The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-18


sent it to the Boyd Estate under
taking establishment. The skin was
remai kably well preserved and there
is no mistaking that it was that of a
mans hand, as all OF the fingers are
distinct and the nail on one of them
is intact. The hand was evidently
a large one. None of the fingers,
apparently, had worn a ring.
1t is hard to account for the man
ner i'll which the skin was torn from
the hand. There are no PARTICLES
of flesh whatever adhering to it and
the skin shows no signs of having
been burned.
Persons early on the scene picked
up numerous valuables, which, for
the most part, were returned to
their owners when possible. One
patrolman picked three gold watches
out of the debris. 1t is believed
that there were but few cases of
theft, although negroes and for
eigners are said to have attempted
to go through the clothing of some
of the dead before daylight.
Responsibility for the disastrous
wreck will in all probability be laid
at the door of the Federal bill pass
ed, against the protest of railroad
managers three years ago, requiring
air brakes upon fifty per cent. OF
the cars composing freight train.
Scores of wrecks in all parts Of
the country are said by railroad
officials to have been caused by this
law. Under its terms the fore part
of every freight train is braked by
air. When the first cars are stop
ped suddenly the rear cars OF the
train bump into the head cars with
mighty force and weakened coup
ling or damaged car causes some
car to buckle and fall across any
track that may be adjoining.
This was exactly what happened
in this instance. 1t has happened
six or seven times recently right in
the neighborhood Of Harrisburg,
but this time a swift express was
plunging along on the track.
Coroner Krause and a specially
empanelled jury is conducting an
investigation along this line and the
jury's verdict may contain some
recommendation regarding the re-
peal of the law, and may also deal
with the question of the method Of
lighting employed upon cars. Con-
flicting statements are made regard
ing the part played by the gastanks
under the cars in the disaster. and
the railroad officials and Coroner
are making study of the problem.
1t is said that no person or per-
sons will be held in any way in
dividually accountable for the kill
ing and injuring of the passengers
and the loss of the two trains.
Every witness agrees that it was an
accident pure and simple. The ques-
tion remains, however, as to whether
or not a change in the law might
not prevent a similar tragedy.
Pennsylvania Railroad officials
have been flooded with pathetic ap-
peals from relatives of people who
were on the train, and who have
not been heard from at home. There
are still many among the missing
and some of them were probably
burned up so badly that no trace of
them remains.
No estimate Of the financial loss
of railroad property has been made
by the railroad officials, although it
is said that $Ioo, 900 will not cover
the loss of the passenger train
alone. The locomotive can be re-
built, but outside of this all is a
total loss. Over FIVE freight cars
were consumed by the flames the
remainder of the train having been
cut loose and taken safe distance
away. The passenger train that
was destroyed was composed of
engine No. 2423, one express car,
one baggage car, two coaches and
the Pullman sleeping cars, Socra-
tes, Paxton and Raritan, for Pitts
burg; Garnet for Cleveland, and
A..