, 1877-01-08
Interviews with Civil Engineers
Concerning the Broken
Bridge.
Theory that Thieves Looseneu the Bolts
Of the Fatal Structure.
The Corpses In the Englnc-l1ouso Multi
plying Themselves.
Views Of Correspondents upon the Subject
Of Iron Bridges.

the AshtAhuld horror enbHe no abate!neHt.
Every fact that can throw the slightest ray OF
light upon The ca,1sc Of the d!eastcr is eagerly
caught up aud discussed. Among the current
rumors ias been ono that tho bridge vas origl-
naliy built for single track, and tlatsswhon tho
trnek was doubled long slccpcrs wcrc simply
used, md no provision made for the Increased
strain that would come upon tho structure. A
reporter to-day questioned Mr.. Collins, Chief
Engineer Of tho road, upon this subject, and he,
po nting to the Ahutmcnt, satl: "Sco for your
self whcro tho bridge rested on the piers,-atx-
teen feet widu up there; docsut that answer
your queettonW
Keportcr-l,ut tho bridge WAS built some
years before The double track was laid, was IL
notl
Mr.. ColIins-Qutto true; but II WIS intended
for double truck when the Company was ready
to lay one It was constructed sixteen feet
wide nnl perfectly we'll made, 50 far us know.
Tho old hridgc ran across from tho old piers,
the romans OF which sou can SEQ orc still stand
Ing. ..
The engineer who took down the iron Toledo
bridge soma years since, after It ial been Ii,
constant service for n pc1ol Of fifteen years,
furnishes the following interesting facts III rc-
gard to It:
"Whcn that bridge was taken down there
was aotna belief that Its parts had become crys-
tallIzcj, and, therefore, usclcss. Tor the pur-
poso Of testing this matter, the various rods and
bolts wero sent to the shops of AicSaiTy, Clal!In
Il Co., OF Cleveland, and subjected to rigid
sclunti0o test. Dy this means 1t was asccrtaiuvl
TINT tho iron was ~ good a. now, being able 10
!nss hssr pressure Of $1,000 pounds to tic square
Reportcr-But there ID such thing rs crys-
talizatiou In rar-Wheels anl a1les, Is tiers not1
Engincer-Ccrta'niy. The enF-whcel or axle
time affect the tcnacIty Of the ,irou. But tho
work which bridgo performs Ia very different
from that required Of car-wtlcct. and. Judging
from the experiments upon tl.c Iron Vi tho 10
that kind of endurance would be indefinite.
Kcportcr-You don't think the bridge lying
all twisted and broken nt the bottom of tho
gorge thcrc Was worn out, thcna
Engtacer--I have no Idea that such was the
case.
Keporter-DM you sec the. article In tho
Cleveland L<atttr in regard to tho falling OF tho
brf.Igo being tho work Of thfevesf
tc.cst. such may l'avc been the easr. The In
ycstigntlon of tho broken brfdge as II Is taken
out piece BY piece Will certainly demonstrate
Tint point. II thu threads Of the bolts OF the
bridge have gradually worn tut md the nuts
have dropped oil, t!l(a cam be sccu II any hnYc
been removed, nothing will DO easier than TO
discover that fact.
Tho new bridge now spnns tho cha.m above
the twisted anu i,rokcn ruin OF tho old, and tho
cricf builder hopes n have tho track laid across
II for tue running Of trains by tho middle OF tho
week. ~ the structure is ontv for temporary
purposes, soma may hare formed the conception
that It will not be .afc. In reply to th!s It Is
stated tt,ut the bridge Ia Us good wooden Howe
truss as Is Hadc.
The Coroncr's Jury took no testlmony on Sat-
urslay. hut will resume the examination Of w.t.
ncssea Tomorrow.
Tie contents Of tho coilIna were carefully
examined on Saturday by TWO pbysleians. aud II
waa decided TINT, IN several casca, portions OF
different bodies Ind been placed iii tho sn'nc
coffin. ln ono cutlln there were portions Of
three bodies. DY separating these, so!oe sir
more bodies wcFo ulhde out, or twenty-five,
all still waiting Identification. Three bntllca
were all taken to q vault III Woodland Ccmc-
terry, and will still bo retained for tite longer
for Identification. ..
! The bo,iy Ut htlas Lihbio Myers was rccog-
nixcd by her friends on Saturday By . sinsaa re-
aalnfn9 postion Of lace, aud taken to bet former
| home In Dutlalo for burial.
Every. day some Of thc Injured arc being pro-
nounced abtc to be removed, md leave for their
homes.
Tl.rce persons who wero thought to haye
| perlNlIel III thu wreck were yesterday restored
tn llto through thu energy q Mr. Paine, IN tec-
! graphing to ttoir frIetMI5. Their nA1nes are rs
follows: J.. K. Wilson. 1Diclo, o.. anti Nr and
Mrs. j. n. Peck, Peoria, Ill. Evidences of tho
Stealing Of relics, from thu wreck hays ae-
| eu11nlatctl to such III extent Tint the Mayor
| haa been in,luced to issue II proclamation
:g,nman1(n. The stolen articles to bu restored.
Warrants under this proclamation have been
iss,ea for various parties, tue oncnses Of some
| Of whom arc very scTlvus. For instance, q
party IN Denmark, O., was reported us having
In Ills possession very valuable E11A bracelet,
q minute description OF which was glyen When
first obtained /. atl!l ha.t poftions VI burnt l!.
man ilcsh cltng!ng 10 1t, whsri were scrapcsl Of
by tho now tsuasessor, md tho prize taken to n
jewelers. for sun1c needed repairs. This ardent