Evening journal., 1897-12-07
DEED OF VILLAINS.
New Theory Advanced For
the Garrisons Wreck.
ALLECE INSTRUCTIONS ON TRACK.
Witness at Investigation States That There
Was an Indentation on wheel of
Engine Truck Caused by Con-
tact with Some Obstacle.

ALBANY, Dec 7.-Employees and
officials OF the New York Central and
Hudson River railroad at the investigu-
tion which was pursued by the board %
railroad commissioners yesterday on
the causes Of the disastrous wreck on
that road at Garrlsons on oct "a adj
vanced an entirely new theory as TO the
cause OF the wreck which was TO tho
effect that distractions had been placed
on the track TO purposely wreck the
train.
superintendent Of Motive Power Will
liam Buchanan stated this theory by
testifying that he found an indentauon
on the tire of the forward wheel on the
right side of the engine truck, when,
in his opinion, was caused by the wheel
while revolving coming into contact
with some obstruction such as a rail-
road rail placed on a two inch eleVa-
tion on the inside Of the outer rail. The
tire of the wheel was exhibited as were
plaster paris casts OF the indentauon.
which. however. was plainly visible on
the tire This theory was further
strengthened by Mr.. Buchanan and J..
H. Dudley. a rail expert In the employ
of the company, In their explanation OF
a fracture of the inner rail of the track
which was also exhibited. This frac-
ture occurred where two rails had been
joined together. The nuts on the outer
side OF the rail plate, holding the joints
together. were broken Off, and both or
the gentlemen testified that the simple
derailment of the engine and tram
would not tear off the nuts but that
they had evidently been tampered with
and knocked Off previous to the wreck
Mr. Dudley also said that the end ot
one of the rails looked as though q
chisel or a wedge had been driven into
il I'm an effort 70 separate II from the
rail TO which IL was Joined.
Professor Burr OF Columbia college
and former State Engineer Bogart'
who were employed by the Central 10
examine the fracture In the roadoea'
both testified that the water coming
down the mountainside and lodging IN
a gully on the east tracks was not SUM-
clent to deteriorate in any way the con-
dition OF the roadbed.
Assistant state Engineer and Survey
/ or Leutze. who examined the scene or
the wreck for the commission, said
that the water coming down from the
mountain first attracted his attention.
He measured Il and found that IL hlled
a quart measure every five seconds. IN
other words, 4 800 gallons of water came
into that gully every "a hours, and while
he was there the ditch which was con-
structed to draw this water away was
dry. The water bad To go some place.
He dug out some Of the roadbed on
the outside OF the fracture two feet
above high tide mark. and IL was wet.
This was evidently caused by the perco-
lation Of the water from the gully. In
his opinion this water and gully had a
weakening effect upon the embank'
ment, but he could not say whether II
was sufficient TO cause the break In tho
roadbed. He knew Of cases where the
percolation Of water from the cana
through the towpath caused the outside
Of the embanlSment 10 break or In O
vertical manner like that break occur
red.
Many other witnesses were examined
but their testimony was immaterial
Among them was Michael Glare, who
formerly had charge Of the section OF
the read where the wreck occurred IL
testified that he always considered th'
portion of the road which slipped away
TO be bad and that it needed a grea
amount of care 10 keep Il in condition
At the conclusion of the hearing the
commissioners promised to hand dowr
their opinion on the causes Of the wrecl
at an early date.