue and G roll Jullette Lamber, near the residence of ly ts stated there were a number of| Mine. Adam, Her home was filled with. ve Yaquis, curious bibelots and objets d'art, brought from all parts of the world, There are many portraits of the com | poser in the salons, among then one by Jacquet and another by Mile. Huet America LIKE RIVER OF OIL. | orase Petroleum on East Rives Suggests Broken Pipe-Li 7 Captains of small craft in the hid: River were greatly astonished to-day see large quantities of crude om ¢9 ing the river from Newtown Creek” Hellgate, It 1s beloved that the essaped from one of the big tru pipes of the Standard Qi which may have burst under the These pibes start from the eentn ALBANY " perels New| jtlon in Pittsbu and run in ride down to business and| 4. coast, Aeronaiaan ‘at night by paying only ene | Setecctront bf Lope Amal offered (o-day by Assem- | polnt across Newton reek (0 trick becomes a law HALF IN NEW YORK. i eesaalisaal Fitzpatrick Would Have Five-Cent Round-Trip| Tickets for Certain Hours. « World) Ye The and ferry lines to give @ return ticket to all persons paying & fare between 5,9) | Xe rauoh Of § A donse fog prevented Willard fry nm seeing the St Wouls train in time to stop. Passengers in whe regular couches were nol hurk o shayton Divielon of the pary's nes. Beven men Injured in the two wrecks and a number of yihers reeled bruises and soratches, and 7A. M, the return ticket good be- | the. emp! iwoon 5 and 6 P, M., @ penalty of $100 | heayy B pelng provided for each failure to com- | Th ply with Gag dam,