The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-29
Not an Accident, but WiAftll
Murder.
Indignation Meeting of Citizens Of
SwampscOtt.
Determination to Hold the Railroad
Company Responsible.
Six More Hen Added to the List
of Victims.

BOSTON, August %, 1871.
The recent slaughter on the Eastern Railroad at
Revere loses none of its interest TO the public from
the fact that details are becoming more fully I'M
derstood. The terrible truths that thirty per-
sons have thus far lost their lives; that from
thirty to forty others have become personally
dishgured and now suffering from the effects
OF their attempt to gain speedy conveyance to
their homes, instead of provoking EXPLANATIONS Of
'sThank Gcd, 1t was no worse" and tending
to paclcation OF the public mind, have only sue
ceeded in arousing popular Indignation and inten-
styling the general desire TO the fullest pos
sbie investigation Of the case and FIX the blame
upon the shoulders where 1t properly belongs; for,
say those who have looked into the matter, there
must be blame somewhere. II II rests upon the
employees Of the corporation let them suffer the
fullest penalties OF the law; or il the criminal
conduct which has caused this catastrophe Is
the result of the mismanagement Of the higher
Ofccls OF the corporation the superintendent even,
Or the President and Board OF Directors, who pro.
vide the material with which he has to work. let
them be shown up fearessly before the public, that
all may KNOW with whom they have to GO.
WHO is RESPONSIBILITY
Ii would be useless to deny that public opinion
has sustained q considerable change In this matter
since the taking Of the testimony to-day. Thus far
the evidence given at the inquest as will be seen
ny careful HerusaI, SHOWS tnat tne trains
have been run irreguarly for some time past, and
that The thereof generally to he found in
the delay Of the making up OF trains. This delay
was occasoned by the lack Of a sufficent number
OF cars TO accommodate the business OF the road,
say the majority OF the witnesses, and the RESPONSE
billy for such negligence must rest upon the
Board Of Directors OF the road. Hence 1t
is that opinions have undergone radical
change, and the primary Of the catastrophe is
to be founa in the incompetency Of those VINO have
general outlook AT headquarters. Mr. Newland,
who was the conductor Of the accommodation train,
Bustans his full share OF blame for not sending out
fagman to notify the train behind him that
ne was running far behind his time; but 1t is
nevertheless a truth that he would not have Deen
placed In such position If he had been per-
United to start from the depot when lie
was s19naliZed 80 to do. Altogether the evil
dence seems to present grlevous state OF affairs
on the part of the largest trunk corporation east OF
Boston and to show that people high places are as
prone to make mistakes as those who popularity
said to belong to the lower classes. Railroad men,
like poets, are born and not made, and the
sooner stockholders ana directors ascertain the
truth OF this maxim and cease 10 hamper
their subordinates IN the discharge Of their duties
kie more seldom Will occur u railroad "accidenf"
THE COBoNER's INVESTIGATION.
An inquest into the causes OF the disaster was
opened this afternoon at the Town Hail. Revere half
q mile from the railway depot. The hall per-
haps half full of dull sort or crowd, whose appe
for the sensational had become satiated during
the past week. The Coroner, Dr. Forsyth is a we'll
known physician from Chelsea, and the jurors
Jonathan Harrington, Andrew Burnham, John Fl.
Proctor, Charles Bird and Colonel Porter, with DR..
jacob Mitchell, OF Chelsea. as clerk-siX good men
and true, are among the most respected citizens oil
the community. superintendent Prescott, OF the
Eastern Railroad. was present, ana the Board Oh
Directors was represented by counsel. me Railroad
Commissioners were represented by CHARLES Francis
Adams, Jr., who quietly took notes OF the proceed
ings.
TESTIMONY OF TIE CONDUCTOR OF THE EXPRESS
TRAIN.
The first witness was Jonn s. Nolan, conductor
OF the accommodation tram, an understood and
good looking man, with full black mustacne. He tes'
Ined as 1ollows:-l am conductor Oh the East
Railroad; on tine night OF The 10Th Of August i
had charge OF the train which leaves Boston Tor
Beverly we lett Boston at 7:45, hall an hour behind
time, obedience to the orders oi The depot master:
knew mat another express tram was to follow me,
but saw signs OF II until just before The accl-
dent place; we met with no interruption until
We arrived at Somervie, where we were detained
Tor a minute by another train which was on the
track when we arrived at the junction OF the Sdugus
branch the main road we espled the SIX
O'Clock traIn which, also late had preceded us out
OF Boston, and were compelled to wait until they
got out oil our way; this also delayed another Tram
winch was following US anu kept US oacR ior e'ent
pineer Mr. brown, said, 1--WE will go along lively
now Tor we have got another engine on ater
there snort OF u minute; our next stopping place
was at Chelsea, where we remained lor one ana one.
half minutes; we started from Chelsea with nothing
IN sight at the rear OF US; walked through my
train rom the rear to the forward car and when we
arrived at Revere stepped out upon the depot
PLATFORM TWO or three passengers got OH, OBTAINING
the rran one minute, and swung my lantern, say
ing "All right" to the engineer; just then somebody
screamed out There comes the other raln %
looked behind, saw the lights OF the approaching
train anu jumped between the rails, sN inring my
lantern IN It's lace; renamed as long as was con-
sstent with my own safety, then got out oil the
On crosscxaminatlon the witness testified that
his Instructions before leaving the depot were TO
start as quick as possible; he had the right oil the
road. and his instructions were to keep two white
lights burning at the rear OF his tram and not TO
approach Within hall me OF cxs 70 ali se IRAN
ductors ON the road; the lights could be
seen for distance OF mali a mile ana could nave
train who might have had time TO break up before
reaching the station from the Time wnen nrss
heard the outcry until the crash there could have
elapsed not more than half minute; Mr. howand
has been an employee OF the Eastern Railroad Tor
Jwenty-one years, and had always found the running
OF the trains very regular; during the last ten days
my train has started but once or twice on lts regular
time owing to lack OF cars occasioned by the great
demand ior passage during camp meeting week;
trans are started by the ringing OF pei III the de-
pot last SATURDAY nght Mr. an the ss n"arntemd
ent wanted me to get my car out OF Cne way US soon
as possible; this proceeded to do 49,, ,,,,,., ,r,,,
q. Did you know, then that the pullman tram
was TO leave Boston at eight O'Clock A. dd
knew thar they were to leave ten or fifteen minutes
after me.
q. DO YOU think that under ordinary circum-
stances that train could have caught up with yours
before rea cking Reveref A. No, sir; do not think
II could.
o. What Is the running time between Boston and
RevereY A. Twenty Minutes
q. Then II, as you have testified, you were DELAYED
eight, minutes at Saugus Junction, and had only
seven run fIomthcTe To Revere, Is II likely
that the Pullman train, running at It's ordinary
speed, could have 0vertaken your a. did not
think 1t was.
Being intcrrogated further, the witness furnished
information that the running time Of his train from
BOSTON 10 Everett was some minutes slower tnan
that OIL the Pullman train. lie did not consult his
watch once during the evening, and when ne ar
rived at Chelsea 1e did not know how much time he
had IN which to reach Revere; under his instruc-
tons the train following him was to keep out Of the
way, and ls conductor shOud have received nOtifi.