Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-29
CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE
EASTERN RAILROAD DISASTER.

Boston, IS. The coroners inquest met
this afternoon in regard to the Revere disas-
| ter. 1t is composed of DR.. Jas. 3. Forsaith
| Jonathan Harrington, A. Burnham, John H.
Proctor, Chas. Bird, and Col. Porter, DIR.
Jacob Mitchell of Chelsea, Clerk. The in
| vestigation is held in Revere town hall
There was large attendance of interested
citizens, including many railroad people.
The first witness called was John S. New
land, conductor on the Eastern railroad, who
testified that the regular time of starting the
accommodation train was 7:l-4 o'clock. 1t
was very late last Saturday night, being
quarter to eight before starting; proceeded
without interruption until arriving at Somer-
| vile; started run to Saugus Branch, where
l saw train coming round the curve sig
| nailed the train which was seen and stopped
| 1t afterwards spoke to my engineer who said
we could go along after delay of minutes
at the junction; ran down to Everett; ran
| from Everett to Chelsea stopped there one
| and half minutes, and then ran to Revere
| After the passengers had alighted the word
| was given, all right; swung my lantern to
start; can't say whether the train started or
| not; some person on the platform said here
| comes the train; Immediately jumped be-
| tween the tracks and swung my lantern; not
a minute elapsed before the crash came
| there was not time to any more before the
collision; to the best of my knowledge it was
quarter of eight when my train started;
| knew the express train was to follow at eight
| O'Clock; when started from Chelsea station
the express train was not in sight; had three
cars and baggage car on my train had orders
to start as soon as possible. The rule is to
carry tail lights they are white in color and
were attached and burning to the rear of the
car when l arrived at Revere. The deten-
ton at Saugus Branch of eight minutes was
occasioned by the half-past six train; did
not discover the express train until it struck
me; first discovered the express train at
Everett; the train was approaching at a
rapid rate; could not tell whether the steam
was shut off or not the train appeared to be
under full Roadway; know the engineer of
the express train; his name is VIM Brown :;
did not hear any whistle from his train; could
not say whether he could hear or not; call
80 miles per hour rapid rate; should Judge
| that it was running at that rate, had right of
the road according to the rules use of lam
terms on the rear OF a train is to notify an ap-
preaching train; invariable rule is to stop
when these signals are seen it 10 an under
stood rule, that no train is to be within half
mile Of the preceding train; instructions are
printed. 1t would require ordinarily one and
a half or two minutes TO pass over distance
of half a mile. Should think it would re-
quire one fourth of mile to break up train
running at the rate of 50 miles per hour. The
condition of the weather was overcast but
clear; did see light one-half mile distance
that night a light could he seen that dis
lance upon the road; should think bulls
eye could be seen a mile in straight line
was in the rear end of the car before we ar
rived at Revere. The first intimation had
was man singing out from the platform that
a train was coming; did not see the MAJ. that
tended the SWITCHES at the depot think the
man showed a light; jumped into middle of
the track and this man was at my left hand,
some seven feet in advance, when the train
struck; was delayed one-half hour at Bos-
ton depot. Have been on the road p years,
and during that time there has been times
when trains do not start on time. Camp
meeting has deranged the starting time by
being. heavy trains. 1t has been more so for
the last ten days than usual, Delays occur
in Boston more than any other point here
never made complaint of making up train
or time of starting; receive orders in run
ming from the superintendent; start when
behind time as soon as possible with
out any signal. The superintendent