The New York herald., 1869-05-26
SHE MOUNT HOLLY, n. j., RMLROAD
DISASTER,

ceased Engineer Complains Of Its Condition.
The Coroner's inquiry into the cause tnat led to
the fatal explosion OF the locomotive on tae Mount
Holly and Burlington Railroad on Friday last. and
Vhch resulted In the death OF three persons and the
manning Of several others las fully reported In Sun
qay's HERALD), was commenced at the Arcade Hotel,
Mount Holly, ON Monday forenoon. The jurors are
komposed OF the most intelligent and respectable
members of the community around, who manifested
81 their interr0gatons much anxiety to develop
the true cause Of the melancholy catas-
tr0phe. Monday was mostly occupied with
the examination of the superintendent and
ofncials lower in grade who, with much snavity,
lave most rose-colored account OF the value and
perfection OF the locomotive, wondering, In fact,
how suoh mishap could occur with such good on
gine. The authorities, too made excellent lawyers
in their own defence, and industrousy put such col
lateral questions to the witnesses as were likely
30 subserve their interests. The engineer, however,
who had charge OF the locomotive Immediately
preceding the advent OF the ifated Gaskill to that
position and late the middle April last test
ped although with apparent hesitation, that he was
efraad OF the dome OF the engine even after 1t had
been last repaired, couple Of months since. Two
Or three witnesses testified having heard the eng
beer say the engine not ut for such heavy work.
Appended viii be found the evidence adduced on
Monday
Thomas Kerr, being duly sworn said-I live In
B0rdentown; am master machinist Of the Camden
and Amboy Railroad; have the charge and repair OF
All the engines used said road; the steam boiler
0f engine No. SO was built in 1853; she was built as
freight engine; about one month ago she under
went some slight repairs; the boiler was not exam
tped then as 1t was not cons dered necessary; con-
pdered engine 80 q good, sale engine Tor the work
bne nau 10 DO; boller IS never condemned until IL
leaks
Francis Harris, being sworn said-I live at Bor.
IN hnlIa Lpr in filA nf
Camden and Amboy railroad Company; worked
pm engine 80 last February; liked the brace then; did
not examine any other part; the engine had not
been in the shops for repair since "a piece Of the
9oier was here exhibited 10 witness, which he pro-
nounced as good from; the engine weighed twenty
George Vernon, being duly sworn. said-I reside
at Bordentown; am In Charge OF Lae engineers on
the Camden and AmbOy kallroad; asked II he would
IKE to take charge OF locomotive No. 80; said he
would took charge OF the locomotive In April; never
qeard him complain Oh the engine; Platt asked wit
hess TO give hlm the position Of fireman; seemed
anxious to getit regularly employed on the ocOmo-
tive since the latter end Of April; previously was
Doing occasional work on other locomotives, never
BEARD any OF the officials say the engine was incom
,petent but about week before the accident the
engineer called witness attention to the need OF
some little repairs; got in new brass crank aud
Whistle ana an other defects reported by the en-
IS sale man with an engine; he had been
Six years in the employ OF the company; acted as
engineer exclusively since December, 1868; the loco
motive, previous TO being put ON this road, was en-
ployed drilling at Camden the fireman Is under the
character; Josiah CrIsper had charge OF the ocomo-
I'VE before GasklII; 1t was employed to convey the
Hendiick Hyers being duly sworn, said-I reside
at Boruentown; am in the employ or the Camden
end Amboy Railroad Company as locomotive engi-
peer; knew JOD Gaskill; knew engine No 80; as far
rs knew she always stood no. 1; always considered
ner sale and sound locomotive; never heard any
Jnng 10 me contrary; Gaskiil showed he understood
his business well for the experience he mad
bad; fired Tor witness for two years and half; never
knew him to drink nytning stronger than tea or
had conversation with adr Gaskill within q week
or ten days Of the accident nothing against the
engine; had no conversation about it, he complained
OF the Inconvenience OF the JOB; never heard the
CINE condemned or considered as unsafe until after
tpe explosion; had no acquaintance; never had
charge Of engine No. 80; it require u heavy SUBJ
9tantial, pretty good engine to AZ the drilling at
Camden; had fired the engine; here was wood
burner and freight engine; considered Gaskil as
Competent to take charge Of a locomotive when he
le1t me as fireman last December.
