Year: 1877




TESTIMONY OF TIE CHIEv ENGINEER OF THR FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND or THE STATION AGEyT-So
WATER THROWN on THE BURNING WRECK By
CAUSE THE STATION AGENT ORDERED THAT IT
SHOULD NOT BIZ.


AsHTABULA, Ohio, Jan. 3.-The inquest com.
menced this morning at 10 o'clock The first witnes.
called was Mr. c. A. Knapp, Chief Engineer OF the Pire
Department, who testified There engine On the
spot when arrived, about $50. This engine the Pro-
tectlon had large amount OF hose when IL arrived al
the fire. Witness asked Mr.. Strong the station
agent for the Erie Company. which side water
should be thrown FROM Mr. Strong said that he did not
want any water that he wanted help get the people
out knew there pipe at tie pumphOuse To which
the hose might have been joined The engineer there
and had all steam up Witness did not order any water
thrown because he ordered not to; was in 81.
preme command OF the Fire Department. The
wreck was burning to q considerable extent
when he arrived. The last person was taken
out alive half hour after his arrival; thinks the bodies
could have been saved that they might have been re-
cognzed by their frends could have two steamer,
to fire all he done toward putting ont the fire
was calling for buckets thinks there persons
enough to put out the fire; had no other
reason than stated for not throwing water On
the fire. no made any effort to hinder witness from
throwing water upon the wreck there were intima-


ton that he should throw water in order that the
bodies might not be recognized; he had perfect right TO
throw water notwithstanding what Mr. strong said; he
simply thought that II they did not want water thrown
he did want to throw any; heard screams and oans
from tie wreck; knew he had right and authority to
throw on water; had for doing except
that Mr. Strong told him not to- said his excitement
very great but knew what he ought TO do should have
thrown on water had he not been prevented by Mr..
Strong's statement.


The next witness A. A. Strong, station agent Tie
heard of the accident Immediately upon its
and hastened to the bridge devoted himself principally
10 caring for the wounded, and ordered road TO be
broken through the to the top OF the h that the
injured might be carried up; said at the time
OF his arrival at the scene the fire was in
progress the whole length Of the wreck; said the
station the time OF the accident three hydrans
and 10 hose received orders from the comp ny
cep to do all in his power to rescue the wounded and
get them 10 place Of safety received no instruction
any not to put water the fire. and do not
know any such orders being received by any said
no objection made, to his knowledge, to the use
Of the appliances at the depot for putting out the fire
cannot state why the hose Of the fire company not


t ched to hydrant for the purpose OF throwing
cD the fire said til Te orders given 10y the OIL
cia5 OF the fire company when Mr. Knapp was seen
by him: said the effect OF throwing water
upon the fire would have been undoubtedly to preserve
some the bodies that they could be rccOgnZed; did
throwing water, there were no shrieks when he
arrived the wreck; witness made no effort 10 control
the action of the fire department Ill regard TO the wreck


[For other details see F:fth PIge.l