The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-04
The saved and the Lost In the
;AshInbuln Disaster.

| hshEAbuLAI January o.-Dy tne unu'
ing OF plpers and scraps Of clothing
among the debris to-day, the following
named persons were known TO have been
on the wrecked train: Miss Charlotte N.
Smith, kondOut, New York; Miss. NJ. A.
Smith, Rondout, New York; ]. II. Smith,
Ontario, Canada. There was also identi.
fed among the bodies at the freight
house: Mrs. Elia Hopper, Chippewa,
Ontario.
The only relics found to-day besides
those mentioned we're some pocket
knives. It Ia probable that to.morrow "
will finish the clearing away Of the
wreck and search for missing, The list
now stands rs follows: Passengers
on board 1873, employees 10, total i47;
rescued passengers 63, employees 9, total
y; died since, passengers 3, employees !,
total 4; names known, rescued p, lost 10,
hnaccountsd for 8, total l47.
STILL LIVES.
Mr.. VIM. H. Kinkead, with Balts, Reed
& Coley, No. 64l Broadway, New York,
has been published as lost in the wreck
on Friday night. He desires II known
that he got of the train at Erie and Ia
alive. ..l...
CoRoNER's INQUEsT.
The inquest commenced this morning
at 10 o'clock. The FIRST witness was g. A.
Knapp, chief engineer Of the fire de-
pariment, who testified Us follows: One
engine was on the spot when arrived,
about $50. This engine, the Protection,
had large amount Of hose. When /
arrived at the FIRE / asked Mr.. Strong,
station agentfor the Erie company W hiCh
side we should throw water from. Mr..
Strong said he did not want any water;
that he wanted help to get the people out.
Knew there Was a pipe at the pump house
to which hose might have 6ttsd; the en-
glneer was there and steam was up. Wit
ness did not order water thrown because
ordered not to, was in command Of the
Fire Department. The wreck was burn
ing considerably when he arrived, The
last person taken out alive was half
hour after his arrival. He thinks the
bodies could have been saved SO that
they might have been recognized by the
friends, could they have sent two streams
on the fire, All hG saw done towards
putting out the FIRE was calling for buck
ets. He thinks there werC persons
enough to put out the fro. Have no
other reason than that stated for not
throwing water on the fire. No one took
any effort TO hinder the witness from
throwing water. There were no instruc.
tions that he should not throw water in
order that the bodies might not
be recognized. He had q perfect
right to throw water notwithstanding |
what Mr.. Strong said. He simply
thought that il they didn't want water |
thown he didn't want 10 throw any. He
heard groanS from the wreck and knew
he had right TO throw water, but had |
no reason for not throwing it except
that Mr.. Strong told him not to. His ex.
citenent was very great, but knew what
he ought to do. Should have thrown water
il he had not been prevented by the state.
ment Of Strong.
The next witness was A. A. Strong,
Agent. He heard Of the accident
Immediately on its occurrence and
hastened to the bridge. He devoted
ulmhSIt llIhSlphll1 " CuIluk luE lu6 |
wounded, and ordered a road to be broken |
through the snow to the top Of the hIll,
that the injured might be carried up. Al
the time OF his arrival at the scene the
fire was in progress thu whole length OF
the wreck. The appliances OF the com.
pany for putting out fires at the station
at the time OF the accident were three
hydrants and no hose. He received no
orders from the company except to do
all in his power TO rescue the wounded
and get them to places Of safety. He re-
ceiveIl no instructions from any source
not to put water on the fire, and did not
know Of any such orders being received
by any one, No objection was made
to the use Of the appliances at the depot
for putting out FIRE. Can't say why the
hose was not attached for the purpose
OF throwing water other than that there
were no orders given by the officials OF
the fire company. When Mr.. Knapp was
seen by witness the effect Of throwing
water would have been undoubtedly 10
preserve some Of the bodies so that they
could have been recognized. He don't
believe any lives could have been saved,
as there were no shrieks heard when he
arrived. He made no effort to control
the action Of the fire department in regard
to the wreck.