The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-11-06

At!antic City, y. J, Novem Der l.
The inquest into the Thoroughfare dis
aster OF Sunday was begun today by
Coroner Gaskill. and after the exam
ination OF several witnesses an ad-
journment was taken until Monday
morning at 10 O'clock The sudden
termination came as surprise. but
1t was stated later that this step was
taken for the purpose OF summoning
additional witnesses. and to also give
the experts who are to testify an op-
portunity TO prepare maps and other
necessary papers. None Of the off-
Gals OF the railroad company was call
ed today. The most important testi-
mony thus far aGGUccd was that or
Bridge Tender Stey art, and Mrs.
Elizabeth Driscoll.
The former testifl that the grooves
IN the rails over the draw did not al
ways connect, this being the case in
not weather, and ii was then necessary.
to knock them into place. Mrs. Dris-
coll said that the train was running
at high speed when it struck the
treStle.
Coroner Gaskill charged the jury to.
discover the cause of the accident.
whether by the act of God or man.
The first witness called, w. Bremen
station agent, testified thar the speed
"f the train over the bridge should
not be over % miles an hour
James Curtist, the conductor or the
wrecke0train, testified thai there was
no delay, and that the train reached
PIeasantvilie one minute ahead OF
time. lie said the first he knew of
the wreck was sudden bump and
the train dashed into the Thorough
fare. He denied that he had been
warned before leaving Camden that
anYthlng was wrong with the rear car.
Conductor Curtist said there were
20 passengers on the train when it
left Camden. They picked up five or
six at New Field.
Commission Merchant Charles N.
kessler. whose yacht the Sinbad re-
CURED the draw to open just prior to
the accident, said he had no quarrel
with Bridge Tender Stewart about re-
fusing tc open the draw
John z. Kelly. OF Chester, Pa. said
he was in the front car just back of
the motorman.
When the train struck the draw
the front right wheels jumped several
inches, and threw him off the seat. He
broke the glass In window and got
out. He said the air brakes were ap-
piled as soon as the jolt came
Mrs. Elizabeth Driscoll, Of Atlantic
City, who was on the wharf. said the
train was going very fast, much fas-
ter than she had ever seen them run.
and she had watched them many
times.
Daniel Stewart, the aged bridge ten
der. testified as to letting the yacht
Sinbad through the draw. AS the yacht
had passed he placed the red flags. or
danger signals. He said the tower
man re-locked the bridge and then
he fStewart) went to the center and
re-locked the rails, raising them about
an inch and a half above the other
rails. He said that the rails were down
and fast, and he gave the signal "An
is right and the towerman pulled the
lever. The only trouble he has had
with the rails. he said was in extreme
!y hot weather when they would leave
the groove at the connection. II this
happened he would hit the rail blow
with hammer. He reported this to
the company and was told to saw Off
the section that projected On Sum
day he opened the bridge twice. He
ran out to assist in rescue, but could
do nothing. The train was going pref
fy fast. and he did not notice that it
Stacked up for the bridge. He notic-
ed the electric fash prior To the ac-
cident. Stewart admitted that one
iait lock ana the OtnSr STICK uD-
The rail that he sawed out was on the
northbound track and the accident on
the south.
He said he was 65 years old and had
worked for the Pennsylvania company
for the past 25 years. He declared that
he locked the bridge about Is minutes
before the train arrived
Assistant Bridge Tender Rtissi cor
roborated Stewart
Tower Tender John Spiker. said he
unlocked the bridge for the Sinbad
TO pass and locked Ii again II was
about 2:05 D. m. when he opened the
bridge and he closed IL at 2:12. When
the train struck the draw there was a
bright fash and the car bounced over
the ties He noticed Stewart pound
the rails down only once during the
summer. Sptker said he could lock the
draw with one end OF the rail sticking
up.
The inquest then adjourned until
Monday morning
Death Of RenreSeufaffxa Hnar