The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-22
The stoninston Railroad Disaster.

The Railroad Commissioners who made an inquiry into
inson railroad on the evening Of the third Instant have
prepared statement in relation thereto, and the follow
Ing are the conclusions to which they have srsivsdts
moved not properly asened that three spikes were
wanting the inside at the end and at least the
seeperone on either side of the rss contrary to the
usual practice OF read masters, and that road not
considered in perfect order where the rail ia not spiked
and ali the eep sound especially where the rail rests
partly a bridge and partly on an enbankment.
That ii possible for the rail at its northery end on
account of the want of proper fasenngs have been
thrown out Of it's place by the action OF train, and
that the last train before the accident being entirely light
would have been likely to produce this result than
That said rail was its proper position its north
ery end about five inches towards the centre OF the track
were made by the forward truck wheel OF the engine to
wit the abrasion the upper outer edge OF the rail was
made by the inside of the truck wheel Of the engine rub
bing against it, and that there was corresponding
mark on the said truck Wheel That the mark on the
lower hnnge OF the rail made by the truck wheel
running along upon IT, and that when the truck wheels
were about two feet from the souherly end the rail
orced towards the centre Of the track when the wheel
Tipped on Upon this superstition all the phenomena
may be accounted for.
But It is said that the abrasion and mark on the rail
might have been made by the force that made the
mark in the centre Of the track This We think could
OF have been because the mark through its whole dis
ance Of two rods continuous and the mark
ad the same appearance where the rail lay that it
i'd in other places. SO that it is highly improbable
hat the break or transit bolts would have made the
marks the rail and the marks the track ut the
Same time.
The roadmaster testified that this portion Of his
section eleven miles and half in the poorest re-
pair OF any part OF it, That he had six employed
the section, and sometimes eight. That he might have
employed mere s. advantage. That there sets
OF rails where one two and three sleepers rotten.
And by other roadmasters it was testified that on
new road man TO mile should be employed to keep it
in repair and an old one One roadmaster
other road testified that lie had sixteen ten miles
Of track though there other rails TO Keep in repair
than those the main track but that the track
more than one man 70 mile was employed.
From the nature Of the case, the commissioners
not be certain but they forced to the conclusion that
the accident occasoned by the want of repair of the
road They unwilling Ia presume a nefarious design
the part Of any individual especially motive has
been disclosed aud no testimony has been adduced is
known to exist, TO favor such presumption.
After the accident the ocsrs OF the road land espe
caly Mr. George b. Smith, the conducor exerted them
selves the extent of their power in providing for the
wounded and bestowed every attention that possible
under the circumstances They have also offered every
facility for this investigation.