The times., 1899-05-14
ChRELESSNESS CAUSED
THE EXETER DISASTER
Sixty Miles an Hour by the
Second Excursion Train.
The Terrific Speed Brought Ii I'm
expeetediy on the First.
Want Of Time Forbade Warning the
Approaching Flyer of the COnl
Train breakdown.


mel this afternoon began his Investigation
of the Reading Railroad horror at Exeter
station last night. He and his jury first
viewed the twenty-four dead bodies
brought here, and then took special
train for the scene of the accident The
coroner prepared subpoenas for some twen-
ty persons to appear. The inquest vii be-
gin next Wednesday at 2 p. m. in the
rooms of the Board OF Trade.
Late this afternoon it was stated that
two trains left Reading within four min
utes of each other, and that from here to
Exeter Engineer Orreil, of the second sec
tion. ran nearly sixty miles an hour.
Engineer Wildermuth, of the first section,
did not run as fast. ana the belief is gen.
eral that by the time the six miles were
run to Exeter the two trains were hardly
three minutes apart. The first section was
held by the coal train breakdown, and re-
Quired another minute or two to SLOW up.
Ii Conductor Drummer, of the first section,
did send man hack 20 vr-,, The second
section, he could not have gone far before
the second train came. Engineer Orreil
could only whistle for brakes. reverse,
and then wait for the crash. His engine
crushed the rear day coach and ground into
the Pullman, pushing it into another car.
There is report that Orrell did not have
time to put on the air brakes. His fire.
man, Everett, leaped from the tender but
Orrell says he stuck to his engine. There
is report here that he was either hurled
from his locomotive or that he jun psd.
These are the points to be rigid!y investi-
gated. Orrell thought the first section OF
the train was FIVE miles away. as he knew
nothing of the coal train wreck below Ex-
eter. and would not know until he saw the
danger signal at that station. Railroad
men are of the opinion that had ther. be-n
more time between the running Of the
trains the hind man of the first section
could have had time 10 get back TO signal
his warning, if be was sent back
Twenty-Five dead have been identified
here and two still remain unidentified.
Two died at Norristcwn and one at Potts
town. This makes twenty-seyen in all
thus far. In many instances there was
absolute evidence that the dead men had
been robbed Their pockets were turned
inside out and riiled. All the afternoon
hearses and dead wagons were taking eof-
fined bodies to the railroad stations TO be
sent home in care OF sorrowing relatives.
Other relatives arrived and visited the in
| jured at the three hospitals. George w.
Holmes aged fifty-three. of Ncrristown.
| had his legs amputated at the hospital
and may die. His is the most serious case.
The other injured here will recover. il is
thought. There were forty-four injured in
all. as far as can be learned.
Superintendent Wilson, of the Reading
division, was asked what in his Judgment,
was the cause of the horror He replied
that the matter had not yet been fully in
vestigated, and cannot be until all the per-
SONS concerned in the handling of the
trains can be seen and their statements
obtained.
1T is reported that the first section ran
by the station and afterward backed up.
said the reporter Was that not a mis-
take?"
Il think the train should have been left
where it stopped said Mr. Wilson, but
as / said before, | cannot speak of the
cause until the matter is thoroughly inves-
tigated.'
1T is also reported that the towerman
below Reading was notified to display pre-
cautionary signals against the second sec
! tion. Is that true?" was next asked
Il have heard that. too. but that will be
embraced in the report
Following is revised list of the dead:
SAMUEL BEATTY. Nouistown.
WILLIAM C. GAMMA. Norristown was a
bachelor. retired and a member of councils
LuCIEN J. CUSTER, aged nineteen, of Potts
| town.
sixty, was a lieutenant in General fartranft's
regiment.
Capt y. C. EICHHoLTZ, of Downingtown. Pa.
veteran of the Fiity-third Pennsylvania voun-
teers
SAM FILLMAN. Norristown.
II. C. HARTFORD, aged twcnty-eight, Norris
town.
NORMAN HOLMES, aged twelve. Norristowp.
II. l.. HUNSBERGER, Conshohockcn, aged
fifty years.
| JOHN JOHNSON. PhoenixviIIe
| JOHN c. KUNTZ Norristown
| c. L. LAvERTY. telegraph operator. Harris
! burg
CHARLES LEAF, Fort Washington. connected
| with the Auditor Generals office, Harrisburg
| WILLIAM LEWIS, aged fifty. Norristown,
Capt. GEORGE sCALI, former postmaster o.
| Norristown.
JOHN C sLINGLUFF, No1ristown, former chic
| OF the fire department.
| +. Z. SHELLEY. Hstboro, aged forty.
PRESIDENT MONTGOMERY, National Bank
| Norris:own.
FRANK D. sowER, Norristown. aged forty
nine years.
WILLIAM sTAHLER, aged seventy. Norristown
| wholesale druggist.
| JOSEPH TAYLOR, aged sixty-tiye, coored por
| ter, NoTTistown.
/ H. II. THOMPSON, Non4stown.
| DANIEL H. YoDER, Pottstown.
HARRY c. WENTZ, real estate, Norristown.
| CHARLES WHITE, Norristown.
Unknown man, aged forty.
Unknown man, badly mutilated and face crush
| ed aged about fifty.
Unknown man, partly bald, aged fifty C. \
Il. badge
MICHAEL LAWN. aged dfty-fye, Germantown
CONFEDERATION AT HANCOCK.