The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-07

! fecty astounoed and terrified at the announce
ment and Immediately declared that sne must
/ hasten TO the scene OF the accident. The neigh
| Dor lid not inform her OF the fact that her hus-
| band's name appeared among the list OF tns
| killed, hoping that there might be some mistake
shout II, and Mrs. Pfeiier who Is rather OF san
! guine nature. hoped that her husband might be
among the saved. But what was her horror
when, on arriving at the grove Que OF the corpses
was disclosed 10 her view and she recognized In
the manged features. In which scarcely trace OF
their former identity could be seen, those
OF her loved husband whom she mad seen
only the day before in the best or
health. The scene OF recognition pierced the
heart OF every one VINO STOOD by. Sne uttered tue
most Acquiring snrieks, throwing mp her hands
over her mead ana In q fe W moments, alter having
exhausted her strength In these frantic demonstra-
lions, she tainted away She was Immediately
laid upon her back. water splashed over her face
ana 1t was several minutes before sac was brought
to- she was then tenderly led 10 MRS. Lockwood's
room, but she had TO be supported oy two strong
men to be kept on her feet. Mr.. Pieller leaves
one child, boy, tour years old. He was about
tnriy-nve years DID, real estate agent, living at
No. 22l North Seventh street. Williamsburg. He
was IN the smoking OF the eastward bound
tram. His body will be brought to Brooklyn Tor
interment
THE C0RONER'S JURY.
Coroner John r. hicks says that the following
jurymen have been selected Tor the inquest-
Pliny Doughty Uoreman), Benjamin G. Mot,
James Mimraugh, Daniel Mott, William Smith, Z.
+. Maser, Charles Petit. Cnares Karoll. Dewitt
Barker, Samuel j. Harkins, Joseph McKlmm and
J. A. Wood The inquest will be held on Thursday
afternoon, at two O'Clock, at Lockwood's Grove,
near Rockaway Junction.
WHO is REsPoNsIBLg'
Superintendent Barton lodges the responsibility
where II no doubt belongs. he says that as lar
as he has been able TO ascertain the con-
ductor and engineer OF the tram from New York
must be helu mainly responsible for the disaster.
Up till noon, he says, trains going westward have
the "rIght of road" for the space OF ten minutes
over trains going eastward after noon the rule is
Uice rerSd. AS the accident occurred IN the after
noon II was the train from New York and not the
train from Rockaway which had the right OF way.
'Ihls Is our invariable rule on this road. In
starting trains allowance Is also made some
times fur variations OF time between the respect
i've conductors and engineers, and this allowance
is Ave minutes. Altogether the time which the
westward going train should have waited for the
eastward gong one was fifteen minutes; alter
that the first could starr, according the rules
OF the company, and 1t was 1or the train from
New York to keep out OF her way. 1t appears that
Tue Train from uoCkdWaV ulu uOL only wall Tue
extreme limit OF fifteen minutes, but FULLY seven
teen minutes. The time when the trains met was
1853; the western train started at 1857, while the
railroad time table fixed the time for Its starring
at 40. Hence 1t is clear that tho conductor and
engineer of the train from New York were at
fault. They should have known how greatly be-
hind time they were, and rather remain behind at
WoodsDurg with their train than TO run the chance
OF a collision. There must have been negligence
somewhere. and to this may probably be added
the fact that the train was unusually heavy
one, and that the engine, therefore, could not
make ner ordinary time"
Mr.. Barton denied that the conductor OF the
eastern train, Hiobard, was addicted TO drink.
on the contrary, ne said he was a very trust
worthy man ana had enjoyed the confidence OF
his superlors. The engineer, Ashmead. was also
a good man, and Mr.. Barton was utterly at loss
to account for their negligence. When asked why
they had not system OF signals by which such q
collision might easily be prevented, Mir. Barton
said IL was lmpraciicabe, ana even on the roads
where 1t was in vogue collisions occurred some
times Mr.. Barton's attention was called to the
fact that only those riding on the platforms were
killed, and that the company was IN a measure
responsible therefor, falling TO provide seats for
them; TO which he replied that on the Fourth OF
July 1t was frequently impossible to furnish sui
fcient accommodations.
As regards the loss OF the company, Mr.. Barton
says 1t is less Than $500. The large steam en-
CINE can be repaired for $780, the smaller one
Tor So 500. the two that were totally de-
s'royed were worth SO oo) and the injuries TO the
other four are comparatively small
AS regards the division OF the responsibility be-
tween the conductor, Hubbard, and the engineer,
Ashmead, Mr.. Barton says that both we're equally
responsible. The conductor, TO be sure, generally
gave the signal for starring, but the engineer had
the right 10 refuse to start II his time told him
that collision or other accident was probable.
Mr.. Barton says that a strict investigation into all
the circums tances OF this appalling disaster Will
be made
Mr. WILLIAM H. HIBBARD,
the father OF the conductor who has Deen declared
the guilty party by superintendent Barton, says
the report that mis- son was intoxicated Is grossly
false. He was young man OF thoroughly temper.
ate habits, and he felt sure that II ne were not
dead 'he could speak for himself" MT. Hubbard
says that even If his sons train was behind time
the calamity could have been averted II the COM
pany had nagman TO give the danger sRnai. In
justice to his dead son, who persned so suddenly
In the service OF the pubic-lor lie would probably
not have been killed II he mad not rushed out to
the platform to put on the brake-Mr. Hlsbard
asks the public to withhold their judgment rs re.
CARDS the respon slbility for the accident until
all the circumstances snsll nave come to light
DIR. JULIUS AUKRBACH,
a brother Of the German novelist makes the fol-
lowing statement
About three o'clock was summoned 10 the
scene OF the collision and found large concourse
OF people drawn to the place. found already Dr.
Conway, DR.. Curtis. OF New York; DR.. o'Brien OF
Brooklyn; DIR. Healey and DR.. Strong. The
manned and the dead were lying in various por-
lions oil the woods adjacent Coroner John Il.
Hicks was on The spot The request OF the Coro-
ner that his Deputy should assist him was met by
the answer, ''rne dead must bury the dead;
let attend 10 the l1ving.' By courtesy DR.. Cur
tbs was chosen cher OF this medical corps. The
wounded were then removed to the houses
OF citizens OF the village all employees OF the rail-
way. from Mr.. Po3pennusen down, deserving the
suffering ana the dead. Lawrence Duncan re-
cetved the poor fireman, Finn. The names OF all
others nave escaped me. Tae proprietors OF the