New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-10
STORY OF THE MOTORMAN.
NO NEW LIGHT ON THE STAFFORD
TROLLEY CAR WRECK.
BAMI1roN's LONG HOURS OF WORK WITHOUT A
CHANCE TO EAT TESTIMONY AT
THE CORONER's INQUEST

THE CORONERS INQUEST.
Bridseport Conn Aug e-The Coroner's inquiry
into the trolley catastrophe at Strauord on sum
day was continued to-day.
George A. Hamilton the motorman who was In
charge Of the car which went off the bridge. was
a witness in the afternoon.
Hamilton testified that he had been In the employ
of the company for the last four years. working
both as conductor ard motorman. but during the
last three months he had been employed as a
motorman regularly Last Sunday morning. he
said he started out his first trip from Bridgeport
at s.l5 a. m, made the return trip and started out
the second round trip at ILLS, returning to
Bridgeport at 24O having lost twenty-five minutes
on the second trip He started on the third round
trip at $40 Questioned as to whether or not he
had been allowed sufficient time for dinner before
starting the last trip the witness replied that he
had not He had broken fast at 7:15 that morning
He said that he had expected TO be relieved at the
end of the second round trip, but when he reached
the carhouse the starter informed him that the man
who to relieve him had returned late also on
the last trip and had not yet reported back for
further duty. 1t therefore became necessary for
him to continue, making no stop for dinner. Wit
ness said that II often the case that motor
man or conductor not able to get time for
meals. relief not being hand at the proper time
In such case he said. the only thing to be done
was to continue at work.
Hamilton said he had been cautioned on tho Fri,
day evening previous to the accident 10 run his
car slowly on all curves and bridges On the day
In question he stopped his Mt the turnout about
six hundred feet from the end Of the bridge On
starting up he turned the handle regulating the
power around to three notches Just sufficiently far
TO allow Of enough current TO carry the car over
the frog at the switch He allowed the handle to
remain In this position until the neared the In
cline The power then turned off and the
brake partly set
Going down the incline the car did not travel any
faster than It did trips made on Friday and
Saturday. or on the previous trips that day He
noticed that the car swayed some. but not excess
sively.
The witness was asked II there was not a de-
preston at the point where the rails on the ap-
proach connected with those the bridge and he
replied that he had not noticed although the car
did jump slightly when passing that point
The car did not run fifteen feet the bridge be-
fore jumping the track. He Immediately reversed
the power. but found he had contact the motor
refusing to reverse. When he found that the
power Of the witness said he immedl-
ately grasped the brake handle and did his utmost
TO stop the progress Of the He had almost
succeeded In bringing IT to full stop when 1t be-
gan to topple. He then dved off the front aud
oyer the dasher striking on his head the bridge
He knew nothing more until no came TO himself
ying n hammock
power worked all right he could have brought the
car TO standstill In half its length by reversing
tba
rails he was sure no more than fifteen feet would
have been required TO make n stop.
Hemilton's testimony apparently threw no new
light on the question as to the responsibility for
the disaster
William Kelly. of Bridgeport. who was on the
car. testified that he suro the motorman had
the brakes full on at the time OF the disaster
Andrew Radel. president OF tho road testified
that the car was all right, and that he could not
say what the cause OF the accident
Frank Sammis testified that after the accident
he noticed that three ties the approach to the
bridge were very loose. The joint In the rail at
that point was made between two ties. and only a
short time before the accident he had noticed a
car bound up the incline pass over tho spot This
car rocked badly passing over the joint.
James II. Edwards n representative OF the Berlin
Iron Bridge Company. who made the design for the
bridge. said he considered tho bridge as fine
structure of the kind as ever was built Questioned
regarding the guard rail in use on tho bridge WITT
ness said that he had never seen a higher one in
any bridge IN the world. except, perhaps on
the trestle used by the elevated road In Now York
City.
Alvon b. Hale. starter at the beginning OF the
shelton line. said that Hamilton asked 10 be re-
leved from duty just before the fatal trip 10 allow
him (Hamilton, TO go home for his dinner. He had
made two trips over the road. making 1fty-eght
out food. Another trip would mean that he would
be Obliged 10 remain on his car without anything
eat for eleven hours making three round trips
aggregating eighty seven miles. The starter testi-
ned that he was obliged 10 send Hamilton back as
ne had TO put in his place. He seemed
greatly disappointed. but made trouble what