Year: 1868

not the engine; undoubtedly the settling OF the cross
ties had caused the spikes in the chair TO loosen; the
CHAIR Is usually fastened by three spikes, two the
outside and one on the inside; these were oosened
by the striking Of the wheels OF the locomotive,
causing the road to spread; this Is not uncommon In
the spring when the frost coming out OF the ground;
some OF the timber Of the crosste decayed, but
been on straight line it would not have hanpened:
ON curve the greatest pressure Is on the inside
rai nothing but the engine tipped over; the last
did not leave the track; the ends OF the platforms
were br0ken-nothing else; the platforms on which
the deceased stood were the that were smashed;
twelve regular trains go over this portion OF the
track daily, besides extra trains, passenger and
freight; have roadmaster; II il this ocers duty To
inspect the road It's whole distance; the roadmster
and assistant go over the road once or twice a week:
ii is his duty TO that the road kept repair


Walter z. Lobdell sworn-Reside ut 402 West
Forty street; l am father of the deceased,
Oscar Lobdell; my son was employed In carrying
papers to the Long Island depot for the statesmen on


the train the boy a asSe 70 60 the
sick boys place on that train; he mad dread OF
going on trains; been in employ OF Mr. shears, news
paper agent about three years; did not see hin until
today; heard OF the accident on the night of the
afternoon that 1t occurred.


Michael Ryan sworn-Is conductor on the Long
Island Railroad; have been four years on the road
left depot ut 1874 on the afternoon OF the lSth lst
"wednesday on express train Naphank); at the
time OF the accident was in rear car; this occurred
about two and u half miles out from Hunters Point;
was thrown suddenly on my back while in the act
OF taking up tickets this was the first intinatlon
had OF the accident; the passengers were for mo-
ment very much alarmed, but succeeded nquietlng
them; the effect OF the accident was over IN mo-
ment looked ahead and saw the engine capsized and
the smoking car and forward part OF first passenger
car or the track; the car was in did not 20 off the
track; did not see the deceased in the position the
engineer described him to have been; the crowd was
around; gave him In charge of a physician who was
ON the traln on the superintendent OF the road ar
irving at the scene OF the disaster he took charge OF
the boy and conveyed him to Hunters Point depot;
did not examine the rail thoroughly was busily en-
gagged III sending out nags TO warn approaching
trains; the curve where the accident occurred is
pretty sharp; the rail was only in part
shifted out Of pace-about an inch; beyond
this the track was torn up; this spread


ing caused the wheel to ride the other rail- the track
was torn from where the rail was displaced about
twenty-five feet; the spikes i'll the chair doubt
less oosened and drawn by the frost aud the settling
Of the ground; the spike was drawn up about two
inches; the crosstes sound at this place; last
summer the rails and ties were renewed; the outer
edge of the tie was decayed little; where the rail
was tied the timber was sound; do not consider
the road just now in good condOn 1t Is safe to run
at moderate rate or speed at this season OF the
year; where the accident occurred the ground is soft
and l0amy; the road Is Inspected by trackmen before
and after every train; the road Is divided into sec
tions and closely surveyed in advance of every tran
Andrew J. Hxck sworn-Live all Jamaica, L. L.;
have been brakeman on the road very nearly two
years; ut the time OF the accident at the brake
on the rear car; felt the shock and supposng the
engineer had shut OIL, / put down the brake and


looked out see what was the matter; was not near
where the boy was; do not know anything Of the con-
dit0n OF the track or the cause OF the accdent did
not examine the displaced rail.


The Coroner here remarked that he would ad
jOurn further investigation until Wednesday next ut
ten O'Clock in the morning. number OF per-
sons living the line Of the road, he added,
were desirous OF giving their testimony, and
as doubtless facts tnat the public ought to
know in their possession, he did not feel just
fed in cutting or testimony and bringing the inquest
to hasty and unsatisfactory conclusion. The jury
seemed to agree in the necessity OF pushing the in
quiry and said they would be present ut the hour to
which the inquest mad been adjourned.


Mr. LObde, it Is understood, intends bringing q
suit against the Long Island Railroad Company for
the killing Of his boy, which he contends with Ordi-
nary care in attending To the condition Of the road
could not have occurred.