BY Juror-What would be the effect OF shutting
on steam suddenly with hundred pounds Of steam
pnf A. she would blow up; have often had one hun
dred ana ten pounds OF steam on and shut or
= Edward Osmond, being sworn, said-I reside at
boy railroad; have Deem in that CAPACITY for SIX
years and a half; have run engine No. 80 over
year ago t drng az Camden; run ner pr, on tne con
Of her ior few days. considered her perfectly safe
never heard anything TO ,ne contrary before the
Always working nice; could not get more than one
hundred and pounds OF steam on herr her valve
would blow the steam away; don't know how many
safety valves she had; on an ordinary road 100 tons
Che LOAD the engine was drawing at the time Of ex
plosion) would not be q very big load; don't always
shut on steam crossing bridge did not hesitate to
take charge OF engine No, 30 some time ago.
a0osIah Crspen, beng sworn, said-Have been en-
poyed by the company or seventeen years.
as engineer about five years; run engine No 80 for
three or four years eit her about two months snce
otherwise; the dome rather large; had no stays
and considered her dangerous; complained to
reported the fact Mr.. Kerr's foreman, James Nell
son, In December; think she was taken into the
shop Afterwards and patch put on her boiler about
the braces; stay rod was put in at that time; ruu
ne since and made no report thought one report
vs SoId eo ne IN Sa
never considered the dome saIe, even after leaving
the shop; the dome was In danger OF being blown on
by the steam; other engineers objected to the size OF
the dome.
!. John S. Cooke, being duly sworn sald-Am super.
tntendent OF the vincenttown Mari Works; the cars
had 100 tons OF mari wnen leaving the pits; have
rode On the engine and never heard any complalnf5
about the engine from the engineer he said he could
hot run heavy trains with the engine.
K s. Van Rensselaer,. being next sworn, saii--1 am
superintendent OF TINS road; an engine belonging 70
the company exploded In 1850; four persods were
then killed; think the cause OF that explosion was
extreme pressure.
The jury then took recess for an hour, ana on re-
Israel Powell was sworn and said-ilive at VIM
centtown; am working IN the mari pts; was on the
train the time the accident occurref left Vincent
town between nine and ten o'clocEe Isfy mornlngi
went a. aS usual rate spess ssSnd
don't know what amount OF stea Pos on; heard
Mr. Hutchinson, the foreman OF th( mari pits, say
that the engine was not 1T TO take 4 the load the
morning Of the occurrence, tile ID Nnf kiew OF the
Accident was when got up OF b 1ns'f coal; saw
Inc locomotive In the creek. en,
solomon Williams, being sworn --fihed-I live
At vincenttown; am working Leilroad; leit
Vincentiown on the train; dom etlrfse hour; OBJ
served nothing unusual about 1co hglne; was on
the back part Of the tender the On, explosion
ing Washington street. ~
Benjamin Dudley being swoia said-I live AZ
yincenttown was working on tic mari train; left
Vincenttown on Friday morning - the neighborhood
Of ten o'clock; observed nothilg unusual in the
running OF the trains that day;was on tue rear car;
the first knew Of the accderf was when found
myself lying on the road abou twenty yards from
she train; heard Mr.. Gaskill engneer) say he did
not like TO take the engine tne roau with such
heavy loads: can't eay when but not on that day:
She locomotive took 1ye trains of mari out OF the
pit within tSo weeks; couu not tell now got OH
the cars.
Curtis ooldy, being mex sworn, said work on