New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-08
THE NEW.ENGLAND DISASTERS.
MOTORMAN ARRESTED AND UNDER
BONDs-CoRONER' JURY INvEsTI-
eating - CORRECTED LIST
OF VICTIM:

Bridgeport, Conn, Aug. George Hamilton
the motorman Of the i'll fated car. which with
its human freight plunged over the side OF the
big trestle the Shelton Traction Company
road yesterday. arraigned before Justice
Charles H. Peck. in the Stratford Court this
evening. The charge brought against Hamilton
was that Of manslauehter
He pleaded not guilty. and. without having
heard evidence Of any kind, Justice PECK con-
tinued the case for week and fixed the
prisoners bail al $1,000 Hamilton was released
soon afterward. and went 70 his boarding place
in Bridgeport His surety William b. Tut
tie. G. Stratford druggist Hamilton would make
no statement after the hearing.
Coroner Doten and the jury which was i'm
panened this afternoon started for the scene OF
Yesterdays catastrophe al about O'CLOCK Inc
big trestle across the pond. from which the car
fell first engaged their attention Every por-
ton which could in any way have bearing
upon the accident. as we'll as the earthen ap-
proaches al the south Of the structure were
carefully examined. Several experts on orldges
and bridge building accompanied the jury 20 eN-
plain technical points which might have pear
ing unon some incident connected with the
occurrence.
F7roro the examination made by the coroners
fury the bridge apparently is good' strong
.,,betar+,al structure. The stringers on the out
side OF each rail are Of red oak SIX oy ten llces
bo,ted n the ties and intended TO prevent car
from leaving the rails The rails however meas
rre Ave and one-half inches from base To top
thus being only one-half inch lower 'han Tic
| wooden stringer or guard rail
A. the south end Of the bridge is an eaTth-
work annrosch 25O feet in length. with per
oer+ gradient The bridge experts who To-Day
eccononanied the jury said that a car running
! rsnid1y over this earth approach would acquire
| q "snringv. swaying motion" because OF the
| elastic properties of the earth II a car tlaV
! euAd down the approach at high rate OF sPeeu'
rhev said il would. at the time the treste WAS
| reached be swaying considerably 90 lohs &c
| II remained on the earthen foundation lneIe
| would be little danger Of leaving the IRONS ou :
- ~ bridge was reached the elasticity OF
The foundation Immediately would be removed
the bridge being rigid. and the tendency "ouiu
be for the car spring up from the rams ,,,
Two EXPERTS representatives. OF the berHn
Iron Bridge Company, who were present, Pr Pr
nounced the bridge TO be all rlght IN eNeIs "a;
and lust as safe as it possible 70 make IL.
One of them ventured the remark that ne would
| willingly ride over il on train OF Pullman cars
travelling at good rate OF speed Inc eLsn1Sn a
! the light weight of the cars and the snort
| The car which had sunk in the mud Of the fiat
! bernatb The bridge was removed and carefully
( examined The wheels were looked over and the
! hanges found TO be in perfect condition not
| broken in any way. The brake and brake rods
also we're uniniured. The brakes were set The
condition Of the lever by which the power 10
run the car is regulated showed that at the
! time the car left the bridge the power was
| turned cornnletelv off Everything about the
| car all the parts. all the surroundings, was
| carefully examined by the jury, and When they
| thought nothing remained 10 be done there ad-
.ournment was taken until 10 o'clock to-mor-
! row forenoon.
The following are the additions and correc-
! tons 10 the list OF dead and injured as pub
| lished in The Tribune yesterday morning:
THB DEAD.
BAIIOr Ms Frank and two children, stratford Cor
PITT sydney A. Bridgeport Corrected
! RUGGEI-I>s. Mrs. Joseph. stratford corrected.
ADDED NAMES.
| ANDERSON Victor Bridgeport.
! BALDWIN Howard stratford-
| FLYNN. John p, Bridgeport
| CALVIN, John. Ansonia
| TOOMEY Bessie. Bridgeport
Two unidentified bodies the stratford Morgue
INJURED.
| KNAPP Frank y. Bridgeport (corrected).
DELANEY Charles NeH-York added. internally IN
Jurec.
William Mccullough, who was first reported
! among the dead. found 10 have been In
! jured internally, and will probably live.
Allen W. Page. secretary and treasurer o.
the company, says that te nholoiHdh wa
! either disobeying orders by running too tast- or
| finding himself in a dangerous position, became
| confused and instead OF turning on the cur
! rent made the contrary motion and turned i
! on full
! The statement that the road was under the
| control of the Bridgeport Traction Company Il
| denied by the officials Of that company, "h'
| assert that IL has never been purchased or &C
| ouired even by lease. The Bridgeport Traction
! companys interests, they claim. VIII not b
| affected in any manner by the accident II Il
| iatrosJ that the Railroad Commissioners haC
! ,ot vet examined or accepted the road, although
| +bev had been notified that il was completed