New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-29
THE RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.
INTENSE FEELING IN MASSACHUSETTS.

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNE.l
BOSTON, Aug 2S.-The additional detail of
the Revere Railway horror show that the first reports
were not only not exaggerated but failed give a
plete idea OF the appalling scene which was witnessed
on Saturday night The rarity Of such cases OF whole
sale slaughter in this community has caused
greater excitement than would otherwise have
been the AS 1t L. the disaster has absorbed every
other topic OF discussion, and is likely TO for several
days to come TO show how deep a hold the accident
has taken In the peoples minds it is said that
OF the trains the Eastern Road to-day while other
crowded and people standing in the asles
only two three persons occupied the car from
indefinite fear OF being telescoped
The Revere station now presents unusual appear
10 indicate II the OF frghfu an accident
The edge OF the platform al point so co feet
north of the station is charred that being the spot oc
cupied by the detached passenger cars
while burning, and some OF the sleepers which
were not injured enough TO be removed, are also
cbarred. A few new seepers and some new rails are
the only signs any change in the locality The burned
rails it appears, were removed, as the heat impaired
the temper of the iron and rendered it unfit for use
In Lynn an intense feeling OF prevails, flags are
at hafmast and gloom seems TO have settled over the
community. The funeral of Mr.. T. F. Bancroft Of Lynn
occurred to-day deep sympathy and sorrow we're mani
tested by the public.
The and his jury began their unpleasant work
this afternoon and examined JnO. g. Nolan, the con-
ductOr of the accommodation train for about two hours
The Hon. Chas Francis Adams, jr one OF the Railroad
Commissioners, was present and asked several
questions. The testimony may be very i'm
portant in connection with that OF Others and
IL will be repeated again tomorrow, TO be reported
IN full The conductor thought he had the right OF
way. and that the engineer Of the express train
should have looked out for him. Standing
alone, his views are not deemed very important,
but will be great element toward making up
the case. Because he thought the engineer
of the express TO look after him, he did not hurry
this appears TO be his line Of defense II is declared
from official sources that the Beverly train left
the Eastern Depot in Boston at 20 minutes before
O'Clock, and the Pullman express at three minutes
after o'clock, making an interval or % minutes
between them The railroad officials are reticent, but
Superintendent Prescott explicitly declares that he told
the conductor of the express to tell Brown the engineer
TO look out for the Beverly local, aud the con-
dnctor replied that he had done So The
engineers friends say that he did look out Tor
IL, but the testimony seems TO be conclusive
that he going least IS miles an hour There are
those who wish to divide the responsibility between the
engineer Of the express both conductors the superin-
tendent the drectOrsfor not having furnished more
cars for the Of the roadand the station agent at
Revere people generally await the result of the Cor
oner's verdict the statements which made are so
numerous and contradictory.
A public meeting held at Swampscott this even
ing at which addresses were made by the Hon. f. H.
Nudge the Rev. j. F. A. Ward and Mr. Wendell Phillips
The accident deliberate murder was spoken OF in the
severest terms, although the blame was not specially
attached 70 individuals, the people there awaiting
in common with others the result OF the
verdict set OF resolutions was adopted ex-
pressing coincidence with the friends Of the Dead one
solve declaring that the hand OF Providence was not
recognized, but the criminal careessness Of man. Mr..
Philips addeda special resolve for the consideration of the
Railr n " whom a
committee was appointed 1t in effect that they
were especially suggest whether the vastly increased
number Of railway does not require that our
railways should adopt the system of running their trains
by elegaph permitting no train to leave one station
until the train ahead has been reported having passed
the ex Unnecessary, thaexpress trains shall move
on separate tracks, failing in which, railways shall be
forbidden to allow any train to leave central station
after the time fixed on the timetable.
ADVENTURES OF PASSENGER
The number Of hair-breadth escapes and accounts Of
herosm the part Of some of the passengers and those
who arrived early upon the ground TO render aid
multiplying very fast. An exceedingly interesting and
concise statement is made by the foreman Of the Tran
script Office Mr.. John D. Whitcomb, who was in the
middle passenger Of the Bangor train. He had
left his party with two others to 60 to the
smoRng.car, and found the train going at what
said TO be 40 miles an hour. He says, a" | had pro
ceeded quickly about twOthrds Of the distance through
the smokingcar 10 seat and was about occupying IT,
when there quick shrll whistle 10 put down the
brakes and terrible crash. The whistle and crash
so near together that they one in the din.
A hasty forward glance, as / thrown vio-
lently over the back Of the forward seat, showed
me the saloons at the front OF the car wrecked
and the larger mass apparently coming forward
bodily, in addition 10 the flying splinters which
raining all about the car at the front end, and which
could be heard rang the roof and against the
ofrafV ~Ixr
standstill and the occupants Of the smokngcar all
gathered themselves up miraculousy unhurt, from the
various positions into which they had been thrown.
Then for moment panic TO get out Of the
but that only for a moment
clearheaded and cool person. whose thoughts we're
only the clearer when danger called for quick Judgment
shouted we hurt do MT let be killed by
ming each other; then all passed out orderly and
slowly, for the platform at the rear which had
10 cross had been destroyed and egress difficult.
Aghting finally from the car we perceived scene OF
horror which experiences count nothing, and
which tseems almost selfish TO think write about
Running quickly forward TO learn the Of the crash
the thing attract attention the seeming alb
the engine of train in the dense darkness OF
the night that prevailed. At lurid glare burst
from the wrecked further along the track and the
awful magnitude Of the disaster was revealed in
its terrors We had struck the OF train
ahead OF us, and engine had buried Itself in one OF
the cars 10 within few feet mot than three OF the
end Of its tender. The three forward cars OF the
train were ON fire. The first thing TO do
was 10 help a poor crushed, manned being
who had dropped through the floor OF the
car upon the truck OF engine, assist in taking him
into the little depot just abreast Of the scene OF the col
son and then return the Pullman train TO hurry our
ladies out of the car fear Of another disaster from the
trains in our rear which had begun to be talked OF
among the railroad employees"
no he
the conduct OF man who assumed the leadership OF the
uorkers and gave this incident OF presence Of mind