The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-28
EVIDENCE OF DYNAMITE
MIR. DEPEW'S THEORY OF SUNDAYS
DISASTER FINDING SUPPORT.
Another Possible Cause of the De-
railing of che New York Central
Train-The CorOner's Inquest

COLD SPRINGS. N. Y, Oct H.-Presi-
dent Depew's opinion that the disaster OF
last Sunday morning on the New York Cen
trail road was the result of a dynamite ex-
plosion planned by enemies of the corpora
ton finds many upholders among railway
officials and citizens familiar with the con-
ditons.
IF the elnbankment of the railroad was
torn up by dynamite the motive of those
who did it was not robbery, but revenge"
was the statement made by one official OF
the road "a rigorous investigation is be-
ing made, and at least one may be arrested
When the party of twenty-six roadmasters
of the New York Central system arrived at
the scene early Monday morning and COM
menced a critical survey of the section OF
the embankment which had been either
washed out or blown out, one of the road
masters. man who has had great expert
ence in the use of dynamite, said that the
excavation looked to him very much like
the work of dynamite. The tendency OF dy-
Mantle is to blast downward rather than
upward, and one of the most expert track
builders of the railroad says very light
charge of dynamite would have collapsed
section of track fully as extensive as the
section in question. The locomotive was
of the depression in the track, which makes
it seem reasonably certain that the engine
leaped the space before II started IN us
plunge into the mud bottom of the river
It lis known that the engineer had shut off
the steam and applied the air brakes 10 the
train before the crash came, and those cir
cumstances lead the officials to believe that
Engineer Foyle saw something was wrong
with the track in time to apply the arr
brakes before he went into the river with
his engine. Still. 1t is admitted that ne
would have instantly applied the brakes the
moment he felt his engine sinking
A reporter was informed TINS morning 10y. py
to New York every morning that three
weeks ago this same train. No, 46, had
point about two miles south of the. spot
where ii finally met its fate. A huge BOWL
der Weighing two tons was discovered on
the track just in time for the train 20 pc
stopped. II made the remark that morn
ing that l believed some one put that stone
there. and ! still think so, said TINS fd zen,
from the top of the mountain, for It cleared
the inland track in Aits fall and landed
squarely on the down track. 1t looks 70 me
as though some one bears a grudge against
the railroad company, but who It Is cannot
say y,
York Central. believes that the disaster was
caused by a break in the engines machin-
cry Mr.. Toucey said to-day: Il believe
something broke on the engine and piowed
up the ground and Jared the roadbed so
that it loosened and slid into the river.
The sudden checking of the speed of the
train caused the cars to double upon each
other and helped to loosen the roadbed.
That is the conclusion l reached from my
investigation Of the facts. If there had been
a dynamite explosion before the train
reached that place the engine could not
have passed over 1t and seventy-ftVe rect
this side, ii did.
Chief detective Humphrey, Of the New
York Central, was asked to-day II the ar
rest Of any person was CONTEMPLATED epn
suspicion of having caused the wreck 0B
Humphrey admitted that the railroad $us-
poets that the roadbed was blown out with
dynamite. but refused 10 diyulge any In
formation. He said that his instructions
were to report the result of his inyesuga-
ton personally to President DepeW.
The diver who was at work to-day search-
ing in the river for the bodies or Engineer
Foyle and Stenographer Mckay had no sue
cess The body Of the woman known as NO.
10 is still unidentified. Coroner William 4.
Wood and Jury tonight commenced their
inquest into the cause of the death Of the
twenty victims of the disaster. The inquest
was held in the town hall, which was filed
with witnesses and spectators. The coroner
was assisted by the district attorney as
state railroad commission and stenograpl-
er of the commission were present, but took
no part in the proceedings. except making
notes on the testimony 1t was announced
that the commissioners viii make a fur
Their investigation later. Several witnesses,
all railroad employees, testified. Their stories
agreed with those already given In these
dispatches. The hearing lasted one hour ard
fifteen minutes and was productive OF no
information whatever bearing upon the
cause OF the disaster. The inquest was ad-
iOurned until Nov. 4.