The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-01-25

WHICH CONTAINS SOLuE sylAlbltu- AoSGA~
tons. They bear chiefly upon the ac>
ton OF the railroad and fire department
authorities in refusing or neglectlng TO
employ the means at hand tor extln~
gushing the flames. He said that
Within few minutes after the disaster
one steam fire engine and Two hand en-
gnes were at the spot, and there was
abundance of water at hand. Fnrtner~
more, half way up the bank was an en-
CINE house. with an engine used to pump
water from the river into the railroad
cofapany's tanks. In the engine house
were 500 feet OF hose, and altogether
about 5000 feet of hoes were near
enoneh at hand TO be available In cxtin>
gushing tie fire. But no attempt was
made to bring these appliances into
use. Mr. Lyons said that ii was the
opinion OF those with whom he c0nversed
that not more than six persons would
have been burned to death. aud that not
single body would have been burned
beyond recognition If water had been
thrown on the fire. With regard to the
authority which prevented the use of the
engines aud hose Mr.. Lyons said that
he had what seemed to him ample evil
dence that the railroad officials were
responsible. He himself heard after the
disaster thada dispatch had been received
| fran railroad headquarters ordering that
no water should be thrown upon the
wreck, .to the effect that all should
sink into obliviob,' Mr.. Lyons quoted
this ID the hearing of fireman, who at
once said, those are the very words OF
/ u. 4.,R. nh % m
/ Strong and the assertion was atterward
cores Grated by other fremen, and gave
| their names and addresses 30 Mr.. Lyons.
Mr.. Lyons remarked lhatAit was an aw-
lnl thought that the railroad officials
woald deliberately plan not 10 save tire,
for the pecuniary advantage OF the road,
and YET one could not help remembers
ing that the Lake Shore Company would
not get insurance money on cars smash
ed, while they would get it If cars were
burned, and that. furthermore, by the
Ohio State law, they were required &c
pay 81 900 damages for deaths causes
by their fault. while damages for inlu :
ries caused were likely to range consId'
erably higher, at the discretion of jury.
Mr.. Lyons said that il was at least cer-
tains thai those who arrived at the scene
of the tasasfer the same evening urged
that waler should be- thrown upon tht
burning ears, and ahas MI, Strong aux
Mayor Iepborn Of Ashtabula, who wa
civil engineer in the employ OF th'
road, objected, refusing to allow the ire
. men to make use CT their engines. MIR
LYONS that il singular that the Chief Q
. the Fire Department did not oyerrui
these directions. He had always sup
posed thatg fire departments po ssesse'
f In case of tire, to act upon their owl
, discretion
i Again, there had been q gross mis-
| statement in the number oil passenger
on the train. Conductor Hem sal
shortly before the accidentI that Their
were leo persons on the train. Ate
, the disaster he placed the NUMBER cor
: siderably lower, while in tact there Wer
, many more than 160 on board, From tn
: Palatine all were taken out alive; fror
:. Yokohoma one man was taken out
: from the city of Buffalo none were take
, out at all; from the Osseo all were take
out alive; from the first day coach tw
II men were extricated alive, and from tn
second day coach Mr. Lyons did nc
It know ii any We're saved; from the snlok
r. lug car considerable number wei
r. taken out alive. All these rescued an
able to discuss the matter spent SON
@ little time in comparing notes and e
Z timating the number OF passengers G
|. each car; Mr. Lyons said this had bee
q done carefully and the result had not BET
e exaggerated in the slightest degrc
r They made the total 223 passengers {
10 board at the time OF the disaster, n
d counting 90 or IS children.