Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-25


TASTROPIIE.
From the testimony, now in the county clerks
Office, we gather this;
Abbott said Tennoy told him to run up the train
and return for another load as soon as he could ;
that he run at the usual speed, about 90 miles an
hour, did not sound the whistle for breaks but
shut off the steam where he had done so on pre-
vious trains that then he found he was getting
nearer to the chasm than he was aware Of, when
he reversed the engine aud his brakeman put on
the brake. At this time he was not running over
miles an hour, and the distance was about three
lengths Of the train from the chasm at the time he
reversed when he reversed, the engine slid along
the frosty track. Major Tenney said nothing TO
him about running after the train left the depot,
nor did any one else He considered that Tenney
had the control Of him in running that train, and
in starting be did understand that Tenney was in a
hurry, and he run quicker than he should have
done if Teuney had not made the remark about
hurrying up the mcn--a little quicker than he
chose to do, and than he had previously run.
Both engine and track were in good condition.
Mr. Tenney testified that when the train was
ready at Mortified depot he did tell Abbott to
ring the bell aud hurry up the mcn but that he
had no control, and assumed none, over the eng-
neer on the way up. Locklin was his superior
officer, and he supposed he controlled the train.
Tenney said he did not think the train was going
too fast until it had reached about half way be
tween elbow bridge and the chasm. When he
saw the Hopkins house he thought the train would
90 oil. ile did not speak to the engineer about
ii the time was too short for talk, aud be jumped
as soon as he could find place after seeing the
danger landed less than one hundred feet from
the chasm, and when he struck the ground he saw
the and tender 20 over. He thinks the ene-
neer was absent minded and forgot that the bridge
was gone. He may have told the engineer that he
was to go back for another load OF men, but be
did not remember.
Mr.. Lockhn testified that he was assistant sup
erintendent of the road aud was on the platform
of the car next to the chasm that it was Abbott's
business to run the construction trains that he
docking had designated no persons to act as
brakemen on the train though a number of brake
men were on the train; that he knew Abbott was
running too fast when the train passed the curve
about sixty rods rom the chasm, aud then he gave
a signal to stop the train. There are two signals
to stop, one by pulling the bell rope and the 9th
er by swinging the arm by day and lantern by
night There was no rope attached to the bell,
and be therefore gave the signal by swinging the
arm that signal was not obeyed, and he supposed
it was not seen. The brake was put on at his
end OF the when be gave the signal, the train
then going ct 30 miles an hour. When about 80
feet from the chasm, he jumped, Judging that the
'-an sl4.. -z-:.., uriies nour. lie heard
no whistle sounded to put on the brakes.
Willard S. Taft, Of Huntington was on the en-
giue with Tenney, the engineer, fireman, and one
other man He swears that Tenney urged engi-
neer Abbott to hasten that Abbott did run the
train fsster thaH usual that when from 20 to %
rods from the chasm he told the fireman they would
run off, and himself put the brake; that the
fireman told Abbott to shut off steam, and Alb
bott reversed the engine and | looked and the
passenger car was going offnto the chasm" His
opinion was that Abbott would have run more
carefully if Tenny had not urged him, that there
was carelessuess all round and that the Railroad
Company is blamablc because no bunter was put
on the track on the West side, where the train
went or Another witness testifes that the en-
gine went within two feet of the chasm before it
stopped. Others say four feet so the engine was
barely saved. Abbott and others on it had Jump
ed of.