The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-08

Statement Of . Resident ut Maunch Chunk
Why she Affair Was Exaggerated By Local
Writers.

Statement Of = Residess as Maunch Chunk
Why she Affair Was Rxaggerassd By Local
Writers.
MAUcH CHUNK, Feb. 5, 1872.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
desire to give TO the readers OF the HERALD m
authentic statement OF che number killed and In.
jured In the late accident near Rockport on the LIE.
high Valley Railroad. and to correct, through the
columns OF your paper, erroneous statements and
reports which are being published In Journals
throughout this and other States In relation thereto
together with some facts as TO the condition of the
road, management. &c.
TIE accident occurred to the No. eastward
bound train mot the Buffalo express, as has been
enormously reportedA about one and half mile
above Rockport. one-half mile east OF Mud Run
The train was running &C nearly The schedule rate
OF speed the running time between White Haven
and Mud Run is twenty 'wo minutes distance
seven miles. On this day the time consumed be.
tween those two points was twenty minutes, not
eleven minutes as stated by correspondent OF the
Scranton Republican.
The supposuon is that the locomotive attached to
this train broke the rail in passing it. The To-
connective, exp ess baggag: ana matt car passed
over safely while the last two passenger were
thrown from the track and preciptated down a
thirty foot embankment. Instantly Kiing sour per-
sons, fatally InJuring two both OF whom have since
died. ana injurng fifteen others. All OF The latter
are rapidly recovering from their injuries.
Ii has been stated that the rail broke In very
sharp curve. This statements incorrect; the
broken rail was In almost perfect straight line
tangent 800 yards In length.
The testimony gwen before the Coroner's jury Of
manv who were at the place when the accident &C.
CURED IA, tnat Inc road ID In excellent condiuon
that the iron, ss, chairs. &C., all and the
road very good The Coroners jury, alter having
visited the scene OF the disaster and examined
| score OF witnesses, have rendered the following
verdict:-"The aCcldent was unavoidable; one That
could not be fOreseeD, anu mat no blame can be al
tacned to the company or Its agents"
nave seen piece OF the broken rail-. The iron
shows a Hne and tenacious fibre. anu mas been pro-
! nonnced oy all who saw II OF the best quality.
Charges have been made by irregular correspond
ents or the press-Inen whose sympathies are with
an opposition line because they have been refused
Tree passes, the extent that the Lentgh Valley
Railroad Is moi only In DOOR and dangerous condi-
| uon, that the ss are rotten, iron worn OUT &C,
but That 1t Is badly managed winch charges are as
| malicious they are lalse ana no uouDt made 70
divert the passenger traIiic OF this road to some
other line Sucn mean attempts to and the BUSINESS
OF a competing road, Immediately following 80 sad
ana unavoidable calamity, is, TO sag the least.
1t wen known here that the road Is IN excellent
condition from Easton 20 Waveriey. The officers VI
the company Will undoubtedly ask some competent
conditl0n. They Will not SHRINK from the fullest
vestgation but viii earnestly invite It, and give all
the laciteS necessary To Insure Its thOrOughness.
| In regard TO the management OF the road 1 nave
NO hesltaDcy IN SAYING that there railroad Ia
Valley, and ask the pubic 70 refrain from Judging
adversely IN this respect without giving This charge
OF derectlon OF dutv on the part OF The officers or
! the company the consideration II deserves. Those
waO have gwen currency 60 the story that the OIL
| GERS Oi Ihls company have been cupably negligent
| OF the duties imposed upon them aud that sad and
| painful accidents nave resulted the,efrOm. should
have Deen that tney Could their charges
be ore attempting TO bring intO disrepute some or
the best rairOad ocials oil our State. AS 49, they
must be deseryedly held guilty OF that meanest OF
CrlmeS-Siander.
Ii your leaders Will take up the reports OF railway
companies III This and adjOlilng States the loss
OF lie and INJURY TO passengers during the past If
teen years Jney will nnd that the casualties the
Lenlgn Valley Railroad, Tor tho numOer OF miles
run and the number OF passengers carried, ranks
among the smallest. Assert what know to be the
TACT, that not passenger mas been killed on this
road since It's opening, III loo5, 0y any negligence
oil the company, ani mat all injuries 10 passengers
have been the result OF their personal neglect
anu disObedience OF rules adopted for their safety.
append Il starement oi accidents 70 passengers
some tle railroads or this state for the past
three years computed from the State Auditor Gene
IA. Is report:-