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

tIOnS. lucy DEAR CHltuy NPOu AuO nS~
ton OF the railroad and fire department
authorities in refusing or neglecting 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-
gines were at the spot, and there was
abundance Of water at hand. Further.
more, half way up the bank was an en-
Egine house, with an engine used to pump
water from the river into the railroad
cosapany's tanks. In the engine house
were 500 feet Of hose, and altogether
about 5000 feet of hoes were near
enough at hand to be available in cxtin>
gushing the fire. But no attempt was
made to bring these appliances into
use. Mr.. Lyons said that il was the
opinion OF those with whom he conversed
that not more than six persons would
have been burned to death, and 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 and hose. Mr. Lyons said that
he had what seemed to him ample evi-
dence that the railroad officials were
responsible. lie himself heard alter the
disaster thaHa dispatch had been received
framrailroad headquarters ordering that
no water should be thrown upon the
wreck, ITO the effect that all should
sink into oblivioD," MIR. Lyons quoted
this in the hearing OF fireman, who at
once said, those are the very words OF
despatch received by Superintendent
| Strong and the assertion was aftcrward
corroIorated by other firemen, and gave
their names and addresses 70 Mr.. Lyons.
Mr.. Lyons remarked thatlit was an aw-
fnl thought that the railroad officials
would deliberately plan not to save fire,
for the pecuniary advantage OF the road
| and yet one could not help remember
| 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 t.
pay $1,000 damages for deaths causec
by their fault, while damages for inju
rics caused were likely to range consid
erably higher, at tue discretion of a jury
Mr.. Lyons said that it was at least GER
tainI that those who arrived at the scen'
of the tasaatsr the same evening urges
that waler should be thrown upon tn
burning ears, and tha. Mr., Strong an,
Mayor Hepborn Of Ashtabula, who wa
civil engineer in the employ OF tn
road, objected, refusing to allow the fire
men to make use of their engines. Mr.
LYONS that ii singular that the Chief 9
. the Fire Department did not Overrul
these directions. He had always sup
posed that fire departments po ssesse
E in case OF fire, to act upon their oW.
discretion
, Again, there had been gross mis-
! statement in the number OF passenger
ou the train. Conductor Hem sal
shortly before the accidenti that ther
were 160 persons on the train. Ate
! the disaster he placed the number col
siderably lower, while in fact there wer
!, many more than 160 on board, From th
; Palatine all were taken out alive; froi
!. 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 TN
Y men were extricated alive, and from th
second day coach Mr.. Lyons did n
It know il any were saved from the snlol
r lug car q considerable number wcl
re taken out alive. All these rescued ar
able to discuss the matter spent son
9 little time in comparing notes and g
: timating the number Of passengers
!. each car Mr. Lyons said this had be-
q done carefully and the result had not be'
e exaggerated in the slightest degre
r They made the total 223 passengers !
q board at the time OF the disaster, .
d counting 90 or 25 children.