The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-31 00:00:00

THE RAILROAD ACCIDENT IN MISSOURI.

• ST. Louis, May 15.
The evidence before the coroner's jury yesterday plainly
shewed that the extra freight train which came in colli-
sion with the passenger train at Eureka, on Thursday,
was running outside of instructions, and had used from
ten to fifteen minutes more of the, express time than the
special orders had alloted to it, The conductor and engi-
neer of the extra train swore that they ran precisely ac-
cording to orders, and if there was a mistake it arose from
a difference in watches. The weight of evidence is strongly
against them, however, and the coroner ordered the arrest
of William Odor, the conductor, and he was placed in the
calaboose. The fact that Odor, and his engineer, Tracy,
left the spot instantly after the collision, because, as they
assert, they feared personal violence, while the conductors
and other employes of the passenger-train remained and
worked nobly for the release and relief of. the
sufferers, is generally regarded as consciousness of
having done wrong, and strengthens the belief
that they alone were to blame for the collision.
The wounded generally are doing well, and are receiving
the care of some of the best surgeons and physicians in
this city. The railroad company are doing everything
for their comfort, and will recompense them for losses, so
far as money can do so, without suit or expense, The
remains of the dead have been placed in metallic cases,
and will be deposited in the cemetery vault subject to the
orders of their friends. The pecuniary loss of the acci-
dent to rolling stock is about $30,000. The reported
death of H. E. Fleming, the chief engineer of the Tabo
and Acosho Railway, is incorrect ; he was in the train, but
left at Sedalia. All the bodies of the killed by the late
accident, except two, have been claimed by their
friends and forwarded to their homes. The coroner 'a
jury will probably render their verdict to-morrow. Two
grimly amusing incidents are also related, among
several very painful ones. When news of the smash-up
reached the U. S. Express Office in St. Louis, it was heard
that the messenger,. Mr. Warner, was among the killed.
Directions were given to have a rough box made and
sent at once to the depot, to receive the remains, and also
ordered from the undertaker a metallic coffin. The
rough box was sent to the depot, and on its arrival there
the parties in charge found Warner, the messenger,
sitting on the platform alive and well ! He was not quite
ready to be put into the box. He was waiting to receive
the express money, chest, which had been rescued from
the ruins, and was in one of the cars. A German, lying
among the rubbish, called lustily for a doctor, and said
his legs were broken off. He was lifted up, and then it
was found that he had not received a scratch, but was
terribly frightened. Another man was lying on his back,
and he, too, wanted a doctor ; said he was sure he was
killed. He was raised to his feet, and was as sound as a
dollar. He had lost one of his shoes, and he begged Mr.
Smizer to find his shoe for him. Mr. S. politely invited
him to go to a certain hot place down below. One man
who was but slightly injured was served with refresh-
ments, which so far revived him that he stole the napkin
and fork that had been brought for his use.