The New York herald., 1878-01-17

IT is claimed, secure enough for the ordinary bust.
ness OF the road. a theory that one OF the loco
motives LETT the track On the bridge and broke the
timbers, causing the whole span to give way Is not
supported by any reasonable explanation.
OPINIONS OF RAILROAD EXPERTS
Some OF the most experienced railroad men and
the most dsinterested, who looked the ruins over
carefully, agree that the accident was wholly
caused by the tremendous weight OF two locomo-
uves passing over at the same tilne and that
with but one engine the train would have gone
over In safety. The locomotives were OF the first
class. though one heavier by several tons than
the other. one weighing as reported by the road
ofiicers, twenty-eight tons and the other thirty
tons. They are OF the CLASS reported to the Rail-
road Commissioners as thirtynve-ton engines; that
i1 including equipments OF coal and water. Both
certainly weigh sixty tons. and possibly more.
ArPREHESsIvE or DANGER
The man who stood at the depot at Tari.ville as
the train lett there noticed It's make up and stated
to-day that he waited In suspense to see whether
It would pass over the bridge safely, and while he
was waiting heard the crash ana was not disap
pointed that the accident occurred.
DEFECTIVE SUPPORTING RODS
The belief OF those best qualified 10 Judge from an
examination OF tie wreck is that the supporting
iron rods broke FIRST. which caused the timeers to
course. dle to the extra strain which should never
have been put upon them. Had one locomotive
been in the OF the train the unusual pressure
would have been avoided
ARRIVAL or THE RELIEy TRAIN.
The scenes on the relief train, which came
round by this city this morning and went around
the wreck via Plainville and New Hartford, were
heartrending. In every car were men and women
with heads bandagcd or arms in sings Some OF
them bad been terribly scalded. In one pa assenger
car the bodies OF three dead women were lald
their faces being covered with handkerchieis In
one baggage car were two more bodies OF women
on the floor. There had been no opportunity to
lay them out, ana they were just al they had been
taken from the wreck.
Many Of the Survivors described how they had
stood In water up 10 their waists helping the
others out At Tarriirville they received change
OF clothes.
FEELING AMONG THE PASSENGERS
There was subducd feeling among the passen-
gers, but no violent demonstrations OF grief or
despair. The calmness exhibited was remarkable.
President Camp passed through the train condol-
ing with the wounded and uttering words OF en-
couragemcnt. They were all anxious to get homo,
and preferred 10 endure the long, roundabout Jour-
ney to remaining in Tarifviie, although they
would have been kindly cared for there.
Interviews with survivors OF the catastrophe
elected but few facts OF Importance with any degree
of clearness, owing to the confusion into
which all were plunged. Mr. Frederick Hotch-
kiss, Of Canton. occupied seat with How
ard F. Warner, who was instantly killed.
Mr. H0tchkiss found himself on the Ice near the
centre abutment OF the bridge suffering from
severe injuries about the head. His seat mate
had dlsappeared; but how, he could not
tell All he knew was that Warner
went down. Rev. Robert Hunt, OF Canaan.
who, with his wife, was In the second
passenger car, said lie could not tell exactly how
the thing happened that the train was running
along smoothly when suddenly he was thrown vio.
| !enty forward; there was great rush and the
lights were extnguished. There are rehearsals Of
personal experience by many passengers to-day, but
all ngree general character--a sudden sinking and
pitching OF the cars a crash and darkness. In the
| cars which were pitched into the river. but not
wholly wrecked, the seats were wrenched from
| their places and tumbled to the forward end with
| the passengers, and 1t Is wonder that 90 many
escaped with only slight injury.
PREPARING FOR OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.
While no inquest was held ON the bodies OF any
OF the ladies' before they were handed over to the
surviving relatives, the authorities adopted q dir
icrcnt course this afternoon In regard to the male
dead and summoned jury, which will meet on
Saturday. 1t il rumored that the jury intend To
so beyond the ordinary functions Of such body
under the Connecticut statutes and extend theIr
Investigation to the question OF fixing the rcsponsi.
bility OF the terrible disaster that has resulted IN
the loss of SO many precious lives
The Railroad Commissioners will commence an
investigation tomorrow. They pronounced the
bridge safe two months ago.
MI. MOoDY's PRAYER
In his sermon tonight Mr. Moody. the evangel
ist, referred in touching terms to the accident and
prayed earnestly Tor those now upon beds Of SUI.
ferlng
SCENE OF THE DISASTER.
THE FARMINaToN RIVER BRIDGE AND ITS CON-
srRuCrIoN-oRAyE Suspicious ENTERTAINED
OF ITS sTRxNGrH--uNABLE TO CARRY TWO
LocoMoTIvEs-THE FATAL CRASH AND PLUNGE
INTO THE FROZEN RIvEn-DE WOUNDED
AND uNIXJunED BURIED IN THE WRECK
VILLAGERS TO THE MISUNDERSTANDING SCENES
UNDER THE BRIGHT MOONLIGHT.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp1
TARIFPvILLE, Conn.,, Jan. Ie, 1878.
The scene OF the terrible railroad disaster which
occurred within half mile OF this place lies in
what Is known as the district OF the Pennington
River nats. The Connecticut Western Railway.
which extends from Hartford, Conn.,, to Mile rton
y. T., for sixty two miles was opened for travel in
1871, the year In which the Pennington River
Bridge that has proved so fatal to human life,
was also completed. The road runs from Hartford
to Tarriryille In northwcsterley direc-
ton, leading through q succession OF rocky
ledges. Within few miles before reaching
Tarinvillc 1t passes q noted pleasure haunt OF sum.
mer excursionlsts called the Tower Tarifryille Ia
q quiet, sleepy little place, settled some thirty
years ago in consequence OF the establishment OF
large carpet mandatory, which soon became q
thriving industry In that region. Prom Tannville
the road takes more westerly course, and haif a
mile beyond crosses the Pennington River ut the
so called river nat
THE FARMINGToN RIVER
The river here Is about two hundred feet vide
nnh exceedinnlx shallnw fhe watnr aaldorn NJ