The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29


Harrisburg took place this morning at u so
o'clock at Dock ST. The second section of the
western express ran into the first section
completely telescoping two cars. Among
the killed are Richard Adams and wife, a
furniture man OF this city; an unknown
man from Altoona, and man from New
York. lady on the train, who was in
jured, missed her infant child, and it
has not as yet been found. Five
dead bodies have been taken to the
morgue az the Pennsylvania depot The
number of injured is placed at forty, but
at this hour ESQ 1t is impossible to
authenticate this report 1t is raining
hard. which greatly retards the work of
rescue. Robert Pitcairn and Mr.. West
inghaus and family of Pittsburg were Cd
the Inflated train but escaped unhurt.
HARR1sBURG, Pa, June 25.-H. s. Hayes.
the telegraph operator at the Steelton
tower, practically admitted before the
coroner's inquest this afternoon that he
was responsible for the frightful wreck on
the Pennsylvania railroad this morning,
in which eleven people lost their lives
and thrice as many were seriously injured.
Haves, who is a young man of twenty
two, was arrested tonight at TIE instance
of Coroner Hoy on charge of man
slaughter. He is now in Jail, and his
mental distress is terrible to wit
ness. Fears are expressed that he
may lose his mind. The young
man has not been in the service of the
company more than few months, and
has been an extra operator, going where
ever he was ordered. Last night he was
on duty at the Steelton tower as a sub
etitute for William Godd, the regular
operator. He allowed the second section
of the express to enter the block before
the first section had passed out at the
western end against the rules of the COM
pany, and the disaster is the direct result
of the violation of the rules. When in
formed of the wreck and loss of life he be-
came almost frantic and the day operator
was ordered on duty. He simply
assumed that the first section had
passed the block without troub-
ling himself about any notifca-
ton from the Dock-st tower to that effect
Hayes was closely questioned, and during
his examination was greatly agitsted, fire.
quently breaking down and weeping Bit
terly. He is an unsophistcsted youth,
and but lately left the farm in York coun-
". lie frankly admitted he gave Engineer
Kelly the white signal to go on without
first having been notified that the block
was ear, but he thought he was not
wholly responsible for the accident. He
said other operators had made the same
mistake of which he had been guilty, but
the consequences had not been so terrible
Hayes also admitted that there had been
two other persons IN the tower with him,
and that in that he had broken another
rigid rule of the company.
He withheld nothing from the Jury,
and cried as though his heart would
break as he finished his testimony. w.
II. Fisher OF this city, passenger brake
man OF the Philadelphia division, was on
the first section as a passenger. He tes,i-
fed that the fiagman had been called in,
and in his opinion he was careful err
ploye.
Joseph II. Kirkpatrick, the engineer Of
the first section, said he was stopped at
the Dock-st. tower. and that the detention
was caused by freight train ahead; that
when his train was struck il was running
81 the rate OF eight miles an hour. The
fiagman, he said. had ample time to get
back and stop the train following He
considers Engineer Kelly of the second
section a capable engineer.
Charles III. Haman, the fireman of the
first section, corroborsted Kirkpatrick
Harry Neil OF Philadel phia, the fireman
OF the second section, regards Engineer
al u frat 81
they reached Steelton, he said, white
signal was shown. 1t was raining very
hard. No caps were heard and it was very
hard to distinguish the signals. The
train was running about thirtv-five
or forty miles an hour when the accident
occurred. He saw the hagman on the rear
end OF the first section holding red and
white signal. He did not notice that any
signal was given by the fagman. Neil
Eaid the track was clear so far as he knew.
The speed OF the train was too great to
STOP it in time
The train consisted OF engine, two bag
gage cars and five Pulmans. The second
section left Brond-st. station at Philadel-
phia about five minutes late. When
Steelton was reached the tram was still
late. When the red signal was displayed
the train was opposite the Paxton
Touring mill, about two hundred
yards from the tower. Neil thought the
distance between the rear end of the fret
section and the engine of the second sec
ton when the red light was first seen was
ABOUT 100 yards. When the danger
was seen Engineer Kelley reversed
the engine and applied the air-brakes,
but TO no purpose. the speed of the train
being too great and the rails too slippery
10 prevent the crash in so short dis
lance. Neil was satisfied that Engineer
Kelly used every effort to stop the train.
How La Happened.
The western express on the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, leaving New York at
$50 p. IN. and Philadelphia 9:20, is
due at Harrisburg at 1918 q. m.
This morning, however, it was sew
eral minutes late leaving Philadelphia,
and had not made up the lost time when
II reached here. 1t was made up OF one
baggage car. one express car. three day
coaches and the private car of George
Westinghouse, the Pittsburg inventor of
the air-brake. Robert Pitcairn of Pitts
burg was also with the Westinghouse
party. AS the train rolled into Harris