Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-25
i he Railroad Calamity at Northfield

N inquest was held at NOrthfield, endIn.
last week and testimony taken concernin,
the fatal accident at the Harlow Bridge tn,
particulars of which were given in las
week s FREEMAN. The engineer, Mr.. Franci
B. Abbott, testified that Mr.. Tenney. super
I intendent of the work on the bridge, ant
three others were with him on the engine
Mr.. Tenney had desired him to ring the bel
at Mortified to hurry the men from theil
dinner. The train was run little faster
than usual, but not more than 10 miles al
hour There was no trouble about the ma
chinery. Some one said to him . hold on,
and looking out of the window he saw they
were nearer the bridge than he supposed, anC
he Immediately shut off steam and reversed
the engine. The drive wheels slipped on the
rails on account of the frost. MIR Abbott
said he had not drank any intoxicating
liquor for six months
Sidney Bliss. who was on the engine, ties
tilted that, in his opinion, the train was run
ming p miles an hour some Of the way
Some one threw n stick of wood into the cat
of the engine which first alarmed them He
applied the brake and jumped off This was
a little more than the length of the train
from the bridge. W here he jumped off was
only twenty-five feet from the chasIn
Ii. Ii. Locklin, Assistant Superintendent
testified that he was in the passenger ear.
In his judgment train was run faster than
than usual, and ne thought there was danger
and gave signal by waving his hand 10 stop,
but he eupposes Abbott did not see the sig
nal. The brakes on the passenger ear were
applied when he gave the signal. He jumped
off about thirty feet from the bridge, and
thinks the train was going at the rate of II
miles an hour. In his Judgment train was
running 20 miles an hour when he gave the
signal to stop. He thought the engine had
not been reversed when he jumped from the
train. A. he had noticed no Jerking motion.
Ne hunters had been put up at the chasm
as it was more convenient to run the timber
trains TO the edge Of the abutment
The testimony, while in some respects dis
trihuting the blame. does not, after all. re-
ieve the engineer. Mr.. Abbott. from the
principal burden Of responsibility. 1t was
his business, while running the train as en-
gineer. thus controlling the motive power to
stop short of the chasm no matter who might
have urged him to hurry, or have engaged
him in conversation. His own testimony
does not excuse him from this necessity II
Mr.. Tcnney, or any one else. had urged HIM
to run at a dangerous speed, it was his duty,
nevertheless. to stop the train short of the
chasrn. W bile it Is no doubt proba BILE that
the presence Of three or four persons on the
engine, and Mr.. Tenneys apparent desire for
haste, are to he reckoned among the agencies
which contributed 10 bring about the acct
dent. nothing of that kind made it any less
the duty of the engineer to stop his train
That was has business, and not the concern
of anybody else. 1t takes nothing from the
blame which should attach to him. that
others were careless as he. or that their
conversation made him forget To stop his
train IN time yet the fact that it doesn'
lessen his offence, should not. therefore. ex-
eulpate them. They cannot divide the blame
with the engineer nor can he put any share
Of his offence upon their shoulders but it is
u guilt in which all are in some respects
principals.