The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-05
PLACING BLAME.
investigation Into the
Bridge Disaster.
CAUSED BY CARELESSNESS.
Responsibility Rests With the
TOwerman.
pICKpOCKETS CLEVERLY CAUGHT
M. 5. Smith, Pioneer Merchant,
Drops Dead in His Broad
way Store.

the narr0W-gauge train at Iue SoutH emu VI
the Webster-street bridge. We further
find that the switch was thrown open by
the cupable or criminal carelessness OF
the swlchtender in the employ of said
railroad company.
20. j. Denison Uoreman), r. j. Nc
Cloud, c. r. Lewis, l.. L. Salisbury. w. A.
Knowles, Edwin Neese."
The INQUEST was called for 10 o'clock
yesterday morning, and when the jury was
sworn and the investigation opened there
was a big crowd in attendance During
the investigation Att rney a. a. Moore,
Claims AdiuSter Herbert and several other
railroad men were noticed about The Cor
oneT's office.
The first witness called was Philip Kiley,
who identified the remains OF his lrother.
Hernanda Simmouds also identified the
remains of NJ G. Simmonds as those OF
his brother He testified that his brother
was Al years old aud that he lett dWite ana
nine children.
was on the fifth car when the stop came. aud he
got Off the train and went FORWARD 10 Inc en-
CINE, which was separated from the train. The
train consisted of nine cars. The conductor
asked tho engineer what the trouble was, and
was told that the pin had croker. COlegrove
then went toward the rear END OF the train aud
soon saw what the trouble was.
Question-Dld you stop at the switch this
time?
mo, SIR"
"Was the signal right?
1T was"
'.How do you knOw2"
because i saw IT."
THAT switch Is kept open all the time except
when train is comngV"
YES sir. When we strike the yards we hit
an enuncator, which gives tile man in the
tower at First and Harrison streets Inc signal
that we are coming"
Colegrovr went on TO say that bellcOrd cOuld
scarcely be made 10 WORK on curve because OF
the binding OF the rope That was the reason
the bell In the engine did not ring when the
cord was vigorously ierke by some OF the
occupants of the fated smoker. The conductor
could give no reason why The wheels jumped
the track but they did so at the derailing
switch. The speed on the curve was eight to
ten miles an hour. When asked IL he knew
how soon The switch opens after the train passes
CoIegrove said he did not.
Engineer Snaed said he mad no warning of
the aecideDt until the engine parted from the
train. when he whstled down brakes Hrs
bridge seven or eight miles.
Master Mechanic X. E. Essen, who was on
the train, had no idea how the accident oc-
Cured.
Superintends ut Fillmore says that although
he bad been forty years. railToading he could
not account for the accident. lie said he could
not understand why the marks or the wheels on
the ties did not commence nearer the end OF
The derailing switch. Ii was mystery 10 Mr..
Fillmore why the first tie was not iDdented
The trucks OF the ear were in good order.
The next witness was The towerman, Wash
ington Baldo tue man 10 whom all the blame
attaches.
He said: 81 gave the signal for the train to
move across. The derailng switch was hen
closed because | could not give the signal
unless Il was. i opened the switch after j
found out The car was IN the creek. Then had
10 open the switch on account OF getting a
signal from the bridge. After the car went of
the bridge 1t was anywhere between three and
five minutes b fore | ascertalned what was the
matter. / am very positive that the switch was
not opened under tue train. / have been at
tending the tower about three mouths"
''Can you open The switch under the train ~
"Not that 1 know Of because IL is thing
never tried. This is the first tower work l
have ever done. l know nothing about cleo
! tricity or the theories upon which the block
system Is founded"
The testimony of L. W. Jones. a carpe inter-,
| who said he was friend OF Simmonds, relieved
| the monOtony OF the proceedings somewhat and
| was very direct. He said:
81 made measurements this morning and
| found that those trucks went off the derailing
switch 1t is All feet from where The truck IS
went of the derailing switch to where the car
| Jumped into the water. / examined the rails 10
ascertain If the trucks had climbed them. and
there were no marks. j also examined The
chains and the trucks, and could find no marks
| on them. was there most OF the day yester-
| day. / was there last night and this morning.
/ measured two lies aud found that there was
one lie that sits close to the end Of that derail.
ing switch, and naturally the end of the train
| would carry the trucks one tie beyond the de-
railing switch, because that tie Is right close 10
| the end of the rail.
THAT man in the tower can regulate tile
| switch and throw il when he wants to- / air
not an expert, but know it from my own
| knowledge ana study, and [ can show ana
nroye il TO Won. / have experimenIed with
| switches, not directly, but l know that the
switch-key is on electric roads and they cal
! eli nge the switch.
"My opinion Is this: The car Was switched
| l don't say the switchman did il, but that cal
was switched and caught between the tracks
| In other words the switch was open Tbi,
! Q IN he trQa
have seen IL done down here and others have
| testified here that it was found Open"
The testimony of the witness had a marked
effect on the crowd present, aud the evdenc,
OF the next witness, William Slater, superin
tenden, of the block signal system, was awaited
with interest
| In explaining the block system he said it wa
not possible tn throw a switch under a train o.
under car II the car moves when everyihin;
is normal. That is" said Mr. Slater. "when
signal is given for tram TO move off a swilcl
that is an interlockiDg signal. 1t cannot bt
moved. These conditions, however, can pC
altered by the towerman, and all evidence OF /
can be hidden. don't know that the switch
was opened while The train was on the draw
bridge"
From all appearances. then. would 70,
think the trucks went of from an opel
swifcb?"
at looks very much like IT, 1 can't find au,
other reason for II. Al the same time. l cam
account for the switch being open."
Mr.. Slater said he had been looking for tn
cause, but could ind no other than that givel
above.
Ats o'clock the jury went to the scene OF tn
accident and spent an hour and a half Their
making a close examination OF all the sur
rounGngs. IL demonstrated In various way,
that the switch could be thrown with a train OF
il or a car on IT, and re- urned TO the Coroner
Office, where, after ten minutes elaboration, /
brought in a verdict as above.
Bardo was arrested this afternoon, and bI
bonds were fixed al $4,000. He was imme
dIaiely released with A. b. Wilder and w. NJ
Kent as sureties.
At 8 O'Clock this evening Towerman Wash
ington Bardo, on whom the Corouer's 1ur
|, fixed the blame for the disaster on the brldg
and The death OF Smmonds and Kiley, wa
| awakened from sound sleep by Constable
j. NJ Page. who told him that he was unde
arrest and read to him the following warran
which had been issued by Coroner Evers:
An ineuisition having been this day found b
| a Coroner's jury before me. stating that homs
| }. Kiiey and NJ. o. Simmonds came to their deaf
, by the act OF Washington Bardo. by Grimm;
| means. you are therefore commanded forthwith
to arrest the above named Washington Bardo.
Mrs. Bardo is very III, and after reassurin
her thai he would soon be released on bond
. he accompanied Constable Page to the Core
ner,s office, where he remained while his friend
hunted for bondsmen ana for Judge Gilt, wh