The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-07
SLA7ING7QN DISASTER.
Investigating the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Collision.
BLAMING THE SIGNAL MAN.
Two Coroners at Work-One White
washes" the Company.
ING THE SIGNAL MAN.
LIST OF THE DEAD.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE HERALD,


SLArScroS, Pa, April 9. 1878.
The construction gang Of tho Lshgh Valley Rsiroad
worked all last night clearing away tbs deorls Of
terday's wreck and At quarter to eleven O'Clock to-
day had constructed Temporary bridge over Trout
Greek IN piaco OF the one burned yesterday morning
Late Yesterday AFTERNOON another OIL tank exploded.
butno ono was burned beyond those whose names
were ,eIegraphet In pulling away portion OF the
wreck last night hawser attached TO car broke and
TWO men, named Thomas Barton and Reuben Mussel-
man. injured. Barton's injuries IL is thought
will prove fatal.
COMPLETE LIST OF THE DEAD.
The complete list OF the KILLED Is as foows:
WILLIAM SHOEMAKER Lehign township, Northamp-
ton county; burned to death yesterday
ARTHUR WILLIAMS, aged eighteen. slatngton; died
this morning, al four O'Clock.
DANIEL REFER, Washington township, Lehigh
county; died O'Clock this morning; leaves no
family
GEogGH Evans. OF slatington. aged thirteen; died
this morning
IRWIN CLARKE South Easton; died this morning. At
four o'clock ut ST. Luke's Hospital leaves family.
MATTHEW jones' FRANKLIN. Lehigh county, aged
twelve years. died this morning Ho was badly
burned yesterday morning aud was stripped naked BY
some people TO whom be ran for assistance. In this
nude condition. In hts agony ana terror, he into
house and cried out, Won't you please let me como
IN. He kindly cared for, but nothing could save
his life.
EXPECTED TO RECOVER.
The following persons not expected to recover
as the physicians say they may die any moment:-
JOHN GEORGE.
IRWIN BEERS
DAVID HurcmSsox
WILLIAM ZAAEs.
AARON SNYDER.
WILLIAM SNYDER
The last Two from Slatinston- Altogether about
nifty people were injured, some OF whom wore girls
Eli wighenmeyer, Lnhigh and susquchanna Wreck
ing Master was burned by tho OIL no took hold Of the
rope to pull over the tank that was exploded
WRECK.
The scene to-day was suggestive Of the terrific orco
that shattered tho trans Broken scraps OF black
cned iron scattered In every direction. Seven
teen oil tanks tour box cars and caboose lay near
tho track, battered and crushed All the manifests In
the conductors charge were lost
THERE DANGER sIGyAL2
The engineer (Whetmore) Is not TO DO seen to-day,
but his fireman Is reported to SAID that hos
red light ahead though he does not know whether Il
WAS the target signal or the lamp the cabooss OF
tho freight train. There several Yumors relative
to tho OF the accident Some assert u was tho
FAULT OF the target man, who neglected. to show the
signal of danger Others attribute II 10 the neglect
Of the 1agman OF the freight tran who did not back
the distance required by the company's regulations
When tho express passenger train lett Mauch Chunk
aA twenty minutes TO tour I. H.. only nve minutes
elapsed balore the freight train started, and
only i've minutes had elapsed when the oil train
was started, so that tho freight train had scarcely
stopped at slatngton when the oil tram came In sight.
The OIL running AZ high ratio Of speed on
down grade where 1t impossible Tor the engineer
10 stop tho train Tho officers OF the company havo
ordered an Investigation. Superintendent Robert
sayre Ia severely censured by the citizens here for his
caresssness turning the oil car that exploited.
INCLINED TO ..wuITRwAsH.'
Late last evening Mr.. Cross justice OF the peace,
ompannc lled Jury and held inquest on the body
Of Shoemaker The vsrdict was "Accidcnsal DEATH"
and oneratcd tho company from all blame.
INCLINED TO ASCERTAIN fnE
This morning, however, County Coroner Osman, OF
Allentown visited the place and empannelIed Jury,
and Is now holding inquest He will thoroughly
iyesgatc the cause the disaster and place tho
sponsb iy where II justly belongs. HIS report viii
probably show tho hoilowness OF tho Cross inquiry.
This Coroner hal somo difficulty in obtaining jury,
80 bitter Is feeling against tho Lshgh Valley Com
pany.
Tho regular passenger traflc has been resumed aud
by Monday freight will be forwarded az usual.