New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-02
THE BRIDGE DISASTER.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES.
DISCUSSING IN SECRET MEANS TO PREVENT SIM
LAR ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE


A special meeting of the Bridge Trustees was held
yesterday afternoon at their Office in Brook.
lyn. to consider the recent accident
and to provide measures tc prevent the
recurrence Of similar disaster. This was the last
meeting of the present trustees as their terms Of
two ysars-except those of the two Mayors and two
Confrollers-expre on Monday, unless their suc-
cessors are not appointed at once In that thoy
will hold over until their successors are duly quali-
fed. At their last meeting they reverted to their
former habit of holding sessions with closed doors.
Despite the public interest in tho matters they dis
cussed the reporters of the New York and Brooklyn
press we're kept out and when the meeting ad-
journed General Slocum, who was the first to pass
through the room where the reporters
were in waiting, said: "Oh! we forgot that you
were out here"
Mayor Low when asked by a TRIBUNE reporter
what had been done. replied "You will find it all
inside" and with smile passed on. Another trus-
tee said: "Mr. Kingsley will tell You all that was
DONE" Mr.. Kingsley referred the reporters to Mr.
Sranahan. who gave brief details of the discussion
and action.
The meeting was called for $50 D. n.. but at that
hour q quorum was not present The trustees
dropped in one by one. and the meeting was opened
at O'Clock, with fourteen present, including Mayors
Edison and Low, Controller Brinkerhoff, Vice-Presi-
dent Kingsley, ex-Mayor Howell j. 8:
T. stranahan, General H. w. Socum
Alden s. Swan. Henry Clausen. jr, John T.
Agnew. William Marshall, John G. Davis j. Adri.
ance Bush and Otto Witte. Superintendent Martin
and Secretary Quintard were also present. as were
the stenographer of the trustees and Mayor Edsons
private secretary. The meeting lasted an hour and
a half. Superintendent Martin gave verbal
account of the accident essentially the same a.
has been published. Various measures to prevent
another such accident were discussed. The question
of substituting ramp, or inclined
plane, for the steps leading from the
anchorages mp to the suspended superstruc.
turs was considered. and arguments for 1t and OBJ
jections to it were advanced. Superintendent Mar
tin stated that the pipe rail to divide the steps had
been ordered and would be in place at noon to-day.
1t was agreed that an accident Of such nature
could not have been foreseen. In regard to the
reported that the force was nov
large enough to allow of placing twenty men on the
Bridge at once. aud the force would be further en-
larged 1t decided to call upon the authorities
of the two cities for policemen when needed. ,,.,
hs %GIs %os was matter nay 70 as' the COMMITTEES tss
on organization of the Bridge force. adding to the
committee Mayors Edison and Low. The members
of the committee Messrs Kingsley. Stranahan,
Bush, Davis and Swan. The committee was
directed TO report at the next meeting of the trus-
tees, on the second Monday in this month. IL Will
hold its first session this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
After the adjournment many of the trustees hast
lily took their hats and went away. Mr.. Stranahan
was deputcd to answer questions, and he SAID
when asked what was done: "Oh, we were all en-
tirely agreed upon every thing, The discussion was
very moderate and entirely harmonious entirely
harmonious and he smiled suGvely and rubbed
his hands together as if the merest matters of de-
tail had been discussed instead OF terrible accl-
dent in which human lives were ruthessly sacri-
feed
"What was the result of the discussonw was
1--WE passed resolution to refer the whole mat
tor to a cOmmittec-the committee reorganization
adding the Mayors to the committee"
"When will the committee reportT
at will report to the new Board for we 60 out OF
Office on Monday"
"Wbat was the purport OF the discuss,onp
1T was purely business affair."" responded Mr.
Stranahan.
mo particular changes were proposed. Supcrn-
tcndent Martin made verbal report OF the acct-
dent as IL has been In the papers, ana said that tho
dividing rail on the stairs would be put up at
But it is merely an experiment and we don't know
how it will work"
=" Was the question OF the Iegaf HaDlllty Oh tno
trustees considcredp
NO it was not brought up at all"
Will the police force be increasedi" was the next
1.-THE force Is now so increased that we can put
twenty men on the Bridge at once: We had twenty.
two on the day Of the accident And We
for men from the regular force IN the hours when
great crowd is expected The aid will be cheerfully
accorded
. Was the substitution of an inclined plane for !,
Yes. the matter was discussed, but no conclusion
committee ON iit' along iI with everything clseS
Mr.. Witte said to TRIBUNE reporter that
the important action related to tho improve
BSdse fds Tho ' force o'e' wa. to 0Ss be %
lied and enlarged. and until unit the
l;,n al "a. cifi ho call pd fnr
enough to make the Bridge perfectly safe TO All
who want to cross It,
From another source It vas learned tnas
Mayors Edison and Low were added to the commit.
the two cities. might call upon the heads Of tho
whilo iC' tho Bridge police are being trained and
made acquainted with their duties:
VARIOUS SEQUELS TO THE ACCIDENT.
FALLING OFF IN TRAvEI--THE PoILCE-ruNERALs
OF SOME OF TIE VICTIMS
The records of the secretary of the Bridge Trustees
indicate that the number of persons who crossed
the Bridge on the day after the accident s97.
These figures show how great was the influence OF
Wednesdays calamity In deterring people from
going on the Bridge, 64,4O3 less persons paid
penny fares on Thursday than on Friday Of
last week; 1900 less than Saturday;
nearly 7s 1000 less than Sunday. aud 1897 less
than on the day of the accident But as the per-
centage of those who enter the gates without pay
ing in greater when there Is great crowd than ut
other times the actual difference Is probably greater
than has been stated. Yesterday the travel over
the Bridge was again moderate aud devoid Of in
tcresting incident. No changes were made In the
arrap gements at the terninI the
Bridge. The Bridge Police were amusingly
alert and kept loterers moving when there was not
the rcmotest possibility of JAM Mr. Martin said
to TRIBUNE reporter that this was not In accord
ance with his orders. there could be no harm in
permitting visitors 60 enjoy the spectacle which the
Bridge affords when the travel is so small az to
cause no apprehension of o blockade, He added
that the experimental iron railing, to divide tho
moving streams of people in the narrow portion OF
the footway, would be in place at noon to day and
on the stairs tomorrow. The police force is to be
increased to sixty-sx men, and the length OF each