The New York herald., 1871-02-18
TH. NV HlMaURG DnASiER.


Continuation o. the Coroner's Investigation.
PouGHKEEPsIE, n. Y, Feb. II, 1871.
Nothing new has transprea at the wreck to-day.
The diver did not go down, but waiting until the
laborers hoist out all the debris they can.
The investigation 10 the cause OF the disaster
was resumed before Coroner Andrews al TWO p. NJ.
Theodore Davis Of PougnKeepsie, a civil engineer
the first witness called Under Instructions
from the Coroner he had prepared map and table
OF distances surrounding the scene The fireman OF
the oil train was the next witness. He tes-
tfed that while The forward brakeman was
sboveling Goals for him he was sitting on the fire.
mans box looking ahead; he said his train was
running slow and had reached ponr fifty OF sixty
yards below the bridge, when he Ielt Jerking and
the engineer blew for brakes; he jumped OH, and
ran back towards the trestle work when he saw the
express coming; in two three minutes after she
struck the tre-te WORK; in that time ne had sent
red llght down the track and mad gone up 10 the
obstruction caused by the oil jumping on, and
was on MS way back; he saw the baggage and eX-
press and sleeping car when they went
of; the Buffalo sleeper turned first toward the
river slue and then turning again Ia bled into the
hay Oil The easi side; fhe express car seemed TO
shove over the toy Of The baggage and sleeping cars
The express was gong twenty mics All hour when
struck The oil car heard the engineer blow twice
ioS brakes below the water tank ana once above It,
u was over hall minute or nearly minute after
ne nrst saw the express when he hrsI heard the
whistle Tor brakes; don't tnink the express tram
could have been stopped before reaching the bridge
Il pfakeultH named BarLslt, atiacheu 70 the oil
iraln, testified that he thought he nrst class
hrakemen, having served III that capacity four
years; he the forward braseInaD OF the oil
train, and was stationed on the engine; he admit
Ted nat he shovelllng coal for the fireman when
ihe train passed New Hamburg; he thought his
tram could he stopped sn In eighty rods with
brakes ON ana the engine not reversed; he depre-
Gated The use OF bel cords. and denounced oil tank
cars as unsafe for Drakemen 10 pass over.
Henry Il. Merritt, one of The lrawbridge tie nders
was recalled ana Sald-I stated IN my previous eX-
animation that II wouis take four minutes 10 change
ihe tower hgbi signal; think IL could be changed
IA a minute and a half or TWO minuses, II the way
n AL clear. the engineer ol the oil was about
twenty-five or thirty feet below the eighty rod sign
buGrd with hs red light: none OF the tlmbers or
sples II that bridge were defective far ne could
see; N hal been on the draw tnat night and seen
the obstruction of the OIL train don't think would
have gone beyond my orders n hac changed the
tower light
James Cunningham drawbrldge signal man and
tank tender, testified that has duly ia The winter
10 lgnt the tower light, Keep the Ice cut from
nnder the bridge ana 10 give the engines water at
Dld Troy; | VISIT the draw every night, lthink
could change the night on The tower In one minute;
The light was lorty-threo and half ieet from the
track; think ! would have gone up and changed
the light instead of running down the track; nave
stopped ali kinds OF trains between the tunne and
the cTawnridge; nave s,gnaled the CINCINNATI eh-
press with six seven sleeping cars, before they
Eot 70 The bridge: never had any difficulty IN STOP
pln2 any klDo OF trains In that distance.
here Int inquest adjourned I'LL TOMORROW UnrD-
mg VI iep 0'clo,k.