Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-12-20
The sorthheId Catastrophe,

At the irquest held at Mortified on the
late fearful accident, the testimony Of Alb
bOtt the engineer was that he was told by
Major Tenney to hurry up with bis load go
a. To get another, and .thrrefore ran faster
than be had previously ; that the train was
= ing but eight miles an hour when the ae-
cident happened, be bad already easel Oh
the steam; that some one on the tender sad
10 INN - hold on and looking out. be saw
the danger, shut of the steam and then isl-
mediately reversed a; that the drivers slip
Led on being reversed, the r'Ils being frosty;
that he 1unuei from biz engine a. the ten
der was falling that in biz opinion, IT
d" hunters had been put up on that eide OF
the chasm as on the south side the accident
would not have happened that If Sidney
Bliss had not occupied his attention just be-
fore with remark that the engine was
.. working IN its frame, the accident would
not have happened that it might have been
prevented If the brakes had been well man
ned that he was not intoxicated, had drank
no liquor at all for six months, was feeling
well, and had TO business Of bis own 90 his
mind.
Mr.. Locklin, the Assistant Superintend-
ent, testified that it was customary to back
up such trains, ss more convenient that no
6. hunters" were pct Up because the grade
was up" fifty feet to the mile, and moth
ing would 20 of unless showed over that nc
was on the forward end Of the passenger
car. and gave Abbott a signal 70 stop, as he
was going too fast, about 60 rods from the
chasm, but supposes be did not see It there
was no bell rope that Abbott had always
been considered safe engineer that ihe
speed. OF which be took particular notice
was about 20 miles per hour when lie gave
the signal to stop, and about twelve at the
time the cars went over that " buuier-'
would not have prevented an accident OF
some kind. st that speed tha; when be
Jumped from the car. 30 feet from the
chasm, he Judged the engine mad NOT been re-
vcrsed that the brakeman applied the
braces when be gave the signal 20 stop ;
that since the accident bunters have been
pu, %, and the trains do not back Up as
before.
Mai. renney, the master bridge-bulider,
who was on the tender. testified that be told
Abbott before starting to ring his bell. and
hurry the men up; dossnos rememrer say
ing anything else 1t Wa the understanding
that Abbott was TO 90 back for another
load. but does not remember saying anything
about it. might have spoken about 1t; can
not say wha, the hrst warning ot tsu-.'
was saw the brakes RAPIDLY put on. locke.
out. thought the tram would 20 oy.r. aud
Jumped Of. not 100 ier, from Jfe cha-'u
did not consider the tram uuds- h.- vi
control but under mat ct ih, engineer: d'.|
no, know wbo 70 cal CONDUCTOR Of Dc D.
Mr. L.ckhn gave orders, 10 w.- thr dog d,
I'D o, ohsv them.
Sidu.y Bliss fireman On The rsilrlat
wso vas passenger 90 tbe engine. tesr.h ,
that he spike TO Abboa sb.u, tbe engine
working IN it, frame. at p ,zzeu'- crossing
rslf ~ three quarters If a miIs from Oh
cha-m Don't remember bis reply uisr'
win tte fireman after thai. -1- f--r -i.n d.
danger va a -tck % w,d flying nj Cd
cab: doesn't know VINO threw O.. s-t--ei O.
putou the brs kc on the tender. thinks ABB
reversed the reine then the tr,in va '
going 81 rapidly a. before. nut could n'' 70
: stopped: commenced applying trske a
the north end Of the snanty the south Ell
is about forty feet from the wing Of o.
ssutr.cut Jumped n about rseutv-f7
feet from the aiutmenf saw the car ar
tender 20 over v--n the engine sroIr.
the drive wheels were very near the end d
the rails
Arthur Kenuy, bridge hama. who jumps
from window OF the car about ten tcct r. q
the cbasm, testified thar On Tue-ia
the tram came Up slowly. and also Wed
nesdav morning on the afternoon yer
fast ; be noticed the speed in the afternoon
and Judged Il TO be twenty-five miles a
hour, It was not customary TO put up bun
tiers at such places, and not necessary at thi
place on account Of the heavy upgrade.
Marshall Hopkins, farmer residing atou
sixty rods from the bridge, saw the tran
coming up faster than any be bad seen com
before; noticed it 100 rods Of; was sure j
would 90 into the chssm there was a Sigh
Stacking Of speed az the train was approach
the abutment