The New York herald., 1872-12-07
THE MIFFLIN DISASTER.
Further Particulars OF the Accident |
How IL Came About.

How IL Came About.
PDILADELpHIA, Dec. g. 1872.
The following particulars OF the railroad disaster
from passengers, have been received here:-
When about one and half miles west OF Mifn
the engineer OF the second section In rounding
curve discovered red lights OF q train a short dis
tance ahead. He promptly applied the air brake
and arrested the motion OF the train. The sudden
check, however parted the coupling between the
express and baggage cars. The engine and express
Car dashed ahead controlled by the brake or the
engine alone The accident was the immediate re-
suit OF the coupling breaking.
WHEN THE COUPLING PARTED
the rear train came easily and gently to a stand
still but when the engine became detached 1t lost
control of the brakes and flew with lightning-like
adt rap into m the r y wnGS mes %ss ner q.
The result OF the crash was that the
two rear Pullman cars OF the first train
we're violently driven INTO each other, with the
fatal results already stated. The rules OF the COM
pany imperative that where two sections OF
kept at least fifteen minutes behind the first. To
insure this operators or telegraph stations are re-
CURED 20 show red light for fifteen minutes after
caution to the contingency OF the first train
losing time between stations the rear brakeman
Is provided with English fuse signals which will
burn fifteen minutes under all circumstances.
These signals he Is required to light and throw of
at frequent intervals whenever his train Is found
to be losing time. The conductor is required to
see personally that this Is done. The officers OF
the road are not yet able to give any opinion with
regard to
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISASTER,
but have promptly instituted q searching investi-
CATION. This Is the first instance we belleve on
record, OF the teescOping OF Pullman cars, their
solid structure usually resisting the force OF ordi
nary collisions. ...
Partial stigatton-TestimOny Of
the Brakemen and Engineer.
HARRISBURG, Pa Dec. Q, 1872
Alta partial examination here this evening In
relation 10 the collision the Pennsylvania
Railroad last night, the nagman OF the first
train testified that few minutes before
the collision aAA when twO-thirds over q
straight piece OF track, tive mil0H in length,
he observed the second train coming; moved the
red light as warning signals felt sure 1t was Oh
served by the engineer OF the train following, as
there appeared to be o slackening OF speed; the
first train broke the coupling just before the acci-
dent. out was moving about fifteen miles an hour
when struck by the second train.
The engineer OF the second train testified that
when he reached the two miles OF straight track
did not see 1t; when he struck the straight track
the headlight OF an approaching freight train on
the left track prevented him seeing the waving
OF the red light; as he rounded the third curve
beyond the first saw the rear OF the
first train; applied the air brake, reversed; but
the momentum was such that when coupling
broke between the tender OF his engine and the
first car he could not prevent the collision had not
the slightest idea thai the FIRST train had lost any
time from the last station until the engine was
about to strike 1t. The engineer Is one OF the old
road. The examination will be continued tO-mor-