The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-09
THE D!sA TER Ar TIE INDIANA STATE
FAR.

Verdict OF the Coroncr's Jury Twenty -Ons
Persons Kiiled--Fhe Blame Fixed Upon the
Observation-Disclosures Of Governor Baker
Calling for Pecuniary Assistance. ~--~s
The coroners jury sitting at Indianapolis Ind for
the purpose Of investigating the causes OF the recent
disastrous boiler explosion at the Indiana state fair
returned the FOIL owing verdict on the night Of the
9Th inst:-
In rendering our verdict In regard to the fearful
calamity which has spread gloom so many
houses we deem 1t due to the community as well e
ourselves that we shall say that we have arrived 1T
our conclusion obtained under the embarrassment
OF discrepancy and conflicting statements, resulting
we hope and believe from the difference OF judg.
ment ana observation, as Is often apparent where
the opinion OF great number Is received; and
under the greater embarrassment OF excited popular
preJudice-easlly forgiven where there Ia entire
absence OF conflicting interest," and where It Is only
the result or true sympathy aud the exactiOns OF an
injured and indignant populace who have 80
recently been deprived and beieaved of good and
useful citizens.
we have summoned before us all from whom Il
was possible to obtain any Information which would
likely serve US in reaching verdict which would be
In accordance with all the facts. T7
whose name could be obtained, and La 70 had the
testimony OF many who saw the working Of the ma
few minutes before the accident occurred. We have
summoned before Us men who arc familiar wlthethe
and also quite familiar with tne character Of tSs
material used Ia the CONSTRUCTION Of the BOILER ana
an other parts OF the cooperating machinery. w
learned tand OF great experience IN the philosophy
OF steam power and OF the pOnts of danger which at
any time may be so quickly developed into destruc-
tive action
And we have had experts who have thoroughly
examined the broken parts OF the boiler ana DEBRIS
which lies scattered over great surface, and BY
their aid have been enabled TO form some theory OF
the phenomenon OF the explosion. Ana 1t iS from
the statements and opinions OF such men, difYering
very widely IN many essential particulars that We
are compelled to reach conclusion. !,
The condition OF boiler can he so quickly changed
that the statement OF any one. however competent
and truthful, made at one time, could be relied
upon to determine Its condition even within the
short space OF ten minutes afterwards. particularly
IN an engine which was 30 frequently stopped.
There can be no other conclusion from the evi.
dence than that the water Was pcrmltte to become
low In the boiler, and wnen demand was made on
the engineer for power to pr0pe the machinery he
either had not the moral courage TO reuse to risk
the danger, or displayed that culpaDle recklessnese
which ultlmated IN The fearful disaster.
In acordance with these facts aud details wa
therefore find and render verdict as folioWs:-
That Z. I. Davis aud twenty others came to their
deaths from injuries received by the exploding OF
boiler attached TO one Of E. p snker Co "a p0rta.
Bile engines, at the Indiana State Fair grounds on
the LIST day OF October 1865, which explosion was
caused by care'essness and culpable announcement
on the part OF the engineer III charge John Coll de-
ceased. WINSTON p. NOBLE EOreman
JOHN >. BRAY.
AUGUSTUS BRUNER.
]: p WEAVER.
y. POWELL.