The Washington times., 1903-11-01
DRANBRIDGE INQUIRY
ADJOURNED BY CORONER
Jury Awaits Report From
Colonel Allen.
FATAL ACCIDENT DESCRIBED
Witnesses Tell of Eekert's Death and
Testify as to the Condition
of the Structure.

Coroner hewitt and the jury drawn by
him TO INQUIRE inyo the death Of Richard
J. Eckert, the hagmaa killed in the
wreck Of the Long Bridge on Sunday
night. October Is. is making q rigorous
investigation. The jury assembled yes
terday at 10 o'clock, /and sat till 1880.
when an adjournment was taken until
some day this week. This was in order
TO obtain from the Office Of the Chief OF
Engineers at the War Department and
tbs officials OF the railroads using the
bridge definite information as to the re
spective jurisdictions over the struc-
ture. ~ order to fix. II possible, the re-
sponsibility for the collapse Of the draw
under the Chesapeake and Ohio pas
senger IT was also the desire of the
jury to learn more definitely the con-
d1tion OF the bridge as shown by the
timbers after the disaster. The Coroner
IS leaving no stcne unturned 10 place
this information before the jury. and to
that end has had a detective detailed
from police headquarters TO interview
representatives Of the War Department
and the railroads, consult the records
OF iaspeetL rs and condemnations, and
lay this information before the jury at
a later date.
Quite Z number OF witnesses were ex-
anined yesterday.
Deputy Coroner GlaZeDrOok tesIlheo
he had examined the body and found
the trousers torn over both hips, and
right foot twisted. the ankle having been
broken. Death was due to drowning.
James Cathell. detective Of the Phila-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington Rail-
road, investigated the accident the
morning after 1t occurred. He said he
had learned the accident vas due to
the tender jumping the track. and crash
ing into a timber of the draw. Cathell
said ali those responsible for the condi-
ton OF the bridge are employees Of the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and washington
Railroad
Frederick G. STANCE. the policeman on
duty on the bridge the night OF the ac-
cident. was the next witness
Eckert's duty. said the witness. was 10
inspect the lraw after each train had
passed no train could pass without q
signal from Eckert that all was well
He described the working OF the draw
and -4id the rails must necessarily
be flush before the draw could be locked
George Eeins. a boat builder. was III
the shanty with Eekert when the crash
came.
Eckert tagged the Chesapeake and
Ohio train and had Just returned to tho
shanty when the draw went down
Testimony of Mr. Meigs.
John + Meigs. civil engineer attached
TO the Office Of Colonel Allen, of the
War Department. appeared 10 represent
Colonel Allen. Mr.. Meigs said that the
relations between the General Govern
rnent and the Pennsylvania Railroad
we're very clearly set forth in an act
Of Congress OF 1870. but he did not know
the provisions Of the act. The witness
had made no official inspection, nor did
he know OF any made BY the War De
partmenC
IN reply to question from Franklin
Mackey, attorney for Mrs. Eckert, Mr.
Meigs admitted that. unofheially, as al
engineer, he hal noted the condition o
the broken timbers. and saw some wer'
unsound. What proportion were unsounC
he could not say.
The Coroner and the jury expressed {
desire for information showing the rela
lions between the General Governmen
and the railroad. the inspections mad
and concentrations, IL any. of the struc
tsre As the witness was unable TO fur
nish this information Il was decided q
adjourn the inquiry until the prepare
ton OF a report on this subject from tn
Office Of the Chief of Engineers.
Frank Howard, also with Eckert at tn
time OF The accident. was the next wit
ness. Three other men were in the tend
er's house when the accident occurred
Frank Taylor, the drawtender, wh'
operated the engine and switches, knew
nothing Of the occurrences on The abut
n.ent. as he was in the boiler room abov
the center OF the draw. Taylor sai'
The railroad employed an inspecto
whose Suty IL was 20 inspect the bridge
and who spent most Of his time on tn
bridge. He did not know II the Govern
nent conducted any Inspection.
Five or six months ago the truck o
an electric car had jumped the rails
but he had not known Of . steam ca
truck leaving the rails. he had las
opened the draw at $50 Sunday after
noon. Later several trains had passed
William ". Giles. Waterman on tn
new draw. who was in the shanty. de
ecribed the accident When the cras
came the train was thrown against IN
vanity. moving Il some twelve or IF
teen inshes
Wood Appeared Rotten.
J. 3. -IurdOck. railroad inspector o
Long Bridge made his last inspectio
before the accident Sunday night a
GO He believed then the bridge wa
perfectly safe. There We're three or fou
other company employees. the Witnes
7aid, but he had never seen them
Immediately after the accident Muir
dock inspected the wreckage. and foun
70 unsound tirabers. His opinion is thu
the tender must have jumped the trac
and have struck the braces along IN
side. causing the wreck.
G. W S0merville. computer OF tn
District Building Department. said b
had had no official request 10 inspect tn
bridge. bat had done so on his oW
account From the north abutment. h
said. he had seen four pieces Of tinbe
much discolored. though whether fror
actual rot he was not close enough 4
see.
He did observe however that Nv
Oimbers were joined in such a way as L
bring the strain OF certain rods on
place where the hbers Of discolored WOO,
were not more than an inch or two 4
length.
The jury then adjourned. 70 await tn
report from the office OF tho Chief OF En-
glneers-
Runway Horse Too Strong.