Year: 1868

Result Of the C0r0nerss Inquest.


The inquest on the body Of James Barron, Of Troy,
the unfortunate man who was crushed to death on
Sunday at the Hoboken ferry foot Of Barclay
street, was held yesterday morning before Coroner
Flynn and jury.


The first witness called was Mr.. Thomas Downey,
OF No. 90 Elm street, who testified as follows:-On
Sunday evening I accompanied deceased on board
the feryboat Weehawken TO cross to New York. We
sat In the gentlemen's cabin until the boat arrived
near Barclay street. when we went out and
stood at the fore end Of the boat. There were q
great many passengers standing in front; the boat
gave sudden lurch against the side OF the pier or
the bridge, and looking round saw the deceased
between the boat and the bridge; to the best OF my
belief the chains were down, but cannot say POSI-
lively AZ was to much excited at the time; sprang
forward and caught deceased by the collar OF his
coat, but he had already been crushed at this
NV arm was nearly crnshed or: when let 90" 90
deceased fell into the water, but he was dead before
ne fell; held the deceased up as long as could, aud
then knowing that he was beyond help and seeing
that my arm would be torn OF relinquished my
grasp.


In answer to question by member OF the jury
witness stated that deceased did not step the
chain when he went to the front Of the boat.
William IL. Bunt, deck hand, deposed that it is
his duty to hold the chain until the boat Is fast to
the bridge and the engine ceases working; he so
held 1t on the ladies' side on Sunday evening; when
attention called to the accident by hearing the
cry, "Back the boat. there IL man overboard' was
quite positive the chains were not down when tne
boat struck, as he had his hands on them; when
called to the pilot rang to back which was immedi-
ately done; the chains were not unlocked till after
deceased was taken out OF the water and the boat
secured to the bridge.
To Juror-There were several outside the chains:
the boat did not touch the bridge until the man had
been crushed It first touched on the right corenr Of
the bridge.
Henry Mehiop. another deck hand, deposed that
his duty Is TO hook the boat at the New York side;
when the accident happened he was on the byidge
for the purpose OF performing that duty: he was
winding up the boat when ne heard the crash be-
tween It and the bridge; he looked at once towards
the chains and that the front chain up; I'm
medately threw back the 'pawlr OF the coRwheel.
to enable the boat TO back; the inside chain
not up; witness threw up the 'pawln he called


the pilot to back which instantly done; witness
took the deceased out OF the water
To a Juror-when jumped OF the boat TO get on
the bridge several passengers did the same; some
jumped OF before did.


The superintendent Of the line stated to the Coro-
ner and others that last week he found the middle
chain too near the deck and had II Immediately
taken or and altered by taking out links so 10
raise II to suflcent distance from the deck TO be
safe.


The jury returned the following verdict:-we find
the deceased TO his death by being accidentally
jammed between the ferryboat Wechawken and the
bridge foot Of Barclay street. on the 18th OF Novem
Der. 1868