Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-15
WHAT CAUSED 1T ?
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS HAVE
A HEARING ON THE ACCIDENT.
Trainmen and Some of the Injured Pas
sengers Make Staten ments-Evidence
Tends to Show That the Accident Was
Caused by IA Brohen Tire.

The railroad commissioners held hear
ing relative to the cause of the accident to
the New York sleeper Wednesday at a.
IN, near Ferrisburgh station, at the Van
Ness House Friday morning. General
Superintendent +. w. Baldwin OF the Cen
trail Vermont railroad was the first witness.
He testified to the character of the wreck,
as to how he found the sleeper and
coach, and what he thought caused the
derailment of the cars. Conductor Sweeney,
Engineer Andnsson, the forward and rear
brakemen and baggagemaster also gave
their testimony. They agreed in thinking
the accident was direct result of the
broken tire. None of the train hands were
in either of the ditched cars. Conductor
Sweeney was In the rear car, the Boston
sleeper, as was the rear brakeman and the
forward brakeman was in the coach just
ahead Of the one that was wrecked and the
baggagemaster was, of course, in bis &C
customed place in the baggage car.
They had no intimetion that the
sleepers We're Off the track till
the cars went down the embank-
ment, causing heavy jar. They imme-
mediately discovered that the forward left
hand wheel OF the forward truck on the
sleeper Alva was without tire.
After dinner Commissioners Bagley and
Davidson accompanied Superintendent
Bald win to the scene Of the disaster and OK
aminod the track where the accident oc-
Cured and the sleeper Alva, returning at
$40 o'clock.
ExGov. Pingree chairman of the commits
| sion, remained here and took the afllavits
OF the injured passengers who were in the
city, namely: Fred Patnaude Of West
| Swansea, n. H., and Mat Mendowitz OF
New York, who are at the hospital, and
! Mrs. Mulqueen OF 221 st. Paul street.
| There were no discrepancies in their testi.
mony but it failed to give any light upon
the material point-the cause.
They were all passengers in the coach.
Mrs. Mulqueen said that she was the only
one in the car who was awake. She noticed
a noise, which appeared to be behind the
car in which she was riding, g
few seconds before the accident.
| Mendlowitz thought he heard some unusual
sound right under where he sat, which wa'
in tho forward end of the coach for some
time prior to the disaster. He was doing,
| however, all the way aud paid no attention
to it. The first thing Putnaude know they
were being overturned and the next thing
he, with the rest, who We're all in tue FORWARD
end of the car, were pinned down by seats
at Rutland the 10th inst, when it is ex
pected the testimony vii! al be collected
and the finding announced.
ExGov. Pmgree left on the afternoon
mail train for home and Commi.soner,
Basley and Davidson started for 81; Alonu'
on the same train to take the affidavit OF
master mechanic George Fuller of the Cen
tral Vermont, and possibly that of train
master f. d. Nash.
Mr.. Fuller can probably shed more ligh
than any one e,ss on tie cause OF the aCci-
dent. 1t is understood that he found thu
tire some 10 rods south of the place wher
the derailment is indicated by the marks OF
tie ties. The tire was in three equal parts
The commissioners will examine the tire
The track where the accident occurred i
perfectly straight, and a deraied car woulc
ordinarily run ON the ties until curve Wa
reached. 1t Is thought that the forwar,
wheels of the Alva struck the frog of tn
north switch at Ferrisbursh, which turne
it TO the left or west side of the trec
enough to throw the wheels on the left SD
of the car Off the ties, after which its cours
was gradual for some 20 rods until it wen
down the embankment.
Tho evidence all tends to show that til
derailment was caused by broken tire, q
was stated in the FREE Pass account @
tha acclent