The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-23
ROTTEN TIES AND SLIDING
 RAILS AT SCENE OF WRECK
tcontinded from Page one)


 side to the other by the use of a
 small crowbar or pick-these and
 many other defects were readily point
 ed out to Coroner PheIan in the road bed at Saugatuck where the Boston
 Express plunged into ruins on Oct. 3.
 George B, Everett, man who has had 35 years experience in practical
 railroad 5'building, serving 30 years as 2 foreman on Ia section near where
 the wreck occurred was the man of
 the hour at Athe hearing yesterday
 which Coroner Phelan conducted on
 the ground where the wreck happened
 Though Everetts5w bit loquacious
 and at times showed an animosity against the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, from whose employ he was discharged about five years
 ago, there was no question about his
 conscientious.
 Coroner Phelan incidentally learned a good deal about railroad construc-
 tion Everett showed a familiarity with railroad construction that had to be recognized and his qualifications to give expert opinions on roadbeds had cit at times because the railroad of hcials did not answer some of the questions that he put.
 Everett stopped over one time, grabbed hold of the end of. tie and with 8 little pull yanked up big chunk of rotten wood. s"Te1l me- he said addressing the railroad officials
 who were present. sIs that a fit tie to have In your roadbed?'' He re-
 ceived no answer and sarcastically re- marked. 9Ah, silence gives consent
 Everett seemed only too eager to get
 the railroad officials to refute his claims. tn one two instances when they did attempt to explain about cerz tain conditions of the roadbed Everett had ear close by and when the expIan- ation had ended asked the coroner to be heard. And his explanations, to the layman, seemed , very, practice, tsd, in tried several times to question Everett but were in turn questioned by the witness, so that they finally gave up to refute E5verett's claims by explain ing their theories and knowledge of certain defects that were being point ed out, one after another by the zeal Many times did Everett caution the coroner that the officials were trying repeatedly made sarcastic remarks about how the road was trying to cover up its sins,'' and on one or two oecaaioEs dsclared that he was pre- take the matter to a further end. He said that if he failed this time to se- cure a betterment Of conditions on the road, he would press the matter fur ther until he did get satisfaction.
 One good point to show the sheer ity and conscientiousnessS of his atu- tude was when Everett said: Why MT Coroner I wrote to the railroad over a year ago and pointed out all of these conditions and defects that I am now showing you. At that time did it as a.friend. I was seeking ia yors from the road for was looking for employment. If didn't believe. .xl, what Eas TgSporsIng ,;,an to thsm sT t9 6s7 to show them at that time what I considered defects. never got reply to that letter. senr them another and never received reply from that. Now. I'rn not seeking favors from the road; I am more concerned now. in bringing these matters fairly and rightly before the public to show just what danger people travel in when they ride on the cars of this road It is a wonder to me that more wrecks don't happen.
 E .sI'In not asking you MT Coroner to take my unsupported word: If I have not shown you every defect said there was in the road. bed, I'm pre- pared to go further and show you anything that I've omitted I'm tell ing the truth, the facts and these rail- road men heEe know it. They know it just. as well as I know it.
 Everett created a laugh when he re- marked. very seriously, tI wish you could be nearby when the roadmaster the track supervisor and hear what he tells them about these conditions He'll give them hell alright; T know because five been there.''
 DO you mean to say that the road master will use profane language" asked the coroner jokingly.
 tProfane language, oh the most pro- lins piiea s0ssst B1efstt ok Know for i've been there.''
 The nearing yesterday opened in 8 oner, Sheriff John M. Donnelly. some of the railroad officials and newspa- permen took the il :09 o'clock train arrived a G at sausatucE shortly after II 80. The first one to greet them was Everett. There had been some spec ulation as to whether the witness would show up. He was very much on hand however The Farmer reporter was first to reach him
 live been assaulted, he declared, not over agitated but simply to sup ply information that was asked for. The man was serious He continued: When was walking to here. along man on the section just west of here, came up to me and put his hand on my shoulder and showed me. He said, Get the he'll out of here or I'll arrest you.' Whats the matter with you anyhow, you used to work for the road and things were all right then You're 2 After that I walked to this section here at Saugatuck and met Bartley Gordon, who is the foreman here. I talked with him and he told me that orders had been given to arrest me if [ showed up on the tracks. I told him I had a right to be on the tracks as I was doing it to aid the coroner. walked from Norwalk to Saugatuck just to make further note of the condi- tions of the tracks,
 By that time the Coroner had come l up to Everett and the man went fnz to further detail of his experience l with the section forenen. George A. | road master was with the | coroner. He was accused by Everett | of having issued the orders. to have him arrested. Everett claimed that Gordon had made the statement that the roadmaster had issued orders to arrest him. (Everett.) =. |
 The coroner expressed regret that such a thing should occur. DeMoret denied that he had issued orders to | arrest Everett.
 The inspection of the railroad bed | began in front of the Saugatuck sta | ion. It ended as far the end of l .roSsover which is believed to have | thrown the fated train from the rails. | At the. outset Everett pointed out 1