The Portland daily press., 1899-08-08

was pushed In BY the nrn~ds on the pl., !
for aftrr the crash. ali invJiuntarlly drew
back in horror from the opening.
Miss Ethel n. Strnt.on OF Bangor. tae-
titled to the came eIieut. The most i'm.
porthnt witness wns William A. Withnm
OF Lisbon Fails, foreman OF bridges for
The Maine Central rsilrozd, who built
tho aaugway last June. lie said the
material for the gang way was not or.
dered by him, bat was landed on the
wharf for bis use His orders for the
building of the brfdRs came from Super
intendent Powers Of the Bridge and buiid-
Ing department. Of tbs Maine Central,
The RHng-way was 81 f-2 feet long and 10
wide. The tipibers were 3xi1 Inches, set
vertically and dressed BY twoinch plank
ing. There were five Of these beams run
ming the length OF the eang-way. Thefa
tlmbers were reinforced BY three one-incii
truss TO DIS set 10 u hard pine cross timber
at the hinge of the pier and spruce
timber at the outer end. These rods were
through holes made with chtsel, net
augur and were fastened on the outside
BY IL linen mats. scEswed flush with
timbers. He was not an exfert on quail
~ Of timber. but thought ths material
was good, aud supposed the gang-way
was strong enough to tear ell strain
that could be put upon u. He believed
the accident was caused by the nuts on
the iron rods pulling through the outer
Iaoao UlcCtf UuQ taf1 tLE AGAAlEfH were
not strong enough TO stand the extra
strain thrown upon them. Asked why
washers or plates were not put under
the nuts, he said he bulls the slip rs in
structed.
The railroads attorney, Mr.. Chapman.
arrived late In the ..Eftsrnoon aud asked
for adjournment for another day which
was granted.
Following il the testimony OF William
~. - -. E.fl
quarters at Bangor. In full:
@ Are you the foreman OF the con-
struotion Of the siip that was broken
yes tercayf
Al am, sir.
Q.--Statc when the slip was built and
structsd.
A.-Complsted June 4th, this year. /
think it was thoroughly constructed as
the slip as near my orders as l under
stood.
Q-ShouId there not have been iron
plates under the nuts In the ends of the
iron trus rods.
Al think the circumstances now
show that there should have been.
Q Nv hat in your opinion Is the direct
cause of the ncoidentf
Any opinion ia that the nuts drew
through the timber, and as they did so,
the slip kept settling. and the final coll
lapse came at nne instant.
Q.--How long and how wide ia the slip,
and how supported and constructed?
A.-Slip 81 feet, six inches long, 10 feet
vide. Inner end, OF head OF clip, was an
sx12 hard pine tim bef. about one foot
longer on each end than the length of the
sllp, the ends RESTING on the caps of the
piling OF the wharf, thereby forming the
hinge, the ends being rounded on the
under side. The outer ends 9ers support
cd By beam under the slip, about four
foot from the outer end, suspended by a
galiows fian o. and chains over pulleys.
Was constructed OF fosrs strineers, sxi2
and dorble ten n ant. ons end fitting In
to the hard pine timber at the head of the
alp, the other ends fitting into the head
pieoe, 0x12 spruce. The ce eatsr of the slip
was further supported ty three brass rods
running the head timbers Under two
truss beams sxl2. 6iyidhg tbs slip into
about three equal spaceA and covered
with two inch spruce plAnks. There was
o two Inch plank put In bet ween the
stringers, sot edgewlge, for the purpose Of
atif1ening the centre OF the covering, ia
reference 10 running heavy truck loads Of
lum Der. The reds were l-S inches in
diameter, OF iron, and the ends upset to
5-s inches, where the threads were.
Nuts. l should think, were about la
inches in diameter. There were no plates
or washers under the nuts
Q Were the head timbers countersuuk
to let the nuts in flush with the outer side
of the timbers?
A.-1he timber Mt the head CT the clip
and the other one were cut in but very
little; not flush. The plank covering the
o utside timber was cut to let the nuts in.
GLOW big an auger were the holes
bored with?
A.-Abous 3.s inches; know we had
to drive the bolts through the holes.
Q.-Wsat kind of lumber was used in
tn , string ersf
AL thought 1t was spruce.
Allow many persons. IL thsy were
crowded on, would 1t hold, do you thinks
A.-Have no idea.
Q.-who gave you orders to constructs
the slipf
A.--Mr. p. NJ. Watson, superintendent
Of bridges and buildings, Maine Central
railroad.
Q.-Did he give yon orders as to the
size of the u mber TO be used In a.?
Al had nothing to do with the order
ing OF the timber.
Where did you find the timber when
you did the work?
A-On the wharf.
Care you acquainted with the differ
to the qualityi
A-No, l could not state it according
to the grading at the mill.
Witness was shown some timber to see
II it was like that usel In the ccnstruc-
tion of the gangway.
Q-How far were the nuts turned on
to the threads of the truss rods?
A-Ihe nuts were flush.
Q-With what tools and how did you
out to set the nuts into the head timterl
A-with a mallet and chisel
Q-Why did you not put some washers
unuer the nutss
Al had none to put on. This was
the reason, and then did not think IL
was necessary.
Q-How was the two-inch plank
through the centre secured?
A-Seoured with 80-penny nails. 1t
WAS also resting on the truss beams Sc
cured in position by the nails.
Q-Ontside of the truss, 1t gave no sup
port to the Flip. did 1t?
A-No. sir; 1t was not put there for
that purpul g.
Hugh Chapman of Bangor, attorney
for the Maine Central. arrived late in the
aftsrn zen after the testimony had been
taken. After looking over the testimony
he said that he had nothing to offer anu
the jury, who desired to get statements
from the oificers-ef the Sappho and other