The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-07
THE GARRTSON'S ACCIDENT.
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION
uE1RS EXPERT Testimony.

an ,,r.o THAT the Roadbeu was Firm and
so,,s. and Arc Inclined ~ Isiiove That the
Yr,mnI Cause or the Accident Was the
Drr.,Imsnt or the EWEino by Seine Mcnns-
Albany, Dec. 6.-The inquiry Of the State
Railroad Commission, which was instituted
with n view OF ascertaining the cause OF tho
y.r.ce m tho New York Central and Hudson
pivcr Railroad below Garrison's on Oct. -.
was concluded to.dny. Col. Ashley w. Cole, tho
prcsIdcnt OF tho commission. after tho last
witness had testified, announced that the COM
mission would review the testimony and make
known its decision in q short time. A morning
and afternoon session was held and tho testi.
mony OF fourteen expert witnesses received.
Not one of the witnesses would assert that tho
railroad bank had slid into the river of itself,
Int every witness who was competent to judge
tho circumstances attending the accident was
of the opinion that its primal cause was tho
derailment OF the engine by some unknown
means, and that the momentum aud weight of
tho train caused the bank to slide into the river.
Former State Engineer John Bogcrt and Prof.
William II. Burr of Columbia College, both civil
engineers Of the highest reputation and &C
knowledged ability. were zach on the stand for
an hour. They had made an examination of the
roadbod at tho scene of the accident at the re-
quest Of the railroad company. Both were posi-.
tive that the railroad bed was OF the best; that
there had been no deterioration caused by the
action of the water, and that 1t was, in their
opinion, impossible to arrive at a conclusion
which would warrant them In stating positively
tho primary cause of the wreck. Prof. Burr
said the behring's made by the engineers showed
n layer of blue clay and gravel OF varying thick
ness over the bedrock foundation of the road
bed. He was satisfied that the clay portion bad
not moved from the rock bod. The examination
showed this.
Col. Cole said that during his examination Of
the roadhod. where it had slipped out. he
noticed q piece Of this blue clay inside the wall.
which, when he stepped on either side. tipped
up as though resting in q basin, which, on closer
examination. appeared spOngy.
Witness said such n condition might have
some preiudicial effect upon the stability OF the
wall above it: but in his opinion The even
a spot solid, and that it would have no DISPOSE
ton to give way.
enough to hold the weight of the embankmentf
asked Col. Colo.
eo mshe Tsil t wI Sr mot the 5etSS snE sro wall, ,b6 but acf Tss
of the water" replied Prof. Burr.
What; in your opinion. was tho cause Of the
which | am very much in doubt, After a most
OF the subject | am unable to come to any posi-.
tive conclusion about 1t. This is one of those
encos ana forces that cnnnot be- I measured. n and
leaves II open TO speculation. 1t is practically
iinpossiole to come to any demonstrablo conclu-
sion. A derailei train might have been an ng-
graveting cause. There might have been
q softeninE of the material in the road
bed. going on ilnperccptihly for years, or
there might bave been a combination OF causes.
l have not reached any deiinito conclusion. An
bound track next to where the, south;bound
IracE went out showed IT. to be firm and solid.
THIS would 16rso1 me- fon have srom BEN In So s5or Ind LIZ, there ISrd been
the rondbed. In that case tho nortli-bound
track should have gone out; too
Mr.. Bogcrt confirmed Pro-. Burr's opinion
generally reg rGing the conditions of the road
bed and tho circumstances surrounding the ac-
"Werc there any evidences in the roadbed of
water percolationsf p was "sked.
What is your opinion as to the cause of tho
81 am unable to say that my observations and
able me to come to any conclusion, The derail-
ment of the train might have caused all or sub
exist at the place where he wreck occurred.
Whether that derRilmCnt was occasioned by ono
or another cause have not been able to con-
II do not see any. positive evidence" con-
TIM % t Mt; BoSart: that there was any condi,
have no theory, ms 10 the cause of the accident
think the dcra..nent Of the train from some un-
known cause was responsible for the condition
Would the impact of the derai,cd train be
sufficient to drive out the embankment 7" In.
quircd Commissioner Cole.
II am inclined 10 think 1t would" answered
Mr.. Bognrt.
DO you think safc tho present roadbed con.
s%truction on the Hudson River division OF tho
New York Central road T. asked Commissioner
Cole.
Yes" replied the witness. with frequent in
%spection and the ordinary repairs which are In
vogue. The constant jar OF the heavy trains
tends TO make tho rOadbed more impact"
Mr.. William Buchanan. Superintendent OF
motive power for the Central road. was also of
the opinion the engine had been derailed. Mr..
Buchanan produced sections OF rail and the tire
9th forward wheel on the right side of the en-
gine truck. Tc said. in view Of nm indentGtion
tons on the end OF one piece OF rail. and the
broken condit on of tho bolts which held the
rail ends together. there was no doubt in his
mind that the rail had been tampered with. and