The New York herald., 1877-10-20
THE PICKERING VALLEY ACCIDENT.
MILD VERDICT OF THE coRoNER's yuRY-THE
PHILADELPHIA AND READINa RAILROAD COM
PANY CENSURED.

MILD VERDICT OF THE coRoNER's JuRY-THE
PHILADELPHIA AND READING RAILROAD COM
PANY CENsURED.
PHGNixviLLR. Pa, Oct 1S, 1877
The Coroners Jury investigating the disastrous ac-
cident phGnixville, the Pickering Valley Rail-
road have returned she following verdict which fully
bears out tho description Of the location given IN
tho HERALD, wherein the faulty construction OF the
road was shown
We nrd that the ombsnkmont at the place where
the accident occurred on the Pickering Valley Rail
road, the evening OF October 4, was constructed
upon hillside, soping 10 the north at an angle Of
some thirty degrees, In such manner as TO form be-
tweop itself aud the hill TO the south ditch gully,
say 1000 fac. long, Atty feet wide. and from doplh
either end TO eleven feet ~ the chasm wash0ut.
into iris ditch or gully Dut that ito acreage had been
increased tuy aityr psr- cent upon tho evening IN
question, q tho atoppage BY mud Of
about two hundred yards west OF the washout, which
nlling up caused large amount OF water 10 iow that
way. Further, that in the construction Of tho en.
bankment the only alleged provision made
Tor tho passage OF water gathering into Ihs
ditch or gully through the same was . 80.
stones loosely upon near the natural surface tho
ground Further, that owing " the sandy nature OF
the soil drained and the porous character Of the
bankment itself, large bodies OF water, immc.
dlatey alter heavy rains have not been observed
lie shsrs usner na 10 sao Of tho
cuivert there, and tnat ~ construction OF French
drains the pcfcouton VI water IN such has
tho OF many railroad engineers while on the
other hand some condemn the system; and further,
that the embankment the place rupture prior to
the accident had been considered safe, not only by
tho railroad companies Interested, but by
employ es and the public At large.
We nnd that the evening oi October A, 1871 when
the Pickering Valley Railroad accident occurred the
train thereon constructed as follows First the
engine reversed, with tank foremost aud engine
ming backward, with the headlight upon the end
OF The tank as It RAM second tho gentiencn's
the night In question, was occupied by 10th sexes;
third the combination, or ladies', and baggage car ia
one; fourth apd last, the milk Car. Further, that
tho train IN this manner In violation OF the
rules OF the Philadelphia aud Reading Railroad Com
pany. operators OF tho Pickering Valley Railroad,
while superintendent or the former road, and when
rccelvci approval OF Mr. Gowcn, its president aud
which wore given testimony before this Jury by
Deputy Coroner s. ID. Hunter. Further, that II IS
within the rang OF probability that the SAID train
the Pickering Valley Railroad, on tho evening OF
October 4, been constructed IN accordance
with the rules la,d down by Mr. woo,tsn
wit, first, the locomotive and tank; second,
tho milk car, and third In order the two
passenger cars The car, which then would have
been the gentlemen IS car, would have remained upon
The track did the milk car and thus the
therein would have bcon uninJur0d.
We ind that tho practice OF tho PHILADELPHIA and
Reading Railroad Company In placing rods OF iron
cars, forming unyieding grating, is ono fraught
with great danger 10 an accident similar TO that
the Pickering Valley Railroad on the evening Of Oclo
Der L. BY the windows beng clear oil these obslruc-
tions the escape o passengers from wrecked tram
would be greatly taciiitated