National Republican., 1880-08-14
PERILS OF THE RAIL.
Twenty Deaths Already from the May
Landing Disaster.
A withdrawing Coroner's vordict-Four
Other Accidents, Two of
Them Fatal.
The Slaughter nj Mays Landing.

MAYS LANDING, N. j., Aug. 13.-The death
of the McCrystal child makes the list of killed
eighteen. There are still several persons un.
accounted for, and it is proposed to drag Great
Egg Harbor river, near the scono of the acci
dent, in tho hope of recovering tho bodies of
tho missing. The current is swift at that
point, and IL Is feared some of those who
leapcd from tho train may have been drowned.
Tho inquest was resumed this morning. Tho
testimony taken did not differ materially
from the statements already published. 1t
shows, however, that the first section Of the
excursion train was stopped without much
difficulty, thus seeming to disprove the asser-
tion Of the engineer of the second section, that
the track was too slippery to stop tho train
in the usual distance. There was large at
tendance at the inquest, including a number
of prominent railroad men, who evidence the
deepest interest In tho proceedings The cx'
haustive manner in which the witnesses are
being examined shows that the matter will be
thoroughly investigated.
A Whitcwash Verdict.
MAYS LANDING, Nj, Aug. 13.-Tho inquest
in the case of james Sweeney, killed in the
railroad collision "Wednesday, was continued
to-day. The chief witnesses examined were
Engineer Aitkin aud Conductor uoagland of
the second section OF the excursion twain
Aiikin testified We loft Atlantic City at
Cos p. m; wO were nine TO ten minutes he
hind the first section ut Pleasantville; pulled
back at the curve at Mays Landing and called
for down brakes; | used sand ON the track
but that did not check tho engine; on tho hill
! was running about twenty-five miles pcr
hour, which was about one minute before
used tho brakes; l could have held the train If
| had had q car length more to go think
| was about five minutes bohind the first
section at Mays Landing which time would
make about quarter to a half mile; could
not stop the train in one and d quarter miles,
on account of the rails being wet we arc to
keep ten minutes apart, but are allowed to run
up tn five minutes At meeting points; tho con.
ductor gave tho signal TO start the train al At
lantic City at 605 p. M; the first section was
two minutes behind timo in passing Pleasant
villo
G. NJ Hoagland testified was conductor
on the second section / received orders from
the superintendent to leave Atlantic City at
G:05 p. M; was at the rear door of tho last
car when the crash took place, just having got
through collecting tickets; l had very
rough crowd on tho train; aftor we struck the
other section | tried the brakes and found
them all turned on; the brakemen tried them
while running, but found them turned on the
same way.
l.. Down, county clerk, Samuel Fowler, fire.
man on the second section Jacob Mapes and
William Walters, the brakeman; w. J. Sewell
superintendent Of the West Jersey railroad;
Charles Smith, the hugman near where the
accident happened; James w. Allen, master of
construction of the West Jersey railroad, aud
Wesley Adams, an eye witness Of the collision
were also examined.
Tho Jury retired at 3 o'clock. At first the
sentiment was strongly in favor of censuring
the company. This was oyerruled and the
question OF placing the blame Oh the engineer
discussed. Inc several degrees Of murder
wero each suggested, but, as in the previous
question, those opposed 10 placing the blame
gradually won the others over TO their side,
and altor throe hours Of spirited debate it was
| agreed to give a verdict attributing the COLI
sion 10 accident.
The following verdict was then rendered
1--WE find that James Sweeney of Philadelphia
came to his death on Wednesday, August IL,
$780, at Nays Landing, Atlantic county, n. j.,
from wounds received in q collision between
the first aud second sections Of tho excursion
train Oh the West Jersey & Atlantic railroad;
that according to tho evidence submitted us wo
think the collision, by which the said James
Sweeney came TO his death, was accidental"
Tho engineer and conductor arc still held
in bail to await the action OF the grand jury.
Tho genera! opinion of the verdict is that IL
was ia accordance with tho testimony given
to-day, but it is thought a mistake was made in
not examining the engineer aud conductor OF
tho FIRST section.
Lille Grace Mrs. BoodIo and the infant
| daughter Of Mr.. MsCrystal arc still here. Miss
Grace is in u critical condition. Fears are en-.
tertained that eryslpolas will set in in tho case
of Mrs. Doodle The child is doing well.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 13.-Tho victims OF
the Mays Landing disaster, now ut the hos.
pital in this city, c,with few exceptions pro-
| crossing iavorabiy, and it is hoped the death.
| roll, which is now eighteen, will stop short OF
| twenty Kitty Shields, fourteen years old, u
| sister Of Ellen Shields, who died this morning
received wounds similar to those of her sislor,
and is also suffering greatly from tho effects oil
| the shock. The mother of these two girls who
WAS at Ellen's bedside until she died, is now
watching her surviving child at tho hospital.
Tho news Of Elen's death is kept from the
| girl, MS she is suffering much from nervous
| prostntion. Among the others still living
there are but few who cause any grave doubts
| as to their recovery.