The New York herald., 1871-03-03
The NEW HAMBURG DISASTER.
Investigation by the Legislative Committee
Testimony Of the Superintendent OF the
Hudson River Railroad.

Investigation by tho Legislative C0muirtee-
Testimony of the Superintendent Of the
Hudson River Railroad.
ALBANY, March Q, 1871.
at the session OF the JOINT Legislative committee
this afternoon 10 investigate the New Hamburg dis
aster the first witness called was Isaac Toucey.
Superintendent or the Hudson River Railroad Com.
paDy. The witness described the condition OF
affairs when he arrived. He also handed the conf
mittee copy OF the printed instructions to all the
employees on the road He said:-I find
frequently that the rules are violated:
don't know OF any OF them having been
violated this case; ~ was not in accordance wtn
instructions that the nrakemen should be in a
caboose; he had issued in November last an order
for freight trains to carry bell cords; think the
two brakemen who said they had not time to put on
the brakes did have time; thought II would take
from 1850 TO 800 feet distance, all appliances
In 1orce ana operation, TO stop the rraln ths train
not stopped III thar dstance a freight train II
cosa e be aoupea Sere in IN ro sner % pc 6 es
less distance tnan when they are not In posi-
tion; the number OF brakcmen on this tram
was two in the caboose and one OH the engine; pas
senger cars are supplied win safety chains; freight
not; II tue latter had had these chains that
would not have prevented this accident; If the oil
tram had been running on the road bed the proDa-
bly "a that the broken axle would not have thrown
the train or the track also, II the bridge had had
a solid nooting the axle probably would not have
been thrown on: by flooring our bridges we add to
the dangers OF ITlng them from locomotive ash pafs
from his conversation with the flreman OF the ex-
press train that night he was satisfied that he
thought more OF saving his life than OF putting on
The brakes he also learned that Simmons, the en-
gineer, sounded his whistle three times befere he
put en- his patent brakes, whereas his duty was TO
put on the patent brakes before he sounded
his whistle; did not think the fireman. made
proper effort to put the brakes
these trains, II on time would have passed
edcn other al Milton ferry, i've miles from New Ham,
burg; witness thought. from what he learned that
night, that the tram ought TO have been stopped
with the means AT hand, and notice given; did not
think the oil tram could be stopped before reaching
the bridge, even II the bell cords were on the train
as required. Mr.. Toucey was on the train about
three hours.
william Il. Horton, an engineer on the Boston and
Albany Railroad, testified that he on the Hud-
son River Railroad in 1852; knew nothing about this
accident, but was subpGnaed at Poughkeepsie 10
testify as TO whether the Oil tram could have been
stopped he was OF the opinion that the train could
not have been stopped.
Remer Van Sickland and ]. n. Van Sckland
(brothers), OF New Hamburg. Witnessed the acct
dent and related the circumstances attending IT,.
Boih said that from i've 10 eight minutes elapsed
between the time OF the breaking down oil the oil train
ana the collision.
The investigation was then adjourned TIL Tuesday
next, at four Y. "a.