New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-24
THE BRIDGE DISASTER.
INVESTIGATING THE RICHMOND SWITCH
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
TESTIMONY OF TWO coXpucroRs- nPoRrANr STATE.

BEIDGE-BUILDER, AND TIE OWNER OF THE MILL
THE DAM PROBABLY TAMPERED WITH.
Providence, April 23.-The official investigation
into the disaster ut Richmond Switch, before Henry
Staples RAILROAD Commissioner for this State, began
to day.
Orrin s. Gardiner testified Have been conductor on
the New York Boston and Providence road for the past
IS years. generally boat train the train
Saturday last had engine, tender. three fats of
crates one second class, three first class, and
smoking car had accident that morning Richmond
Switch; so far as 1 know seven bodies have been
recovered think twelve fifteen persons injured
three fats secondciass and two trstclass cars
destroyed at the time Of the accident about
four feet from the front door OF the car
running at tho usual rate of speed my first movement
was to show red signal to the train; then went
forward, aud found "mixcd-up mess" the morning
was misty and dark; 1t must have been abont $40
o'clock three cars were tho track, and ono end
OF seemed 10 be the bank did not a ears;
should Judge they were bottom up under the water;
don't know that any OF the train until they
with the injured men four OF unnjured;
tho fire spread very rapidly ono was telcscoped;
Judge that the fire caught in second class how
cannot say, but o deck hand showed inc his shoe and
said IL burned from the fire in the stove got ak from
the well-room at the station also coahhod TO bail
water; used the the side OF to cut ont;
did not succeed because the flames drove me away Mr..
Brown, the through baggage-master, at work
cung passengers, and being burned; he got
out several; have been this bridge in daylight
within short time; all the employees and myself worked
hard to get other passengers out.
Walter 8. Monroe, brakeman and lookout for baggage
the steamboat train In the rear smOkngcar at
the time OF the accident Mr. Gardiner thrown in
the air in the he shouted, where is the red hghP
/ told hun, and he asked where is the white ~;
Mr.. Gardiner handed me red light and Mr.. Durham
ii.,,.. T off hao nd Iod fha
mail train and the wrecking train back to Rich
mond Switch went TO house near by TO get the
wounded something to eat got tea bread and cake and
carried to Of the wounded went TO the wreckng
train and pillows for the hurt people and
carried them to them: Mr.. Gardiner doing all lie
could he seemed to be everywhere, doing all that was
possible.
Frederick Beales brakeman, gave similar evidence.
Thomas sprague conductor OF the night mail train
testified: Was my train on Saturday last stopped
some 80 rods from the wrecked train by signal light
saw Mr. Gardiner, who wished me TO run back to Sto
nington and get Mr. Matthews the superintendent, doc
tor and such help I could; went back and first
went to Mr. Matthew's house; Mr. Matthews said, get
Drs Stanton and Hyde" he told me to tell Mr. Prouty
agent, get all the help he could when lett my
engine ordered the engineer to run to westerly, and
tell the Waterman there get what doctors he could
Stoningon got help and together took the engine
and passenger car by Mr.. Matthew's orders, and by
up; on this train had mattresses, pillows, timbers
&C.; we must have had 30 or GO employees the wreck
ing train We Immediately to the scene Of the ac-
cident.
John n Shay, engineer Of the night mail train,
roborated the testimony OF Mr.. sprasue.
Virgil O. Hudson, House Surgeon at the Rhode Island
Hospital testified: Ten persons brought 10 the
hospital about O'Clock Saturday afternoon from the
disaster at Richmond switch; four brought on
mattresses and tho other six able 10 walk into TIE
hospital with slight helps judge from their appearance,
that everything had been done for their comfort that
could be two others have been brought In since we
now have seven OF the wounded in the hospital; Eve
have been discharged.
Lewis B. Smith, Joseph olmstead, John Keoush, and
Lyman Copeland passengers testified that the supern-
tendent conductor and employees did all they could for
the passengers.
SUPERINTENDENT MATTHEW'S TESTIMONY
A. s. Matthews superintendent of the stonington
Railroad testified Gave orders to the bridgemen to
examine the bridges and report to me when anything Is
out OF ORDER my instructions are to send men over the
road every day. including Sundays they over 1t with
handcar and il anything is wrong they fix It, II posi-
be or report at once knew Of any instance where
these orders were dsobeyed think there is more water
in the stream than before this bridge was Is feet
between the walls at the water ne and l6 feet span the
stone foundation was good the bridge probably built
In 1884 or 1886, when the road was first built;
ALWAYS considered the mason WORK 10 DC very
ta and that would resist anything within the bounds
OF reason the wood part was composed OF hard pine
stringers two rail mbers sx16 inches, boed together
under each over span Of 6 feet between the walls no
recent repairs have been made TO my knowledge; have
been TO Richmond Switch since the accident the stone
work is washed out being undermined; the mldam has
probably been built Is years there never was any
trouble before at this bridge from the rush OF water;
the only alteration should make in this bridge would
tHa arfan OQtn m his
accident; had not been for this accident would build
similar bridge over like stream; think the woodwork
had been there three four years there not usually
strong current In the stream the country about the
popd is fiat the pond flows back long since the
accident have an iron rod down eight feet and
struck stone Of the fallen abutments.
WIN. F. Dewey, reparer or bridges the stonington
Railroad along the whole line from stonngton to Pow
dence. testified Examined the bridge at Richmond
Switch fortnight ago particularly found the bridge
safe as far as stOne wood, and iron could be In my
opinion gave close, rigid examination; no repairs
were requircd went and under the bridge; there
was from one two feet Of water, and not much OF
current; saw no water in the stream when made
the examination usual the woodwork has been on
the bridge three or four years; rebuilt the bridge
AZ that time from stock and 1t thoroughly re-
built should build another bridge in the same manner
II we're not for this accident the chasm was some GO
feet across, and the whole foundation OF the bridge
fell III. ,.,,, o,.,,,.n,. .-o.v
George n Ennis testiGed Am owner Of the mill and
DAM built them in 1885, 1t is leased property now there
vas no greater quantity OF water the pond this Spring
than formerly; the dam built with stone wall on
the back side; dug hard pan for the foundation the
wall is four feet thick at bottom aperng TO two feet at
ton. primed 1t vth boards the lower side TO stop
breaks backed them with dirt 50 feet at bottom and 20
Mt TOP with driveway; rprapped the wall on the water
side 10 protect the dam when the wind blew; the mill
gate was left vide open and the wheel gagged; was