The New York herald., 1871-02-12
SUBMARINE SEARCHES FOR RODItS..
Singular interruption to the Werk-Ell6rts
to Raise the Engine-A Body Embedded
in It-Another Victim Reported.
A TIlEID "CR0wNER's QUEsTa
Funeral Of a Victim at Clesrland-The Legig.
latiye Investigation.

| NEW HAMBURG, Feb. II, 1871.
The evidence given before the Coroner's Jury has
unquestionably thrown important light upon the hor-
ror that on the night OF Monday last startled the
Teutonc inhabitants or this quiet burg, and has
caused severe comments beth here and at other
points along the line by the public, who now gem
orally believe that the accident would never havy
occurred had the employees the oil freight train
exercised any common diligence ana the head oil
cials insisted upon the execution OF the rules gov-
ernng the running or trains have carefully noted
ALL THE IMPORTANT POINTS IN THE EVIDENCE,
and am free to admit tina. the popular verdict od
the public Is we'll grounded. The testimony OF the
employees OF the company IN charge OF the train
shows that the axle or the freight norIh
of this station, and nearly bali mile from wheret
the train went Off upon the other track. 1t also}
shows that while the rules require that every train
shall be provided with bell cord running from ths
engine to the caDooce at the rear, so as TO permit
the transfer OF signals through the train, and uhd
stationng of workmen at the rear front and centred
OF the Gear, neither OF these precautions was OBJ
served. Some time ago it was discovered that tho
practice OF using bell cord was falling into dsusd
among the conductors, VINO relied upouA
! lights, and superintendent Toucey renewed thei
| order; but 1t appears that II was not gcnerallW
Obeyed, and fully onethrd OF The trains were ram
without the bell cords. on MS neigh tram Gtefd
ecds no 0eu cJrd, ana the ecidehcs ShotCs that the
brakeman, ,chOse place ,caS ia the centre OF md
train, rhe,e the dTle brole, dcas IN the cdb00se nj
the rearI The testimony shows that had thd
brakeman been ct his post and the belit cord
through the train he would likely have discovered
the accident and sgnalled the engineer IN time td
stop the train before 1t reached the draw and
jumped or upon the track OF the express tram.
This negligence upon the part OF the conductor and
brakeman, 1t Is generally believed, led to the acci
dent that hurried OF souls into e.ernltyy
THE EMPLOYEES ON THE EXPRESS
do not come In for share OF censure. While th1
evidence Is somewhat conflicting as to the time that
elapsed and the distance raversed by the train be-
tween the exposure OF the danger signal from tho
freight train and the COLLISION 1t Is pretty evident
that the moment engineer Simmons detected tho
danger signals he reversed his engine, and the
pateut brakes were put on by the fireman. Thc
train, which behind time, however, was run
ming at such high rate OF speed that the efforts to
check 1t Of avail and the engineer remained
at his post and went with his locomotive into the
chasm OF death.
EFFORTS TO RAISE THE ENGINE
All efforts made yesterday TO raise the engine
proved unsuccessful and superintendent Toucey
called IN the services OF George Polk, q submarIne
diver, OF Poughkeepsie 10 go down into the bed Of
the river, apply the fastenings 10 the engine and
search the bodies supposed 10 De buried below
or in 1t. Mr. Flood, under whose superintendent
the work Is being carried on, at seven O'Clock tnis
mornlng had made all preparalions for tho
descent, and Mr. Polk was on hand with htS'
armOr. But unforeseen circumstance 0c-
CURED to delay the prosecution OF the work.
and the diver was afraid TO entrust the management
OF the air tubes to novice. The telegraph was
called into reqnlstion, and shortly after nine
O'Clock the assistant arrived from Poughkeepsie
where he had been detained to welcome the entry
into the world OF miniature diver. The diver at
once put on his armor and descended After being
down some time he found that the cab OF the engine
had been broken away and the locomotive lying up
on Its side. Carefully feeling his way about tha
locomotive, he discovered that
1T WAS REVERSED.
On the flremanS side OF the engine where the
fireman states the unknown stranger was standing
when he jumped from the locomotive, Mr. Polk.
a coat upon which were buttons. He endeavorei to
draw out the supposed body or the unknown
iron rods he unsuccessful. Later in the day he
again descended, but was again unsuccessful in ex.
Treating the supposed body.
ANOTHER sUPPosE ED VICTIM.
This morning Mrs. James Bennett arrived from
New York IN search Of her husband professor OF
languages whO she says, left the Ill lated train
and has not since been heard from. Professor Ben-
nett came originally from Fredericton, Mo-, but
months ago. Leaving his wife and child. aged three
years at boarding house in Englewood, n. j., the
Professor left on the train for Buffalo where ne
expected to OBTAIN engagement as O nguist.
Mrs. Bennett stated that her husband informed
aef ' a he ne had wod o Sleeping he u
at the bottom OF the creek Mrs Benefits condi
ton Is truly deplorase left as she Is in utterly des
tttute circumstances, and thousands Of miles from
relatives, who live In New Orleans and San Fran
cisco. There Is excellent chance Tor the benevo-
lently inclined TO obvate the sufIerngs OF deserv-
ing Southern lady, who IL overcome by grier for the
supposed dead husband and father.
The total number supposed to be lost f5 twenty
three-the nineteen passengers whose remains have
been Identified, the engineer the brakeman, the un-
known stranger who rode on the engine, and Mr..
Bennett.
One OF the witnesses testifes that as the baggage
and Jump into the burned sleeper" It Is more
than likely that he Is some stranger who riding
In the baggage car, and. II SO, the total number be-
lieved to have been sacrificed s twenty-four.
rIMID CRowNgR'S QUEST
The temerity OF the Coroner, who is certainly
making searching inquiry into all the circum-
stances in not placing tne conductor and aeiinquent
brakeman Of the Wildcat freight train, who &C.
were grossly Negligent, under arrest until verdict
Is rendered, is severely commented upon by per-
sons living along the line OF the road who believe
that explanation viii be found In the fact that
they are residents Of PoughKeepsie, and therefore
Coroner fears to resort to precautions against
their night. Conductor Underwood has admitted
that he expects to be discharged Should 1t appear
n aT ~ ne S = IN ma any way for the fearful loss
OF SO light punlshment2
The RoBslN6 OF THE DEAD
Diligent injuries made by me fail TO sustain the
charges made BY scnsa0nally Inclined journals that
there was ndiscriminate pillage OF the corpses. I
Is a boy, employed at the factories near who round
upon the Ice gold watch and failed to report it.
He was arrested yesterday by the detective Of tho
railway company and taken to PoughKeepsie.
Under the Water-A Body Discovered.
NEW HAMBURG, N. Y, Feb. H. 1871
George Polk, submarine diver OF Pougnkeeps.e.
has made two descents at the wreck to place gran.
pings about the locomotive The engine lies on its
side and the cab Is entirely gone The diver OBJ
served that the engine was reversed. On the nre.
mans side OF the engine the diver found bundle of
some kind, and on touching 1t felt button on q
coat On the bundle were two heavy rods. 1t is
supposed the bundle Is the body of the stranger who
was riding with the engineer 1t Is thought the