Morris tribune., 1886-11-03

The Number of People Known To BE In
the Day Coach Now Placed at Sixteer
brakeman Wells Blamss Conductor
Hankey-Mrs. Scherer's Death Re
lated by an Eyewitness.
PORTAGE, Wis, Nov 1.-The remains Of
the human beings who perished in the wrecl
Of the train at Rio now repose in an old
building which has been temporarily con
verted into morgue. The bodies are placed
upon chests and articles found near them in
the wreck are laid upon the remains for the
purpose OF Identification. In some cases
Identification will be impossible Engineer
Thomas Little Is lying at his home COM
pletely Frustrated from the shock and
wounds All the mail matter, with the ex-
ception of the Minnesota and Dakota papers
| that was in the wreck, has been recovered,
including registered letters and packages,
and has been forwarded to its destination.
At the inquest which was begun Friday
evening Conrad Scherer, of Winona, recog-
nized some jewelry which had belonged to
his wife, and detailed her movements, show
ing that she was undoubtedly on the train.
A crucifix, which had belonged to the Catho-
lie sisters, was also identified.
Assistant Superintendent Earring tel
egraphed to General Manager Miller
late Friday night giving the total
number of dead positively iden-
titled so far as follows: Mrs
Conrad Scherer, Winona; Mrs Rosina Jones,
Rush Creek, Mimi. Mrs Alva Winter, Kala-
mazoo; Mrs. Beebe, Kalamazoo; Louis
Brinker, Ashland; Mr.. Waltersdorf, Column
bus; Sister Alphonse, Winona; Sister Demp-
sey, Winona. To the above list must GER
tainly be added the Novice Albertine who
was in company with the two Franciscan sis
ters.
Mr.. Earling also says that it is quite pos
sible the names will be added of John Nc
Roun, Joseph Plant, Frank Gueyer, and Mrs.
Mari, all Of Chicago. These were supposed
to be in the car although they have not yet
been positively identified. The above list
brings the number in the coach up to six
teen.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Nov. &c. H. Wells,
the freight brakeman who is charged with
being responsible for the terrible accident
has turned up. He came to the city Friday
and visited the general offices of the ST. Paul
railway company. Wells is "a years old and
unmarried. He declares that Hankey, the
freight train conductor, is wholly response
bic for the accident. The following is the
substance of his story:
Our train arrived at Easti Rio siding sew
eral minutes before the limited put in an ap-
pearance. The freight train was too long
for one Side-track so we cut in two, switching
one part onto the side tracks and then de-
taching the engine, switching the rest of it
onto the other side-track. 1t was not my
duty to close the switch. had never closed
it before. The conductor had always done
that On the night of the accident, after we
had reached the siding and side-tracked our
train, had to remain on top of one of the
cars. Conductor Hankey went to the switch
and shortly afterward passed the car on
which l was standing. He told me that every
thing was all right.
He said he was going to the head of the
train l looked at my watch and discov-
cred, or thought did, that the limited train
was late. Just then the limited hove in sight
was Mortified to see it run off the track
shortly after it passed my car. In moment
the train was in flames. 1 was badly fright |
ened, and thinking the freight train hands |
would be lynched fled. realize that made |
a mistake in running away, but it was very
natural under the circumstances. Wells |
says he is ready to give himself up whenever
he is wanted. He has engaged counsel at |
Milwaukee.