New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-05
THE GARRISON'S INQUEST.
STORY OF a MAN WHO ONCE HAD
CHARGE OF THE ROAD THERE
MICHAEL CLARE SAYS TIE TRACK WAS ALWAYS
SETTLING AND THAT THE WALL HAD
PREVIOUSLY FALLEN DOWN
MR. TOUCEY'S DENIAL.

PREVIOUSLY FALLEN DOWN
MR. ToUCEY's DENIAL.
Cold Spring, y. Y. Nov. 4.-The second session OF
the Coroner's inquest into the Garrison's disaster
on Sunday October a. was held in the Town Han
here tonight. The most important testimony as
tending 10 show what caused the embankment 10
collapse and the train TO plunge into the river was
given by Michael Glare. a former section master
His testimony c0rrobcrated TO some extent py
two former section hands who had worked uhder
him.
The only incident OF the inquest that bordered on
the sensational was the refusal OF Coroner VIII
lam T. Wood. on the advice Of Disuict-Atorney j..
Bennett Southland. TO permit counse! Tor the New
York Central Railroad 10 take any part In the
proceedings After Clare had made his statement
as to the condition Of the roadbed at the time when
he had charge OF II. ID. w. Tears. OF New-iorK'
who with Robert F. Wilkinson of Poughkeepsie.
represented the railroad company wanted 10 cross
examine Clare for the purpose Of showing why ne
was discharged by the company. but the District
Attorney interposed an objection and the Coroner
stated that the railroads counsel would not be al
lowed to question witnesses call witnesses 10
testify.
f. o. Parish, the conductor, was asked as 10 the
number OF passengers on the train, and his answers
showed that least one passenger. a Chinaman.
IS still missing
John NJ. Toucey. general manager OF the New
York Central. testified: Il reached the wreck soon
after 1t occurred. found the roadbed broken away
for one hundred feet the down track on the
land side the hole perpendicular. as If cut by
knife. and l saw indication OF its being a
eide"
Michael Clare the former section boss. was called
next He is about forty years old and lives in Cold
Springs He said:
~ have been railroad man for nine years
having worked on the New-York and New Eng
land and the New-York and New-Hayen roads /
Wy
H. 1895, to July 5, 1897, and for sixteen months
had charge OF the section between Garrison ana ana
'.The road~bed consisted of gravel before the
retaining wall TO keep the bed in place put some
were constantly pushing out. A new wall was
built last fall outside Of the retaining wall 10, Tor
Strengthening the curve by throwing the tracks
further out into the river. A part OF this wall
fell month after it was built. The wall was
not rebuilt during my time About sixty feet Of
this wall fell out at one tine about one hundred
CURED. The new wall was built close to; the old
and soe of the latter was torn to get stone for
~ had considerable trouble with the, roadbed
Some n three s OMT four ra nes SaHe
three months without settling. and then, again. 1t
men n' back c Of the %a Was ed in with blue clay
sinders stone and gravel The water a! TINS point
has dumped carloads of stones there 10 get solid
foundation but they would seem 10 disappear as
Oliver Clark, Harry Robbins and Anthony Foy,
Of Highlands who formerly worked IKE as seG bst
time heard Clare say that i was the worst serii9n
The inquest was adjourned to November H. at
In an interview tonight General Manager Toucey
said the wall which Glare had described was not a
retaining wall, but wall, intended simply to
keep the wate- from washing out the gravel He
further said that the fact that the track settled
settled less.