New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-13
THE DISASTER AT MUD RUN
DANGER SIGNALS EASILY TO BE SEEN.
THE CURVE NOT A TROUBLESOME oNE-A
STRETCH OF TRACK HALF MILE LONG,
IN WHICH THE MOVING TRAIN MIGHT
HAVE BEEN sToPPED-THE BROKEN
CARS REMOVED
rsY rsLsoRAPa TO rHs rRrsuxRI


Mud Run, Penn, Oct l2.-When Tribune ~
porter arrived here last night, it was too dark to
tell anything about the lay Of the land upon which
the disaster of Wednesday night took place; but
a careful survey was made this morning Tho
little station of Mud Run, consisting Of the Station
house and two or three cabins, is on the right
hand side of the track going west, and from It an
unobscured view of half a mile is had down the
track in the direction OF Hazleton whence ths
various sections Of the excursion train came. Ths
track, for the whole distance in sight, forms an
easy curve to the left, becoming sharper as II
nears the station. The grade though not heavy.
is sufficient to aid materially in stopping train
at that point while the more acute portion of the
curve coming upon the tangent in front Of tho
station would offer a natural check to
q trains speed. It has been established by
the statements of Mr. Slocum, the station-agent
here the train-hands and passengers on Engineer
Cooks train and others from the wrecked train,
that the red lights were shown at the station In
accordance with the regular signal code, and in
conformity with the special orders relating to
the running of the Father Matthew excursion.
The only question which remains unsolved Is
why were these signals not seen and needed BY
the engineer or some other employe Of the road
on the train that caused the disaster. This
question may remain forever unanswered, but
unless it can be shown conclusively that no sig
nails were displayed, and that there was nothing
visible at the station to warn Cook Of the peril
in which the section ahead of him was placed. he
will be held as the murderer Of all these unfort-
innate people, or will at least 60 down in railroad
annals as the engineer who might have saved
hundred lives but would not
This seems to be the verdict here among the
more intelligent people who willing to talk
at all about the causes of the calamity. 1t is
said that, without regard to the conductor,
the other engine, the brakes, or any other con-
sderation that might be taken into account, Cook
must have seen the signals if he had been at his
post exercising due vigilance, and that he could
have stopped the train in half the distance from
which the danger signals visible by whistllng
down brakes" and reversing his own engine; In
stead of this he rushed on until being aroused from
his lethargy by the cries OF horror that greeted
him the station, he sprang from his post leaving
the sixty-ton machine to work such havoc as il
would. Even at the last moment. if he had not
been in the least at fault. he might have perisned
like hero
But. if accounts are true the real canse WHICH, n
seek Something may be said, perhaps, about the
overworking OF engineers and other employees on
these lines. There is no doubt whatever that
their hours of work often much longer than
men can safely endure There are, however strong
reasons for believing that in this case rum played
its usual role III was stated 10 inc Iriou..e
reporter. by men who are willing to
testify to the fact under oath. that
the passengers bought portable TASKS Of liquor
at every station where IL was to be had, and
drank at the bar on their way TO Hazleton.
There are also reasons for believing that IN
fraternizing with the trainmen before the return
trip began, the passengers passed their TASKS
around.
1t is said that Cook is an old passenger en-
oineer reliable and strictly temperate, but the
hard. gloomy and damning fact remains that even
o child N It's senses must have seen the danger
signals at Mud Run, and by blowing the whistle
as soon as they were opened TO view, might have
prevented that awful sacrifice Of human life:
The fragments OF the wrecked cars were we're re,
the disaster left here is Mary Cannon, a young
woman t.ho belongs in Scranton. She is dread
fulIv burned about the head and face, and suffers
from nhaling the poisonous gas from the engine.
She is also badly crushed and bruised but Is
conscious and able TO speak in whisper There
is only slight hope Of her recovery.