New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-07
LAID TO TRAIN-WRECKERS.
THE NETWORK CENTRALS THEORY OF
THE GARRISON's DISASTER.
TESTIMONY TO SHOW THE RAILS HAD BEEN TAM
PERED wITH-ANoTHER WITNESS WHO SAYS
WATER FROM THE HILLSIDE SOAKED
INTO THE ROADBED.

INTO THE ROADBED.
Albany. Dec 6-Employes and officials OF the
New-York Central Railroad at the investiga'ioh
.b,ch was pursued by the Board OF Railroad Com
,r,ss,oucrs to-day 10 ascertain the causes OF the
disastrous wreck at Garrison's on october Il al
vonced an entirely new theory which was 10 the
effect that Instructions had been paced on the
track purposcly to wreck the train
William Buchanan superintendent OF motVe
mower. started this theory by testifyins tha' ne
,o,,rd an ipdentation on the tire OF the forward
wheel on the right side OF the engine truck wh'c"
IN his opnlon was caused by the wheei WINE re-
volving coming into contact with Some oo''"N
ton such rail placed on wo-iien e'.'"''o
on the inside of the outer rail- ne '''' y.
the wheel was exhibited. as were plaster casts
~ tho indentation which however. was plainly
visible on the tire a.. No..
Tbis theory was further supported by MT buch-
anan and p. II. Dudley. a rail- expert III INC
employ OF the company. In their explanation Vi a
fracture OF the inner rail OF the track. "hoi
was also exhibited This fracture occurred "ne'e
TOO r,us had been Joined together. The nuts on
IN. outer side OF the rai!plate holding the JOINTS
together were broken off. and both witnesses 10
tilted that the simple deraiiment OF the e"e''o GU
train would not tear off the nuts, out 'ha' ."es
had evidently been tempered with and khocheu OH
nrev,ous 10 the wreck. Mr.. Dudley also SAID ina.
Tho ord of one of the rails looked as II 'h'se'
mr. q wedge had been used In an effort 10 Sepafa'e
II from the rail TO which 1t was joined
Professor w II. Burr. OF Columbia CoNese' anu
robn Rogart a former State Engineer. VINO were
r,rloved by the Central TO examine the fracture
g., rho roadbed both testified that the water COM
inc down the mountainsde and lodging IN gun!
tno the east OF the tracks was not suhic'e"' "
weaken the roadbed. ,,,...- On, c,ry.v
NJ ieutze Assistant State Engineer ana survey
or Who examined the scene OF the wreck lor .h
Snmmjsson said the water coming uowH tIon' tne
,nomntaIn first attracted his attention. he iheas-
,,nd n and found that IL filed e. quart medSuIe
arar, live seconds In other words, lou EaiionS
81 Soter came INTO the gully every twenty-louI
Eours While he there the often whtCn was
dnp ~ draw this water away was uly, ne Jus
ous some of the roadbed on the OUTSIDE OF tho
S,ac.Ire two feet above high-water marx ana IL
US wet This was evidently caused by the per-
coiotio Of the water from the gully. In ms opln-
ION This water from the gully had weakehihs
IT,, on the embanK nent, but he could not say
whether Il was sufficient TO cause the break III
r. roadbed He knew OF cases where the percola-
ION Of water from the canal through the tow
nath had caused the outside of the empankment
r. hreak off I'm a vertical manner just as ths preak
Wanv other witnesses examined. but their
,ostin,ony was generally immaterial: Among them
was Michael Clare, who formerly had charge OF
,he section of the road where the wreck occurred:
lie testified that he always considered the part OF
the road which slipped away TO be bad and that
II needed Il great amount or care 10 Keep II IN
Ar the conclusion Of the hearing the Commits:
aoners promised TO hand down their opinion o.
the causes OF the wreck at an early date