Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-02-13


ahead until l struck it. Could only see a
train few rods ahead. 1t is my business to
look ahead. Had just turned from side win
dow when we struck. Saw 10 signals OF per-
sons on the track. Running about twenty
| miles an hour; could have seen man or signal
at woods, one-fourth OF mile back. There
was 10 nearer point at which signal could be
seen. Collision occurred fifteen or twenty rods
east of Chambers Cut. Did not see the cars
when struck couldn't look out of head win
dow on account of snow. When on time, run
by card, when off by dispatch. Think could
have seen signal at the side of the road il there
bad been one. When l struck the train
gave the signal for the brakes. 1t was only
an instant before we stopped. One side OF the
sleeping car lay on one side of the track and
one on the other. The engine went into The
rear Of the second car. Saw no railroad hands
then; the first saw was Foster, about half an
hour after we struck. Saw no one coming
from Perry. Saw Murray ip about an hour
Didn't hear him say anything.
Mr. Townsend gave some details 10 regard
to the aid to the wounded. He was OF the
opinion that one good man would have stopp
the train He added some further details as
to position of freight trains The signal ofthe
Express train should have been sent back TO
the woods or farther. There is Fixed rule
for sending back signals 10 cases Of accident
that they shall be sent at least one-half mile
each way. In this case they should have been
sent farther than in fair weather. 1t was not
cold.
S. II Foster-Sworn Was brakes
man on the night express, last ca; have
been on the road two years; when the
train stopped went ahead to see M.
Murray; he told me TO go back and see
If | cOuldo't see the freight. He simply
said: You 60 to the back end of the car
and look out for the freight | went away
T ON the train, down far enough, l should
thiuk, to stop the freight; l went near the
woods; could see the crossing down in the
woods at intervals only; l had nothing
but lamp; thee vas no flag on the traiu;
Smith told me that Murray said be and l
must look out for the train; / went n to
get warm; | was in about half an buu';
went 10 after | saw Smith, told him to look
out while | was getting warm; | went
back about forty rods, staid about twenty
minutes and went back; said TO Smith
Look out for the train, do not know
whether Smith left the sleeping car or not;
he stood inside the car on the hind end of
the train; am 10 years old; nothing was
said about any train but the freight; there
are two brakesmen, the wa er boy engineer,
one conductor, one fireman, one express.
10 an, one baggageman and one sleeping car
conductor on the train; had not had to a z
a train before since [ had been hind
brakeman; my lamp was not burning at
the time; IL is the conduc urs business to
see that there are flags on the traiu.-
Don't think M Murray knew We were out
of flags. He never said anything about
them. E ich brakesman has his own flag.
I had nothing but common car lamp,
which was white. Don't know whether
could, sometimes not Have been hind
brakesman two weeks. Have tagged trains
before Generally have gone back 10
whistling post if near station. Was in
the third car at the time Of the collision
The last | saw of Smith, he Was looking
out of the hind end Of the sleeping car
At that time could see. .fory or fly rods,
| thiuk.
j. A. Bssk-Sworn. Is Tsaiu Dis
patcher of The Cleveland, PaneSvil!e and
Ashtabula Railroad When passenger
trains are out of time L move freight trains
SO as not TO interfere with them. Have
control of the movement of all trains not
running Oh card time. Mr. Bush gave
detailed and lengthy statement of the run
uing OF trains andthe failure of the wires.
1t is too technical 10 be intelligible to the
uninliated. Its substance is that the line
failed and connection was not recovered
until both express and accommodation were
paSl Perry. Train reporters are kept only
az Perry.
H. nottingham m-Sworn. Mr.. Noting
ham detailed The course of events in The
Supe in eudents off on Tuesday morning.
Conductors and Engineers advise together
as 10 changes from card time. A conduc
tor is responsible for the competency OF his
men and chargeabe with their mistakes
A telegraph operator is not required to
give reports of trains at way stations 1t
is his dnty 10 give Information as to unusu
al things occurring. The principal office
can close aD office for their orders. Ii is
a conductors duty to see that his men have
the tools TO do their work properly. Mr.
Mead could have ascertalned at Perry
about trains west, yet not to do so was 10
neglect OF duty. Tue rules require that
CONDUCTOR should see that they had flags or
lanterns. If be does not be fails 10 do his
duty. If conductor has aagman, thut
be mas eutire confidence in, he might not
see himself personally to them.
r. E. Maryay-Recalled. l ordered
Foster either to flag the train or go back
aud look out for il. He had never dissp-
pointed me. There was a flag on the en-
glne. Suppose that from my order to
Smith he would go and relieve Foster. l
suppose i am responsible for the action OF
my brakesmeD, yet could not be with
lhem always aud supposed them competent
There is always flag on the engine 1t
is the duty of the hind brakesman TO have
a flag, II Foster had none he knew he
could get one on the engine. 1t is the dn'
~ of the hind brakeman TO flag train
1t is the most important brake on the train.
Bells are rung at crossings, whStling is
doue only at stations aud switches. sent
no reports as TO the progress OF the tram
S. s. Smith-SWOrR The other brakes
man on the night express. lie testlhes
that Murray sent him back after the train
was struck, to tell Foster TO go back aud
| look ont for the freight Gave him (Smith