New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-04
rNOITEST IN ATLANTIC CITY.
rur coRoNER's INVESTIGATION OF THE
RAILROAD WRECK BEGUN.
.,-prpINrENpENr DEIcE ADMITS THAT ENoI-
NEERs DO NOT ALWAYS OBEY RULES
EIGHT MORE OF THE VICTIMS
BURIED IN PREDICTION.


EIGHT MORE OF THE VICTIMS
BURIED IN PREDICTION
.,.n.,c CITY n J.. Aug. 2-The inquest by Coro-
=, Mclaughlin into the deaths resulting from the
sr,s,on between the Reading Railroad express and
49, pr,dreton excursion train the West Jersey
n.uroad on the meadows last Thursday even
avg began to-day The greater part Of the testimony
ss in explanation of the workings of the bock-sig-
-, system In anticipation of big crowd the
,,uest WAS not held in the stuffy little City Hall,
a., IN odd Fellows Hall. At time. however
-as the hall overcrowded.
coroner Mclaughlin is being assisted in conduct
,,s the inquest by Mr. Perry Prosecutor OF Pleas
ho has undertaken the task Of questioning the wit
.sses Both railroad companies are represented
nv counsel at the hearing. and United States Sem
,o- sewen ce-president of the West Jersey Rail-
ood and George W. Boyd. assistant general pas
.orge- agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
nanv came from Cape May In special train to
,s,sr 70 the evidence. Both companies also have
-.a,osrsnhers taking the testimony with view to
a.. use in probable damage suits
eunar,ntendent Dayton. OF the West Jersey road
- ras absent from Atlantic City at the time OF
~, ,o,dent presented in an able way for the
-, ~ the fury the projections OF the bock-sig
ii svs,ern as a safeguard against collisions but
,as forced 10 admit that its perfect working de-
,.rds on infaiible human beings.
sunerintendent Deice. OF the Reading. appeared
s,vthing but a happy witness He avoided answer
,,r embarrassing questions as long as he could. and
Rev finally admitted that express trains are run
=, yearly full speed in approaching a grade cross
a., - they once receive the signal to go ahead. AS
,ha -es Of the company explicitly state that trains
n,-oachine a crossing shall be under such control
~, they can stop within $50 feet OF a crossing it
x.ou,d seem that the rule Is not strictly observed
q, ~ ferce competition for business
Nicholas Long, day operator at the tower the
,rossnr Witnessed the accident he was on his
So home from work and he said that the clear
s,enai was given 10 the excursion train and the
his opinion that this unusual express trains
On the Reading usually have the right Of way over
ali trains on the West Jersey. owing to priority
OF track occupation.
II Is probable that the inquest may last until
Wednesday. and IT may even continue TO
Thursday.
The victims of the wreck in the sanitarium are
doing well. and there are now hopes that all may
ultimately recover.
Bridgeton. n. j., Aug. Slight more victims OF
the Atlantic City railroad accident buried
here to-day. This morning the body of ex-Coun-
Gilman J. D. Johnson was buried in the Broad Street
Cemetery This the largest funeral of the day.
hundred carriages being in line John
Gre.ner was buried at Woodruffs. and BENJAMIN
terry William Prckett. Miss Tillie Leeds Mr. and
Mrs. William c. Lopez and Harvey Hughes were
buried this afternoon. All the business places
closed al noon. and all public buildings and business
houses were draped in mourning There will be
several more funerals tomorrow.