Connecticut western news., 1878-01-31

bed etc. On Tuesday. Jan 15, ran an extra excursion train composed of ten cars; eight passenger and baggage cars, and two lighter cars (freight cabooses) and two en- zines weighing 2s and 30 tons; this is the weight of the engines alone. One of these engines could not have hauled that train to it's destination with ease. l understand that it has been a custom to run two or even more locomotives on one train over thls road, if may judge from the cOnver- sation of employees. have never consult ed the former superintendent of the road in regard to the safety of running two en. zines over the bridges. entered into the employ of the road July PC, as general freight agent, and held that position until December l, when was appointed super intendent. The weight of those engines coaled up and on the road we reckon abou, 35 or 40 tons. made no arrangement with the employees of the road at Hartford on the night oi the accident. by which I might telegraph to them in the case of accident Our offices were closed. first telegraphed to Samuel Greer, our roadmaster at West Winsted for surgeons etc. I next tele. graphed to J. T. McManus, assistant su- perintendent of the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill railroad at Hartford. have examined the bridge pretty thoroughly, and am inclined to think that the engine left the rails. l have several reasons for com ;pr to fhis cOnclneiou Kno-;pr sopoa
 thing, as do of the strength of bridges of this character. and that one of like strength never failed before under similar weight, I am persuaded that inc Salisbury" the forward engine. left the track. fudge 60 by the marks in the timhers. The engineis beyond the bridge and lies in such position as to seem to establish my theory. All the timbers are broken on the front side, in such way as they could not have been ii the engine had not left the track. The ash pan was left on the abutment as it went over. am quite decided that there is am. pie proof that such was the nature of the accident was on the train at the time of the accident. should think the train was running at speed of about SIX or eight miles an hour. do not think that the marks can be explained upon any other theory. was in the baggage car at tEt
 time of the accident. l heard the crash I and felt that the car was going down an in- cline. was thrown down by the shock l have the general supervision of the tridg
 es. do not issue any special orders in re.
 gard to them. suppose the men to be
 what they claim to be, and will attend tC
 their duties. Iron is used in connection
 with wood in the trusses for the purpose ot
 strengthening them. It is necessary tha,
 there should be proper adjustment oi
 these iron bolts. This is done by means oi
 a wrench, which is kept in Hartford. CTt
 the Jurorsl think that MT. Kean made ,
 thorough inspection of this bridge in Sep
 tember. An engine and tender cover
 aboAt forty five feet; freight car abou
 thirty. Our rule for loading freight Car
 is ten tons each, Two heavily loaded
 freight cars might weigh more than a loco
 motive, and would cover more track, 0
 course. was present the last time tn
 railroad commissioners examined tn
 bridge. can't say how long time the.
 spent in the examination. think it wa
 over half an hour, but not an hour. The examined the rods and all the points of th bridge. They made tests as to the tensio of the rods and the soundness of the tim , bprs. They made no recommendations a . to the bridge, as It was considered to be i good condition. When the train went dow l was thrown backward from my seat i
 the direction the train was going, in mar , ner that seemed to indicate an obstluctio :, in front, think the forward end of th Car was the lowest as we went down.
 ) AUGUST SMITH
 called: Am fireman; Was employed o the Salisbury" Have been frema
 oyer six years. upon the Connecticut West
 ern road. Was acting as such on the nigl
 of the accident. I should judge that th
 train was moving at speed ( seven or eight miles an hour, The first
 heard was the snapping of the bridge, an
 then felt sinking. l couldn't sa
 whether we were pulled back ty the re'
 engine or not. had DO chance to lool
 for the first thing knew was on th
 ground. felt no humping of the wheels r Everything went smoothly SO far as cou 6 tell. If the forward truck had left u
 track think we should have felt the buml
 ing. It seemed to me that the forwal tuck ran along smoothly. l should haN = known it if 1t had left the track. In eros e ing that bridge have never heard any : thing to denote weakness in the bridge.
 O have been over it with two engines and
 O heavy train. but whether the speed was or [. mile ar hour or ten, never noticed any e thing amiss with the bridge.. If the engir V had left the track and the air brakes instAn V ly applied. the train could baN ,, been stopped. If the engine had left u i. track the wheels would have heep likely e cut through the ties. never knew an e1 D zine to leave the track unless the raj l. spread or broke. saw no evidence tn g such was the case at this time. a ,t firmly of the opinion that the engine d ot not leave the track. We first shut o .- steam about sixty or seventy rods this sit ,t of the bridge, and were not using any stea a. at the time of the accident. Have nev e. had any fears about running two engiu D. over that bridge. Generally carry abo ,e three to three and a half tons At coal. Ido not know how much the wat j. would weigh. knew nothing about Il at bridge,.and had never heard anything ga
 about ii by MT, Hatch or any other perso , 1 am of the opinion that the second epgil