Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-08-18

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tram to start, before it got under way. | compared
my watch on the morning of Aug 18th, with The
watch OF Oiney Saunders, an engineer employed on
| the Providence and Worcester road. We found the
watches agreed Mr. Saunders said his watch was
! r'ght by the Companv's clock in Providence, the
morning before he started. The Uxhridge lrain,
sIace 1t has been under the charge of Mr. Pulnam has
not arrived at the Boston switch on its regular time
Tut once. The up train has left the Boston switch
several times since Mr. Putnam has been conductor of
the OXbndge tram, before the arrival OF said train
ne orders to me, about the up train leaving the
Boston SWITCH are the same in the printed order,
which is as follows:
SPECIAL RULE.
The Morning Passenger Tram from Providence,
will not pass the "Boston Switch'' if the Uxbrdee
Train is due at the Switch, until FIVE minutes behind
its table time; after that time it will be entitled to
the track, and he Uxbridge Train must keep out Of
the way ISAAC II. SOUTHWICK. Supt'.
Snperntendenl's Office, Prov. s. Wor. R. r.
June 10Th, 1858.
After the collision, Mr. Putnam came down within
about 20 rods Of the switch, and said 10 me-.Ietme
see your watch" We compared watches; his (Pu.
nam's) watch little more than a minute and a
hall slower than mine. Nj Putnam said he had got
watch, but did not dare to the train by it, and
he had borrowed watch. | think he said he Dor.
rowed the watch of Capt. Fosdick.
Mr. Soulhwick never spoke to me about my watch
and don't know as he says anything TO any of the
conductors about their watches. | have clock in
the switch house, that bought myself, but 1t does
not run. never placed any reliance upon my clock
There is no signal at the Boston SWITCH that can be
seen north Of the curve toward Valley Falls.
heard the whistle Of the down train on the MORN
ing OF the l2th, aud supposed that the train was
above the Valley Falls station. Did not think the
train was below Valley Falls, because they had no
business TO be there There was one moraing when
the Uxbridge train down very close on the ND
train. thought to myself that it was pretty close
running. Do not recolect who was on the train as
conductor. This happened some time within "a
month; don't recolIect the exact time.
Isaac H. Soaahaoick, sworn.-Reside in Provi-
dence L am at present superintendent of the
Providence and Worcester Railroad | was on
the up morning passenger train from Providence
to Worcester on the morning of Aug. 18th, 1853
The train started from Providence ! should think,
FULLY two minutes behind time. The train was
delayed in consequence of the Newport boat be-
ing little late, and to take on Mr.. Beckwith
who was going with Mr. Taft, the President to
UXbridge, on business in reference to the railroad
We arrived az the switch two minutes behind
time, should think should not think that we
made or gained any time. We then waited the
usual time that the rule required-the signal ball
was made right to go forward, and the conductor
called on the passengers to get on board was
at that time with the conductor. and the engi-
neer, fireman, and | think the brakeman were
at the well. should think it was thirty eight
minutes past seven when the train left the switch
l stepped upon the foot board and went through
the curve heard the whistle to break: saw the
down train coming, and jumped from the car Just
before the collision happened. Was injured
probably by jumping and by the flying pieces from
the cars. Found my watch hanging at myshoul-
der, broken; found myself considerably injured
and bleeding. Returned to Providence and did
not return to the scene of the accident on that
day. do not think the train could have been
stopped before the collision, within the distance
| they were of each other, when / saw them ap-
l. proaching thought it safer to Jump than to
remain on the platform The printed rules and
! instructions handed in by me, are the instructions
| for running the train on the Providence and Wor.
cester road. The conductors supply their own
| watches. Mr.. Putnam had charge of the Wor-
! cester morning train from about the 9th of Nav
| to the latter part of June, about six weeks For
two years previous or more, think, he had been
brakeman and baggage master, and had taken
tickets in the second class car, and performed
that service very sarisfactory-qui as we'll as /
expected. 1t aoOuld be safe to start train from
Valley Falls station to the Seostch Aagiasq four
minutes time think the distance can be yzi1s an
three minutes, with the usual train. If had
been on the down train on the morning of the
18th, should not have started it on four minutes
time to reach the Boston swith. 1t is the prae
tice of our conductors, to walk up to the clock
and compare their watches daily that is the rule
and very often them doing it.
Frederick w. Putnam, sworn--I am twenty
five ears old the l4th day of last April | was
ChiPlO1Su piiOI W DSluS COuuuClOT, as baggage
master My compensation $50 month"; l
first acted as conductor sometime in MAY last in
Mr.. Tafts train while he absent-about six
weeks--my pay was the same; not increased. |
was not furnished by the Company with chro-
nometer watch. borrowed chronometer. Can
tain Fosdick had old fashioned lever watch
recommended to me good one. | think that
| Capt. Fosdick changed watches with me, and
| took smaller one of him, the Saturday or Mon
day previous to the accident A young man from
| worcester sent watch. / he traiu thro,
| Aug 18th by the Capt Fosdick watch l did not
show the instructions to Mr.. Stevens; don't
! know that Mr.. s. evens had the Instructions
Did not compare watches with Mr. Stevens COM
ing down. Did not understandable Mr. Stevens
was to assist me conductor. Did understand
that Mr.. Charles Freedom was to assist me. NV
! pay was not increased when took charge of the
| Uxbridge train as conductor.
| mean to say borrowed end had chronome-
ter when l conductor of Taft's train The
| chronometer then had, was the same one now
owned by MIR. Perry G. Card.
| Nathan SteUens, affirmed ia Proy-
dence. My occupation when this accident hap
| pened, was master Of transportation in The EN-
| poY Of the Providence and Worcester Railroad
Co. at Providence. The reason / was on the
| down train on the morning Of the 18th, was that
my wife was at Woonsocket on a visit and |
! spent each night with her while there Went up
| 10 the Uxbridge train at night and down in the
1
the train was running down on the morning of the
18th, until after the collision. Ibid not consider
that had any thing to do with the train. Con-
slider the train wholly in charge Of the conductor.
Did not hear Jonathan Chace, or any one else al
The Valley Falls station say that the Uxbridge
TAIN was running on the up trans time. The
reason OF my being at Wbiiins on the morning of
the 18th, was that heard Mr. Southwck express
some anxiety about the freight train keeping ont
OF the way Of the Uxbridge train, and / told him
| would go up and see to It. He said he wished
would, and accordingly went and discharged
that duty, and did not consider that had any
thing further to do with the train.-- Considered
Mr. Putnam entirely competent as a conductor.
Considered myself merely as passenger on the
Uxbrdge tram Had not seen Mr. Pntnam's in
siructions Tor running the train on that day
Charles y. Freeborn, affirmed. - live 10 Prov
idence. am clerk in the freight house In the
employment of the Proyideace and Worcester
Railroad Company. ] was assisting Mr. Putnam