Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-05
THE TUNNEL INQUIRY.
"A Summary of the Results So Far
Reached by the Military Court.

THE TUNNEL INQUIRY.
"A Summary of the Results So Far
Reached by the Military Court.
WHAT TEE TESTIMONY so FAR TAKEN HAS SHOWN
BAD WORK ALL ALONG The LISE-No KNOWING
HOW LONG THE INVESTIGATION WILL CONTINUE
oBRIENs WHEREABOUTS ALSO UNKNOWN
The military court of inquiry investigating
the lining frauds in the aqueduct tunnel are at
last fairly started in their work. They are
badly crippled by lack Of means for the prep
aration of the records, having but one steno-
grapher on duty, and therefore the examina-
ton OF witnesses has not proceeded as rapidly
as 1t would otherwise have done. The court
have now inspected the tunnel where they saw
indications Of bad work, and at the close of last
week had examined six witnesses, all but one of
whom-Clark, the contractors engineer who
said nothing about bad work-have testified
directly to the effect that the packing behind
the brick arches in the tunnel is bad, and that
TINS KIND OF work Is SO extensive that the
chances are in favor of finding holes almost
anywhere. Inspector Lucas on the stand
three times. From his testimony considered
py Itself, 1t was clear that he endeavored to
have good work done by the men under his
supervision; that he suspected OBrien, and
when he made known his suspicious he was
TOLD TO MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS.
At times his testimony went long way
towards duplicating Kirlin, but his evidence
seemed slightly tinged with personal feeling
toward both O'Brien and Kirlin. which some
what lessened its force. At the same time
there was evidence to the effect that bad work
had been done under Lucas himself All of
the testimony so far, again excepting that of
Clark, which had practically no bearing has
been very damaging to the reputation Of In
sPector O'Brien. Both of the Kendalls and
the two colored packers have given
direct evidence that OBrien. was not only
aware of the bad work, but rather encouraged
the men in doing it. There has also been some
mention made Of the fact that O'Brien was
acting as boss for the contractors as well as
an inspector for the Government Lucas, how
ever, admitted receiving pay from the con-
tractors himself for overseeing the work.
As TO THE MATERIALS USED
but little damaging testimony has been ad-
duced- The bricks in the lining are good, it
was said, and general thing the mortar used
was of good quality, although at times it con-
tanned too much sand, whereby it was some
what weakened; The stones put behind the
brick work for the purpose OF packing were Of
all shapes and sizes, and there was evidently
no endeavor to lay them regularly, but they
seemed to have been thrown into the spaces
without regard to their shapes, size, or fitness.
IL would seem, from the testimony, that the
brick masons employed were good workmen
and did their work well, although under
O'Brien's inspection they were pushed faster
than they should have been. But it is clear
that no attempt was made to secure skilled la
borers for the packing.
ANY BODY GOOD ENOUGH FOR PACKER
Instead, the most ignorant, unframed ne
groes were picked up on the streets and put on
the packing, with no knowledge Of what the
work was for or how it should be DONE In
addition, there seemed to be an almost total
lack OF intelligent supervision by foremen, ex-
cept little rendered by Lucas and the very
questionable bossing by o Brien. In fact, the
court have been plainly told that the tunnel
lining is treacherous, and that majority of it
Is not ut for the purpose for which it was in
tended 1t is likely that they will examine a
number Of additional witnesses in order to get
at the exact state of things in every part of the
work. and to this end each one of the witnesses
already examined has been asked to give the
names OF others who might be able to testify
as to the character Of the work. In this way
long list has been formed.
NO KNOWING HOW LONG THE INVESTIGATION
WILL LAST.
A STAR reporter asked General Ruger the
president of the court, the other morning il he
had any idea as to the length of time the in
vestigation will take?
''Oh, no." he replied. "We cannot tell what
We may have to do in the way of examining
witnesses. We want to learn all we can about
the work, but there will be q lot of the evidence
Of no value.'
WHERE Is o'BRrEN?
Would You object to telling me II you in
tend to call O'Brien to the stand?n asked the
reporter.
DO you know where he is?' quickly de-
handed the general.
The reporter replied that be was in the dark
as to U Brien's whereabouts, as were q great
many other people. It was plain from the
Ia hat H.
knowing where Mr.. O'Brien can be reached by
a subpoena. OF course there are many specu-
lations in the air at the Department a. to the
probable findings Of the court but there have
this subject. This tribunal has no jurisdiction
over civilians and as such is not competent to
fasten the blame for the bad work in the
tunnel upon anyone but the Army officers con-
of relieving the latter from responsibility. A
majority OF those who have considered the
matter argue that the court has now ONLY to
deal with the ethical question Of
How FAR MAJOR LYDEcKER AND LIEUT., TOWNSEND
ARE RESPONSIBLE
and to blame for the criminally careless SUPER
vision and inspection of their agents in the tun-
mel great many opinions point to the prin-
ciple in law that a master is always responsible
Tor the acts OF his servants, and draw the con-
clusion that the engineer officers should be held
accountable for the bad work done under the
direction Of their subordinates. II the court
should adopt this line Of reasoning all that will
be left for it to do will be to order Q court
martial. Its only other course is to absolve the
officers from all blame, and declare that all re-
sponsibility rests upon the other employees Of
the Government, or upon the contractors. In
the latter case no further steps can be takenby
this court
Perhaps one ofthe most pertinent facts shown
by last weeks testimony is that the chief in
spector. krlin. was by some means fully aware
of the approach Of Lieutenant Townsend when
ever that officer took it into his head to visit
the tunnel for the purpose Of personally in
specting the work. BY this means word was
always passed quickly down the tunnel and by
the time that the lieutenant arrived there would
be solid walls in the course Of construction on
every hand. 1t does not appear, however, that
this thing happened very often.
She Shot q Bear.
From the Marion County CCal) Tocsin
Last Thursday two young ladies Of sacra-
mento, who have been camping in the neigh
borhood Of Bolinas, went on q huckleberry pic
mic, and were somewhat surprised to encounter
large brown bear engaged in the same line Of
business. One Of the young ladies, who is an