New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-23
THE SOUTH BEND ACCIDENT.
THE DIRECTORS STATEMENT.
MfcH. SouTHrKS AND N0RTHERS IA. X. Co.,
NFw-YoRR July -, 1883.

NEw-YoRK, July -, 1889.
The following is al abstract OF the material parts OF
report recently nsde by the Directors, on the sub
Jet of the late accident near Mishawaka:
The tram consisted of cars Of them lst class
oonta ming III persoDs including S trainsmen, ~ Ia
borers employees Of the Company, and about . free
passengers II left Chicago al p. H., the 21th OF
uue and arrived at the place OF tue accident al aDoa,
r. At this place there had been al unprecedented
fall of Yan for about five six hours, which had car
ned away calvert with al embankmsnt - feet hgh
over il. The whole train fell lnto this ravine. By
this accident 80 persons lost their lives, of which
were en- pOy ees Of the Company; - were taken ont
dead DIED after being removed, and l. a female,
was found floating in the St Joseph River. After
dig. nj search no other ladies had been found. either
10 the gravel or the uyer aud only one Is sad to be
missing, who was or the train.
The Superintendent reports the number OF more or
ess Injured at ~ 10 of them severely and the Others
slightly. Many went on in the next train, and week
since only remained III the yicuity. .,.-
list OF the killed aud injured may be seen at TINS
Office.
In the reyire where the accident happened is what
is called a Dry Run" where there l. little or no
water, excepting after rain. hen the road was
made the rgyine was spanned by eooden tre,,c-
work rs stone could not readily be procured til It
could be transported over the road. 1t was always
intended to replace this aud msny other similar works
with masonry and entertainments before the wood work
sboulo decay.
Al this point the culvert was built in 1884, aud
o superior masonry os selected dimension atone-w0rk
brought from Chicago, about 40 miles. 1t was con-
sruce1 III der the direction and immediate supervision
Of T.. ii. Williams, the Division Superintendent ana
Eugueer On that part of that line, who gave his ln
-truions directly to the msOns to the r0admaster.
The cnvert was at least feet square in tue clear, aud
from to feet high II bad y squsre feet at water
way. This sworn 70 by three witnesses before tue
jury of iiqUest, one OF whom had measured II within
five weeks with view 10 official report To Lls en-
poyers.
Tie verdict Of the jury states the size of this cul
vert a. al feet wide aud ii feet high, ana that II
" ought TO have been as large again Al the size
they give it would have had u feet superficial. area.
All the evidence the Company has on this subject
shows that tr0s more Than as large dg0m a. stated
by the jury Upon Whist evdeGce their statement IS
made cannot say, left soon after the three wiz
bad testified and tie verdict was not rendered
til & week or two thereafter.
Mr.. Williams. the Division Superintendent, and Mr.
PoweTs the Road. Master both Of la ge experience,
after Ill examination Of the country 10 be drained,
were satisfied that the culvert abundautly large
for any contingency Both If them say that, until
this accident they had never beard a suggestion
from the neIghbOrs Others that this culvert was TOO
small. ,,
The storm was al unprecedented one; more Ike
succession Of watcrspOuts CONNIE ncing at or p M,
d continuing til hear II. a 80 the trau from me
East passed over tine ground. Between and o'clock,
tine Section Foreman, Dennis kane, went over TINS
part uf tie rO.d with one Oi hi men, and there was
10 appearance Of danger. Mr. ii. Dens0" wn0
lives ON the rsviue and welt ont and examined az
10 o'clock states the water was passing through
the culver freely, and did not h more than haii us
4" area"
Tie Division Road.Master was on duty upon the
train and with TIE engineer ana fireman, was killed.
The tam had been running slowly, aud had made
freqnent stops To examine clyeIts aud bridges The
last stop was al bridge about mile from the ra-
vine, and the speed attained in passing over that one
mile coul1 not have been tlan at the rate OF ID
to - miles per hour.
The wafer subsided SO suddenly that in T. or - hours
after Il { accident the could easily BE- stepped
over: and within one week, one who saw tssys he
should tot suppose there more than enough TO MI
a .-inch tube.
BY order Of the Board Of Directors,
GEO BLISS, President.