New Ulm weekly review., 1886-12-08
Tie Muskoda Disas ter.
THE CoRoNER's VERDICT.

MooRHEAD, Special Telegram, Dec 3.-Cor-
oner Darrow's investigation concerning the
death OF c. M. Tennis, resulting from the
collision of trains at Muskoda, began yester-
da. the jurors going to the scene Of the dis
aster yesterday morning and returning last
evening. The testimony in the case began
last evening, when Conductor J. IL O'Neil,
OF Train No. l, was examined The inquiry
was resumed at 1890 this morning, DR..
Darrow, coroner; Attorney W. B. Douglas,
acting county attorney, and all the Jurors
being present The witnesses were c. G.
Sunley, engineer of Train No. l; Hugh Muir
ply, fireman of Train No. 1; H H. Scofie,
engineer of No. 6, and e. G. Cole,
train dispatch at Brainerd, The verdict of
the jury indicates somewhat the character
of the testimony. MI. Cole admits that he
overlooked very important order from
Wadena directing Train No. to go through
to Fargo regardless of Train No. 6, claiming
the time which had elapsed since it was
given and the time when No 6 left Fargo
three hours and half-and the pressure of
his duties, all trains behind and all calling
for orders, caused forgetfulness, and was
noon rendered the following verdict:
We find that said G. NJ. Tennis was killed at
Muskoda Station in the collision between Trains
No and No. &, upon the Northern Pacific rail-
road, by and based upon the negligence and
skilifulness of the servrnts of said company in
the discharge of their duties. We believe that
eXtenuating circumstances existed in the mat
ter of sending dispatches by the train dispatcher
of said road (the one stationed at BrainerdD, and
that we are not warranted in recommending that
he be held in any manner crilninally response
BILE. We particularly commend the action of E.
G. Sunley, the engineer of Train No /. for his
Immediately prior 10 the collision in the face of
impending danger.
The jurors are: John Erickson, John c.
Harp, William Lloyd, John Watson, A. J.
Wright and Leslie Welter.
BRA1NERD, Dec 5.-E B. Linnen died here
last night. He was the railroad postal clerk
injured in the accident at Muskoda His
wife and sister were on the way to attend
him. Linnen's home was at Lake City.
J. T. Odell assistant general manager Of the
Northern Pacific, returned to St. Paul from Da-
kota late last night. Mr.. Odell on the
mail train near Muskoda. He has this to say:
$50 far as the destruction of property is con-
cerned the accident amounted TO nothing The
killing of Tennis and the burning OF the remains
was horrible. The loss Of the mail matter is in
convenient and annoying. The destruction Of
property, aside from the burning of the mail car,
will not exceed $4,000. There was no damage
to the machinery of the engines. The smoke
stack was not even knocked off Of one, and none
OF the cylinders were touched. The damage to
the trains, exclusive of the baggage car,
was one broken platform. The tenders
of both engines were showed through the
the baggage car of one train and the mail car Of
the other; there nothing off the track, and it
took less than two hours to pull the engines
Both engines can be ready for service in ten
days. The accident was caused by the negll-
eence OF a train dispatcher, who, by the way,
was one Of our oldest and most trusted men:
and although myself served as a train dis
patcher for number Of wears, am at a loss to
account for the negligence of this man. Our
dispatchers only work eight hours a day. and
consequently were no, overworkcd.