The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-10-20

More Details Of the horrible Accident that
Killed sixty-four Persons and Injured
as Many More

Killed Sixty-fOur Persons ana injured
as Many More
The latest points regarding the Mud Run
holocaust Of last Wednesday a week, before
Coroner Horr at Mauch Chunk, are as
follows:
James Hanighan. brakeman Oh sec,ion
No. 4, testified that the train stopped a
short distance above the station and that
he Immediately took red and white lights
and started back as far as the depot. When
he saw the approaching train he signaled
with his red light.
lie was below the platform wnen he heard
one long whistle from the approaching
train and thought it was an answer to his
flag When he saw the train coming at
lively rate he tagged them again. He
thought they were running at the rate of
twenty miles per hour.
ENGINEER COOK S STORY.
Henry Cook, who had charge of the first
engine that ran into the ill-fated train, was
the next witness. He stated that the train
was running at til "a rate of twelve or four
teen miles an hour when the station was in
sight and that he was on the right hand side
of the cab on the alert for signals, but saw
none. ITO see the station flag at the point
where we should be able to see It., he said,
''iti necessary for me to climb the ratchet,
which did expected to see the order
board white, switch board white and the
red light in its place"
These he did not see and he was almost
IN the culvert when he saw the signals.
The train was then going at the rate of
ten miles an hour, and when Cook observed
the danger signal, which was the violent
swaying of white light on the platform,
he at once whistled down brakes This,
however, did not extend beyond his own
engine, as the other had charge of the train
and of the air brakes. Witness admitted
that he had been OH duty for several days
with but little sleep, but he was still fresh
and wide awake. The whole of his cyl
dence was denial of hayIng seen any dan
ger signals when such should have been ex-
posed, and a complaint that there was no
torpedoes placed on the rails, as there
should have been; Ineither was there a flag
man or light east of Mud Run Station.
THE RED LIGHT EXPOSED.
Thomas McKale, of Pleasant Valley,
testified that he was passenger on the
| train that was run into aud saw the red
| light, which was waved two OF three hun
dred yards in the rear of the fourth section,
that was standing at the depot, to which
no heed was paid, This testimony was cor
rotated by j. w. Slocum, of Mad Run,
who stated that the fagman from section
No. tagged with red flag in front of the
depot and also waved red light. 81 Also"
he added, 'took red light and waved it.
Every train except this one came IN under
control. / saw section boss wave white
lantern. 1 have no doubt If both engineers
had seen his flag the approaching train
could have come in under control. Two
short whistles were given when the flag
man swung his red lantern"
Thomas Major, of East Mauch Chunk
testified that he thought running at the rate
of one mile in five minutes was under con
troll. He had meyer run passenger trair
before. He thought that one engine would
be sufficient to pull the train, which would
also have allowed him a better view. II,
went on duty Monday night about o'clock
and received about six hours rest up Tn,
time of the accident, although he did mo-
feel sleepy.
THE COMP ANY's RULES.
A. Mitchell, of Wilkesbarre, superintend
ent of the Wyoming division. stated tha
special orders were issued from his olfic,
after they had been studied over for sever
al days. They mad been posted on all th,
bulletin boards and the signatures of the
employees taken. Verba instructions were
also given to some of the engineers to b,
careful.
There should have been a red light dis
played at the station, he said, and it woulC
have been proper to display one red ligh
on the platform in addition to the flagman
1t was the duty of both engineers to lool
out for signals. There are four men OIL
each train that the company expect to b
on the alert for signals. The red ligh
indicates danger and all must always stop
The general rule is that all engines mus
give one long whistle, which signifies tina
the train is nearing station. A train 60
ing at The rate of ten miles an hour nigh
stop within the length of a train of eigh
cars, but he would not consider that unde
control.
Other evidence not so material was mex
given, and then the Coroner adjourned tn,
taking of testimony until Wednesday after
noon.
FIREMAN PoHI.'s STORY.
The Coroner's jury went to Betheher
on Saturday and took the testimony Q
Joseph Pohl, fireman on the engine tina
ran into The fourth section and who is a
present receiving treatment at st. Luke
Hospital for injuries sustained in th
5 accident. He said that he was sitting in th
cab, and that he saw the white target an
afterwards called to the engineer that every
, thing was all right. He then rested hi
head on his hands and the next thing h
heard was the whistle for down brakes
{ saw the engineer put his hand on the level
+ but could not state positii ely whether h
I turned it or not he also stated that b
had been on duty from 5 o'clock IPsdne
u day morning up to the time the accder
occurred.
General Reeder to Butt against Mutchler.
The confeiees recently appointed by IL
:, several Republican county convention
| moi in Tho Donrf HOnsa at Eusfon IN Col. a,