New-York tribune., 1901-07-27
SHEA'S MEN In A PANIC.
A RARE MCDDLE IN THH
BRIDGE DEPARTMENT.
MARTIN AND PROBASCO CONTRADICT
EACH OTHER AND SHEA CONTRA
Diets BOTH-EyIDENCE OF
NEGLECT OF STRUCTURE. #s


With other departments of the city preparing
to investigate the break in the bridge. the De-
partment of Bridges itself not far from a
panic yesterday. The Health Department for
instance conducting investigation the
District Attorney another. and the Police De-
partment. through Commissioner Murphy. an
nounced that IT would to it that the rules In
regard to overcrowding the structure were not
violated.
Meantime the Bridge Department hard at
work carrying on two great repairs. One was
of the nine broken suspender rods and the other
OF statement OF Assistant Engineer Probasco
that the break was caused by heat
The new rods were in place by o'clock yes
terday morning. and traffic resumed on tha
rorth roadway at $50 a.
When Messrs. Shea ard Martin reached their
Offices yesterday morning they confronted
with the statement of Mr.. Probasco who had
been engineer in charge in Mr.. Martins absence.
Mr. Probasco had said that heat had broken the
suspender rods. and that it wasn't much OF a
break. anyway.
MR.. MARTINS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Martin. after an hour or two of delibera-
ton. finally issued a statement in which ha
directly asserted that heat had had little
nothing to do with the break. but that 1t had
been due to defects in two of the rods. which.
on breaking. had broken the rest because of an
extra strain.
When Mr.. Probasco read this statement, hs
shouted: II am done talking I will not say
word-not a word; no. sir. not wordr'
But you stand by your heat theory?" asked
The Tribune reporter again.
Heat did it: There. I won't say word more.
stand where 1 have always stood There.
won't say word more"' and here Mr.. Probasco
emphasized his determination by closing the
door.
Further inquiry into the departments care OF
the bridge disclosed woful lack Of system.
Mr. Probasco had said that there regular
inspection of the bridge. Commissioner Shea
declared yesterday that the bridge was in
srected daily by the master mechanic, William
Dempsey who made his reports daily to Chief
Engineer Martin
Mr. Martin said later that there con-
slant inspection of the bridge. and that he did
rot think it necessary TO have any change
| in the present system
Gould you then let me see former reports of
| breaks or accidents?' Tribune reporter asked.
81 have no such thing" the answer.
| mo hles?" asked
| why no: necessary. When sone-
! thing is out Of order my attention is called To
| IL aud the necessary repair Is made
Mr. Martin then referred TO his formal state-
| ment in which he said that the swapping of the
rods began with the breaking Of two rods which
were defective. He added that these had evil
| IDENTIFY been broken long time.
| If you have regular inspection of the bridge,
| then why were not these breaks found?"
COULDN'T SEE THE BREAKS
Because" was the answer they broke so far
below the roadbed and in such out of the
way place that no inspector could see them. 1t
was not until the rods either side had also
| cd n
| broken rods out of their trunnion blocks that
| their breaks were seem
! Mr.. Martin again referred to his report. In
| which he said
| cables are sound would indicate that
| my theory is correct The bridge is now in
| perfect working order and is entirely safe
/ But how you tell that the other cables
are sound" asked The Tribune reporter, If. as
/ you say you cannot detect broken rod until
| enough of them break 70 pull IT through It's
| block?'
Mr.. Martin answered this question only by
saying that his report covered the subject con-
| cusivey.
| Probasco still further, Mr.. Martin in his state
| ment explained in detail just how the suspender
| rods were fastened into the trUnioE blocks. and
how they could swing back and forth with every
vibration, and with the expansion and con-
| traction of the metal because of heat or cold
| Mr. Martin was then asked if the breaks had
not been fastened. if no. caused. by rust
No he replied the bridge is not suffering
from lack of paint"
| Has not the bridge been overloaded
| 1T may have been but not to my knowledge.
II the cars with the proper headway
| of 102 feet there is no danger
! Are the cars running the same as usual
| now?''
Il believe they are. 1t is perfectly safe now
| 10 maintain the full schedule,
SHEA AS A HARMONIZER.
Commissioner Shea appeared 10 be somewhat
at a loss to know how to harmonize the CONTRA
dlctory statements of the two engineers He
| finally said:
| ..-be defective material. the vibrations and
| the heat all caused these breaks They are now
repaired. and the bridge is as safe as 1t ever
| was
.Is II not a matter Of common report that tho
trolley cars have crossed the bridge far cIoser
| together than permitted by law?''
..It is not true People are badly befuddIed
| over this point The cars come as close together
as they please the approaches and until they
| reach the towers ON the main span they nave
not travelled closer than the lo2-foot limit per-
mitted.
1O2-foot law"
Does not the bridge need painting"
ut does not
viii you make further investigation of tho
No It's all right It's perfectly safe
Were not some of the breaks old?''
$50 the chief engineer says in his report
..Does this not indicate that there has been .
lack of proper Inspection?
mot at ALL The bridge is regularly inspected.
You couldn't see those breaks at nrst The engf-
neer explained all that.
"Do you not think this accident has shown
the necessity OF a systematic inspection of the
bridge by first class engineers instead OF me-
chanics in haphazard fashion,"
"Oh no. We have got too many high class
officials now