Litchfield enquirer., 1865-08-24

train, which I did the engine was about if teen rods distant when 1 first saw it; MT Plumb had just looked at his watch and re marked that we had plenty of time to get to Bridgeport before the freight train would leave I think should have heard the whistle of the engine coming up if it had whistled at tha crossing below the down train was coming down at about ten or perhaps twelve miles an hour |; at the place of collision, the curve is sharp had no intimation that the engine was going out. The master mechanic. Mir. Winslow, has the charge of taking out an en- zine, and can take an engine ont on the road by complying with the regulations. This was a new engine which they were taking out on trial The engineer could not take the engine without the consent of the master mechanic. It was the duty of the engineer, geiug out of time. to zee that q flag is carried on the pre- ceding engine, no master mechanic or engineer is authorized to take out an engine without complying with the regulations. If there had been nag on the passenger train, should have sent flag ahead. We found the freight train about six miles from Bridgeport, and the regulations did not require us to flag in back ing down. ...,
 George Hunt, formerly Superintendent and General Agent, testified: ...,. ....g..
 If an engine is going out, out ot time, it is the duty or the engineer to see that flag is carried on the preceding engine. It would not be the duty of the engineer to run a train or engine if there was no flag on the preceding engine. It would be the duty of the eneiaeer to disobey any order to run an engine against the regulations. There is DO special authority given about running engines on trial. The as sistant superintendent or master mechanic has the charge of starting an engine. Under our regulations train having gone without red flag no one has a right to start a train out oi time. There is no regulations requiring us tU send flag back under the circumstances Ot tine accident yesterday. When regular train goes out and is followed by m extra train, il is always liable to be obliged 10 back down again. Its absolute safety in so doirg z, may be secured in three ways. either by allowing the first train to back down without the flag as WE do, unless notified that the extra train is to fol low. The second way is allowing the extra to go without notice, but requiring the first train to flag in backing down; or third by requiring both precautions to he taken, but either way insures absolute safety. and the rule is plain one. Our engineers are furnished with copies of our regulations. This regulation has been in force some years, and the engineer on the extra engine has been in the employ ot the company several years. ....a-
 The regulation referred to above, regarding tn" display of flag upon the locomotive pre- ceding an extra train, is as follows:
 A red flag by day and red lantern by nigh, must always be exhibited upon an engine, when an engine. other than that of regular Train is to follow, and in case Q regular Train is d
 vided into two or more distinct Trains. flags will be kept flying upon the engines sf all the Trains except the last. A white flag display ed upon an engine is signal that an extra Tram is soon to pass in an opposite direction Mir. Andrew Winslow, the master mechanic testified, in substance, that it was his custom to send engines out short distance on tria trips without fagging them that the engineer asked him on this occasion if he should send flag, and he answered no ; and that he did not 'construe the l2th Regulation to cover such cases., His unreasonable construction oI the rule. and his frequent disregard of it, does not seen. to us to relieve him of the responsi- bility. Mir. Bishop. the President of the Nau. gatuck Road and Mir. Rounds, master mechan- ic of the N Y. & N. H. R. R. testified that the rules on their roads require that train backing down. as this one was. should send a l pilot ahead with signal but of course their --r,-i--.:~,..- auruurrty w1tn other com panies beside their own. One gentleman who was near the engine Fairfield when it was stand ing at crossing below the curve where it col. lided with the passenger train, says that be heard the whistle of Conductor Plumbs loco motive very distinctly, and that after he had heard it the party on the Fairfield started thai engine forward, to his great surprise and an other gentleman who was in the vicinity. testi tied to nearly the same facts. ...... .....J | An effort was made to load the guilt of thu disaster upon Mir. Hunt and Mr. Plumb, on ac count of another regulation to the following effect:
 If trains are stopped on the road the con ductor must always send signals in each di- rection, and the conductors of trains delayed at stations on the time of another train mus send signals to warn the approaching train,'
 Now this regulation certainly does not sr ,,, to this case. When the freight train v no ain, ped, it's conductor undoubtedly sep' s;o,o,s each direction but the track ,6ezouoed to tn passenger train till Il 45, and it had as 900 a right to be half mile from Bridgeport as ap, where else. We w:ast remember that this fra; was not delayed con the time of any otbf tram; and there is no regulation that oblige loconiotive to occupy certain position at
 certain moment. except that it must keep clea of every other regular or signalled train. 1 Now the conclusions seem inevitable, tha the person who sent the locomotive up tn road. contrary to the plain and reasonable reg alations of the company, is chiefly responsibl for the horrible result, and that the men Ii charge of the engine, by little caution an vigilenee, might have avoided the collisien.- It is but just to Mir. Hunt and MT. Plumb that the public should understand the facts Q the case. .s4t Y. Home Again.
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