Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-22
THE OMAHA ACCIDENT.
Inquest on the Bodies of the Victin,s.

Inquest on the Bodies of the Ticttnls.
The coroner's inquest over the mangled
remains of Engineer Harrity and
Baggageman Roberts who were killed
Wednesday afternoon on the Omaha line
near the state university, was held yester-
day in Warmers undertaking rooms. the
following persons acting as jury: VIM.
Lihannen, u. G. Hull, Frank Koran,
FraRk Pratt, E. G. Mercury, N. F. Warner
In the forenoon only partial testimony
was taken, the first witness examined be
ing J. W. Cunningham, fireman, who testi-
fed as follows: After putting Goals in the
box 1 told the engineer to stop. He had
set the brakes on the train and was revers-
ing his engine when I started for the
gangway at his side and attempted to
jump, but changed my mind. I came
back to my seat, the engine turned over on
its right side and I crawled out
on the cab on my knees.
The engine turned back and threw me back
into the cab. l saw the engineer go out,
but could not say whether he jumped or
was thrown out. 1 think the semaphore
was not up.
Michael Morley, the switchman, testified
that he was switchman on the Manitoba
railroad and had charge of the semaphore
and switch at University crossing. l was
there yesterday when train ffty-one was
due.
never received orders to lock the switch
five minutes before the trains are due; had
time card nailed in my watch house.
Engine No. SO, which was going to the
elevator. called for me to open the switches;
it was seven minutes to three o'clock when
[ hoisted the semaphore and opened
the switches had three switches open
ed and closed the semaphore when
[ saw No. 81 coming the engineer
has authority to call for switches
The signal for switches are four whistles.
When I saw the train coming I ran down
the track and waved my hand for them to
stop.
Edward L. Hastings, engineer of gray
ell train on the Omaha railroad, testified
as follows: l was at the University switch
at time of accident; was going in the
same direction as No. 81; did not think
the engineer saw the misplaced switch;
saw it and whistled for brakes to attract
his attention; the deceased engineer had
just put the air brake on the train and
was putting it on the drivers.
Nicholas Bonse, conductor of No. 81,
testified: was on the train at time of ac-
cident running at the rate of twenty-five
miles per hour; looked at the semaphore
as soon as I was out of the wreck. The
maR who worked the semaphore was
about fifty feet from the switch and l
think the semaphore was closed. I got
an order from the train dispatcher
as regular train. After receiving the
orders had the rights of regular passen-
ger train. DO not expect anything but q
clear track; consider the engineer to have
been competent and careful; think he
would have seen the semaphore if it were
up; looked at semaphore after the acct
dent. This finished the mornings testi-
mony, and in the afternoon at o'clock
the inquest was resumed, the first witness
being Edward Kelly, who offered testimony
as follows: Am engineer of 90, on the Man
itoba railroad; was on the East bound
track, pulling cars to the Pillsbury mill.
Did not whistle for the University switch
but waited for No. 81, and reached the
switch as the train was coming. Saw Nor
ley run and signal 81 to stop.
Edward lockwood testified: Am fore
man of the crew in the PiIlsbury yard on
Manitoba railroad. The semaphore was
the only signal given before the accident.
1t is not Gu stomary for the engineer to
whistle for switch when half mile away
from it. Saw the semaphore closed and
saw No. 81 pass it when closed. I re-
marked to one Of my men that No. 81 had
gone past a semaphore when closed.
DIR. 0. J. Evans testified that he had ex-
amined of the two men killed and found
their spinal columns injured and skull of
Roberts crushed.
DR.. r. j. Hill corroborated DR.. Evans
testimony. The jury returned a verdict
exonorating the switchman from blame
and declared the accident was the result of
the deceased engineer having failed to no.
tice the danger signal.