Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-26
NO VERDICT GIVEN YET.
D. S. & S. EXPLOSION STILL UN-
SOLVED BY THE JURY.
Testimony Was Taken Again on Monday
and Yesterday, and More Witnesses
Are to BE Heard Today-A Verdict
Expected Before Tonight.

The taking of testimony in the inquest
which is being held to ascertain the
cause of the d. S. & S. boiler explosion
was resumed on Monday at Hazeton by
Deputy Coroner McCoombs. The state
ments of the witnesses examined are as
follows, taken from the Plain Speaker:
Conductor William j. Timney, who
was injured in the accident and who is
now in the hospital, gave this testimony
to DR.. McCoombs in the presence of wit
nesses: 81 was about the middle of the
engine on the step in front of the cab.
having just come out of the cab. Boyle.
ODonnell, Chambers and Stewart were
In the cab. Did not know what happen
ed. | know she had been in the shops
for repairs in the early part of February.
No. was considered the best engine on
the d. S. e S. road for that kind of
work. We had trip of nine cars which
was practically only equal to eight two
of them being small ones. Train was
not too heavy; had gone about half a
mile when the accident occurred. Do
not remember that she was working
hard All the crew were good, careful
men, and all temperate men at that.
Every article that | had in my pockets
on the left side was lost, while all that
was in my right side pockets remained. :"
John r. Wagner was called to the
stand and gave a detailed explanation
of the construction of an engine boiler.
A picture and blue print were exhibit
ed TO the jury. 1t proved very instruc-
tive to the members not familiar with
the terms of the various parts of the
machinery
c. l.. Brauch, night foreman of round
house and machinist since 1884, said:
mo. 4 engine was in round house at
night. Examine the engines every night.
Saw the crown sheet and apparently it
was in good condition; saw no bulge;
could have seen a slight bulge unless too
trifling; was inspected the beginning of
February; other engines have been in
spected since; Nos. and 5 are in now;
saw them take out fifteen bolts; should
stop in if great number of bolts are
broken in one region. She had not been
out month from the date on which she
had been inspected. | saw the demolish-
ed boiler on the trucks and observed the
bolts pulled through. Bad water would
affect the bolts in several weeks, while
good water will not affect them in three
months; have formed no opinion what
ever as to the cause. She had been re-
paired more than the other engines be-
cause Mr.. Chambers was very careful.
Never heard him say anything about
the engine"
David 7. Holland, of West Hazeton,
employed at Gum Run junction in the
employ of both the Pennsylvania and the
ID. S. & S., inspecting coal and freight
cars, testified "Was there when the d.
S. & S, engine exploded; saw no person
about that had no business there; saM
William Goyne hammerng at portion of
the crown sheet; saw rivets that were
cut, also stay bolts lying on the ground
where the hammering was done Messrs
Rowland and Smith were present while
the hammering was being done"
Mr.. Rowland was recalled and stated
that Messrs. Smith, Beltz and himself ar
rived on the scene at the one time Did
not know of any bolts having been cut
away and it was at his directing that any
cutting was done. Three large pieces of
the boiler were then exhibited to the
jury for inspection to prove that there
were no hammer marks on it. Mr.. Row
land stated no persons raised objections
to their cutting away the rivets.
James Wilson: Il am paid my salary
from the Pennsylvania Railroad and in
spect cars for the D. S. e s. Company
also. Saw the d. S. & S. officials there.
We picked up stay bolts next morning
that had been cut. Counted thirty bolts
that had been broken previous to the ex-
plosion and as many more that had been
broken all the way around with the ex-
ception of u quarter of an inch in the
center which was broken by the explo-
sion. | did not notice the safety plug
in the crown sheet Heard Mr. Row
land order the men to remove the sheet
from the track to the bank. Heard
Pennsylvania Railroad employees raise
objection to the cutting that was being
done. In the crowd there were two en-
gineers from Sunbury and one from
Nescopeck. Was on the engine with
Chambers on several occasions and
always saw him with between three or
four gauges of water"
John X. Wagner was again called to
the stand and explained the samples of
the boiler.
Yesterdays Testimony.
AT $50 o'clock yesterday morning the
inrv mot to conrluda tnl lyin,r toctinony