The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-02
TIE RlILWIY ACCIDENT.
Mr.. Garrison DyinE-Train Hands TestiryinG
that the Rails spread.

Mr.. Garrison DyinE-TraIn HIM de TestifyinR
that the Rails spread.
Coroner John p. Cooper Of Mddlctown be-
gan an inquest ut Long Branch yesterday into
the causes Of the Parkcr's Creek bridge disas-
ter The jury Is composed Of Storekeopors.
with the exception OF painter and farmer.
We want to afford every facility for this in
vestigation." said President Little Of the Long
Branch road. If the responsibility for the
accident belongs to us We propose 10 assume it.
and not to shirk it,"
The testimony Of the train hands was TO the
effect that the accident was caused by the
spreading OF tho rails. George W. Clickner
the engineer said that no was on time. and
running at an ordinary rate OF spoed-not moro
than thirty five miles an hour on approaching
the bridge. He saw the switch ahead. appa-
rcntly all right. but as he passed 1t the left roar
driving wheel of his engine. which weighs fifty
two tons. left the track. He Immediately shut
Off steam and applied the brakes. When he
saw that all the cars back of the parlor car had
gone of the bridge he pulled ahead ngaln with
all force and drew the parlor car back upon tho
Lawyer John j. Apologize. representing tho
railroad company. wanted to put some qucs-
tons, but Coroner Cooper stopped him. and af
t9rwnrd the Jury formally voted against giving
Conductor Charles s, Tuck said he was on
tho Pit Of tho rSE to thP t car
were applied before the last ear was on tho
bridge. 1t was not until tho car he was on had
ticcd it Was of the track, The rear car had
been cut OIL from the air brake. II the train
nad NE Sesye So I G1a have been
Harry Combs. the brakeman who went back
to flag the next train, said that rs he ran he
track was spread. Some OF tho ties were split
and the spikes drawn out; ,,o
In manner so Unsatisfactory to the Coroner
that hc exclaimed: Il wouldn't like to employ
you for scc t boss for me; You don't know
OF his duty to inspect the bridge and report
a once once any DANGEROUS place discovered.
on Sunday last. The ties were little weather.
beaten and soft on tor. but pretty sound at
he"r He had mot The swtGR
to walk over the track He, said he couldn at
tend to gang OF men and BIO everywhere on
Alexander Kier, the man who laid the switch
at or very near which the train left the track.
postiye stye Of sSeesS nnd n Wlo VERY
thorough knowledge Of his business. He has
been on this road for long time. and formerly
and western. He had been working at the ,
bridge since week ago Tuesday. Last Wed
hs at Se
not finished when the accident occurred The
bridge. 40 feet from the south end He had
previously superintetnded the removal Of the
m d rails b and th laying Tan OF the c shs
not not finished. He had locked the the co I
ter,sunk SPIKES nee; necessary for the slide
firmly spiked against the main raj thus form
ing a straight track. The switch could not
was perfectly safe for trains running straight
through at any rate OF speed Tho spikes
Nrl hnf m hnH M IIn
track from the switch had been spiked at
every second tie.
Why did the train leave the track ?" the
II is beyond my comprehension. The
switch was Put in on Wednesday, and several
track. On Thursday morning. fifteen minutes
before this train ran of the track an express
train Of the Pennsylvania road went over this
:" don't consider" hc further, said :. that
sound wood but the bridge has been refined
three times this season and the driving and
for further spiEins The train. III" he s thought S .
was running nearly fifty miles an hour.
= Gen. Grant was to have appeared before the
F. Wnliack, second son Of Mr.. Lester Wallack,
that the railway employees did everything pos
sible for the passengers,
died at S. yesterday morning at j. s. Como
Of death was congestion OF the lungs from be;
night with him. and at times he recognized
them. but said very little. His body was taken
The condition OF John L. Mitchell Of scran-
ton, Pa, improved during the night. His
wife arrived on morning train: In the Little
Silver station she was mistakenly told that her
husband yaS dead and aed She Vas
At about P. NJ. train of the PENNSYLVANIA
road stopped on crossing ross near the house. and
PLACED in the rear car. He bore the journey
well and at Jersey City was placed in an am
street ferry r to 81 Vest Twenty fourth street,
on from long Brunch in the, same train and
FSsidence of Heath broad re1 street inc
The body OF Mr.: S, L. Bradley was brought to
at 4: NJ. yesterday. The funeral services will
be ~, held ID ct B the residence on Sunday at2P. NJ
Mr. John HSsy Where he " was rs carried after the
accident. He recovered consciousness for o
moment yesterday afternoon, and recognized
Mrs. Van Auken. his sisterin-law. His skull is
notfractured At midnight he was sinking and
DR.. Sands had given up all hope, His death
oa6re rs wife s oSn HSsg
and relatives from New York were at his bed
side. Other relatives in st, Louis were tele-
=, The other injured persons at Long Branch
Norris H. Brown and Robert Robcrtson,,are
not much hurt. though Mr. Brown who not long
ago suffered from sunstroke. is Frustrated. =
o'clock yesterday morning. A switch track was
laid to the edge OF the water hawserS We're at
tached to the wrecked cars and they were
could be rghted and pulled up to the main
track. A wrcckng train. with a derrick. was
brought into use. The water WAS about three
feet deep and II is believed that Il any bodies
had boon underneath they would have been
found
The New Fra Promised for Pennsylvania.
From me Philadelphia Times