Evening journal., 1897-10-28
HE WON'T SAY MUCH
Detective Reticent as to Cause
Of the Garrisons Wreck.
THE INQUEST BEGINS At COLD SPRING
Evidence Adduced, However, Throws No
Light on the Origin of the Disaster.
The Taking of Testimony POST
poned to Nov. A.

A~N- - ~fNE -
COLD SPRING, N. Y, Oct. 2s.-Chief
Detective Humphrey of the New York
Central railroad was asked last even
ing n the arrest of any person was con-
templated on suspicion OF having caus-
ed the wreck Of the state express Mr..
Humphrey admitted that the company
suspects that the roadbed was blown
out by dynamite, but refused to dlvulge
any Information. He said that his in
structions were to report the result Of
his investigation personally 70 Presi-
dent Depew.
The diver who was at work yesterday
searching In the river for the bodies OF
Engineer Foyle and Stenographer Nc
Kay had no success. He says that the
bodies are either buried In the mud or
have been washed away. Two divers,
assisted by a steam dredge, will con-
tinue the search tomorrow. The body
Of Isaac Rettenberg. which was recov
cred from the wreck, was taken to New
York city by the dead mans brother,
jeremiah Rettenberg OF 2S East one
Hundred and Fourteenth street, last
night. Rettenberg. who was a travel
ing oculist. was 2S years of age and un-
married. He was on his way to New
York to attend his brothers wedding
when he was killed
The body Of Giuseppe Paduano Is still
unclaimed The body OF the woman
known as No. u is not yet identified.
Coroner William T. Wood and jury
commenced their inquest last night into
the cause of the death of the 20 victims
of the New York Central disaster Of
last Sunday morning. The Inquest was
held In the town hall in this place.
which was filed with witnesses and
spectators commencing at 1880 p. m.
The coroner was assisted by District
Attorney j. Bennett Southard as exam
lining counsel. Charles Il. de Freest,
secretary Of the railroad commissioners,
! and c. c. McEntee stenographer Of the
same boasd, were present. but took no
part In the proceedings beyond taxi
ing notes of the testimony. It was an
nounced that the commissioners would
make further investigation later. The
railroad company did not appear to be
represented at the inquest.
The first witness sworn was Edward
O. Parish Of Buffalo, conductor Of the
train, who limped painfully as he walk
ed 10 the stand He said that he had
been employed by the New York Cen
trail for % years He was unable to tell
how many passengers were in the train,
because he did not have his report with
him. He said that the six sleepers car
ried 10, 10, 6. 9. 13 and u passengers, re
! spectively.
"When the accident happened, the
train was moving about 40 miles an
hour" he said. II was sitting awake
In the day coach, and there were at
least ten passengers in the car. includ-
ing two women and one boy. am
unable to state how many besides my
self got out Of the day coach but 1 saw
four or five escape from the first sleep
err"
Conductor Parish said that on his
arrival in New York he made a re-
port to the superintendent and later,
at the latter's request. made fuller
report to General Superintendent Van
Etten. He was unable TO ascribe a
cause for the accident. When given a
description Of the woman who lies uni
Identified at the morgue. the conductor
said that she boarded the train at Buff
falo. While the conductor was testify
ing, General Manager Toucey Of the
Central. with d. w. Tears. assistant
counsel of the road. entered the room
and took seats near the coroner.
The hearing lasted one hour and lb
/ minutes ana was productive VI Ao IA
formation whatever bearing upon the
cause Of the disaster. To each witness
the district attorney put these ques-
tions, each OF which received a negative
answer from all the witnesses:
Have you ever heard Of this place
being considered dangerous among rail-
road men? Have you observed the con-
dition OF the track where the accident
occurred. and have you an opinion as to
how II was caused? Have you talked
with any official or detective OF the New
York Central about the accidentY'
The inquest was adjourned until Nov
4, at 1880 p m.