New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-25
THE TIRIFEVILLE SLAUGHTER.
ACTION OF THE CoR0NoRs JURY.

ACTION OF THE CORONORS JURY.
A REPORT OF EIGHT MEMBERSHIP IRON AND
TIMBgRs OF HE BRIDGE WEAKENED Ky TIME
AND DECAY-RESPoNsIBILITY OF RAILROAD
DIRECTORS.
HARTFORD, Conn, Feb. 24.-The Jury of
inquest on the rare disaster of January 10 reported
Yesterday. Four make 10 report, owing to disagree
ment, but eight present the foOwing
Frst-we of the opinion that no blame or eensure
can justly charged upon the conductor OF the faxed
train. or any OF those associated Win nun ana aiding
hun IN running it but on the contrary, we nave De'0re
s abundant evidence OF the constant careful
ness and wachfu sOlcitude OF Conductor Gilmore. SUI
pcrntondcnt Jones, and their subordinates on that
dreadful! night. -, -. ,,. =.
believe that the bridge had been tempered with for the
purpose OF wrecAng the train. or for any other pur
Third-We have not sufficient evidence to lead us to
believe that there arrangement either of engines
cars, but on the contrary al were MOVING along
smoothly when sudden crash of the bridge was heard
ana fet, with Il simultaneous sense OF sinking. go
FOuHWe are OF the opinion that placing an addl-
ional engine the track in advance of the tain or
the uniting and running Of two engines together when
deemed necessary Is not at AL cesuIaole pu lhlI III
the language witness of large experience and intel
igence any bridge that would not carry two locomo-
Ih-We are OF the opinion that II ht materials Of the
bridge at the time OF It's construction were OF suitable
uutIty quantity and proportion to fulfil all OF It's re-
qrncnts, they had ~ the time OF the disaster become
drtcliOraed that the suspension rods, from being
0versraned from some other cause, had lost their
tensile and sustaining power; that the timber OF the
chords. from many years exposure 10 the action OF
decay TO such an extent as To render the
bridge unsafe and unit Tor tue purpose for which II WAS
constructed and that the disaster occsiOned 10y the
heavy train passing over bridge thus rendered danger
ously weak and OecctlYe.
SrWe, therefore, Mud that the responsibility OF this
sad disaster largely rests upon the directors OF the Con
Western Railway Company, and that they are
deserving OF censure for allowing the use of bridge Tor
railroad purposes after It's materials bad become dciec-
the point of danger, and Tor permitting 50 many
years pass without covering, strengthening ana pro-
tccng the ia such manner as not to Jeopardize
human lie.
In conclusion we present and declare that in the
sTuctOu and infringement OI railways III 10 Time 10 tho
departure That IN their CONSTRUCTION the eternal
principles of natuI, should not be violated, and
That their management all, nom the highest officer
to the lowest, should at all tunes be held 10 IA
strict accountability Upon inc directors especially
rests weight OF responsibility which they cannot snake
of They have dulles which they shirk.
These duties fully discharged by attending only
10 the tinuucal affairs of the company IL should
longer be considered IN Interference their part they
NEEDLE with the GUings Of the superintendent in the
management the road and Oier something more than
suggestions. TO them Is committed the most sacred OF
all trusts the freight Of human ME- For SAFE trans
poruOn they shOdd be held accountable, and tbls dts
ascr snOud remind them that eternal vigilance Is the
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