The New York herald., 1877-01-05
ASHTABULA'S CALAMITY.
Yesterdays Proceedings at the
Inquest.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IGNORED.

CLEVELAND, Ohio. Jan. 4, 1877.
An Ashtabua special the Leader gives the follow
ing account OF the inquest proceedings
The Coroner's jury reassembed at nine O'Clock this
morning E. w. Lockwood was tho frat witness and
testified that he ut the pumping house, near the
depot Just before the accident; James Manning, engt
neer at the pumping house, had just been telling him
what good engine he had; they had facilities for
attaching hose In four five places did not say any
thing about attaching tho village fire hose
at the pumphousc left the pumphouse at hafpast six
O'Clock 20 homo; his way met train No. 5. which
seemed be all right; did hear the crash the
bridge went down, tho night being very stormy, but
saw the the burning wreck Immediately did not
20 back till tho next morning, when he examined the
track and ties. but indications of train hav-
ing jumped the track there was no snow on the bridge
when he passed over it,
Y,REMAN's STORY.
The next witness was George Brake. who resides In
Ashtabula Ho heard tho alarm Of hre the night OF
the accident, and, being foreman OF the Protection
company. hastened TO tho engine house. Witness
said:-The team usually employed could not be OBJ
tained, and some delay experienced in starting,
1t was probably tlree-quarters OF an hour before we
arrived at the railroad crossing; asked why tho
glne already there not work, and was told by
Mr. Strong that there use, water could do
operation, and asked Mr. Culver If should
take the engine down upon the ice he answered that
no had authority IN the matter; examined and
drag ropes anyth else to got the steamer
down WITH and finally abandoned the idea; neither
the orders o Mr. Strong those OF any one else had
any inh1ence upon my action; thought then, now.
that the fire could been checked better by engines
than by tho OF buckcts received an order from
the Chef Engineer to the engine; some twenty
0 thirty buckets bong used In throwing water:
Mayor Hepburn gave him no orders
WATER NEEDED.
E. A. Hitchcock sworn, said-ls foreman OF tho
steamer Neptune; has been connected with the Fire
Department for years; met Mr. Strong before
reaching the o! the accident asked him II the
Fire Department was needed; Mr. Strong replied, II
don't think need any water" then told The driver
he had better not try to take the engine down the
snow was very deep; went Immediately TO the wreck
wondered that they did not want water the
fire; had not seen Chief Knapp Fireman Brake up
10 that time met Mr. Strong and said sis there any
OF water beng hrown?" Mr. Strong replied that
Tor not putting water; his opinion Is that
by using water it m ight have been used
more lives would have been saved; the steamer was
ready for after 1t was the ground, and II
IL had then been used thinks the fire could been
extingushed and more bodies might have been iden-
tihed he would have proceeded TO throw water on the
fire II not Tor the ordcr OF Mr.. strong.
sTRoNG'S
Captain George, OF Ashtabua, Testified to the SUBJ
stance Of the conversation between Mr. Hitchcock and
Mr.. Strong which he overheard
ONE THE WATCHES
Four watches found in the wreck to-day, three
of them SO badly burned that they were moro masses
OF metal One of them marked on the inside
case, "Will H. Bradley anc has been forwarded TO
Mrs. Bradley In San Francisco.