Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-29
RAILROAD MURDER.


The terrible railroad disasters upon the
Maine Central railroad within the past
week have created feeling in the COM
munity which nothing but the most
thorough and impartial investigation, fol-
lowed by such punishment and correction
as may be had, will allay. 1t may be that
the accident at Freeport was unavoidable
by any care or watchfulness on the part of
the employees or management of the road,
but no milder phrase will apply in the
case of the castrophe on Tuesday than
murder. We find, however, that there is
disagreement of authorities as to the cause
of the disaster at Freeport, some attribu-
ting it to broken axle and some to bro
ken wheel, showing that the matter de-
serves investigation. In the catastrophe
of Tuesday there is no excuse that will an
swer to shield the guilty person. By his
act, two living loads of humanity, entrust-
ing themselves, fathers, mothers and chill
dren, to the care of the road and its con-
duct, were hurled upon each other to
death and wounds, as certainly as though
they had been slaughtered and manned by
a discharge of grape and canister. And
this must have been known to the respon-
sible party, if he was not drunk or crazy.
The train from Gardiner to Augusta
started at o'clock, its regular time. The
road then until it reached Augusta belong
ed to this train. Such are the regulations
of the company, copy of which every
conductor is required to carry with him
and is supposed to understand. The mix
ed train going west had been delayed at
Augusta half an hour, in order to carry
homeward the delegates at the democratic
convention, belonging in the western part
OF the State. This was regular freight
train, with extra passenger cars attached
for this special occasion. It's regular hour
of starting from Augusta is 4-30, and it
usually passes Gardiner before the dummy
train starts for Augusta. But on Tuesday
it was half an hour late, starting down riv-
er from Augusta for Gardiner at the same
time that the dummy started up river from
Gardiner for Augusta. AS we have pre-
viously stated, the road then belonged to
the dummy, and it was the duty of the
conductor of the mixed train to keep his
train out Of the way, give the dummy a
safe and free passage, and avoid col
lision. The mixed train might and should
have stopped at Hallowell until the dunn
my passed, but instead of this, the con
ductor with criminal recklessness took the
road, and the consequence was the fearful
collision of which we have given full re
port. The unfortunate engineer who los
his life was a new man upon this route
and probably unacquainted with the regu
lations, or he might have known the dan
ger upon which he was rushing, and per
haps through him it might have beer
avoided. 1t is evident enough from these
facts that the conductor of the mixed trar
is the responsible party for this calamity
We neither know nor hear anything
against his previous character, but what
apology he can offer for himself in this
slaughter we do not see.
Too much praise cannot be awarded
to Mr.. Holmes, the conductor of the dunn
my, Tor his course. Knowing that the
mixed train should have passed him be-
fore, and conceiving that it might be upon
the road. he was on the lookout and run
ming slowly when it first came in SIGHT.
In an instant the alarm was sounded. the
brakes applied, the engine reversed, the
passengers warned of the approaching
danger and told to jump for their lives he
setting the example by plungng over the
embankment. The brakeman, Mr.. White,
nobly stood to his post till the last moment
leaping just in time to save his life, SC
with the engineer. If all officers and EN-
ployees of railroads were as thoughtful
prudent, and brave as these men ther,
would be less of railroad slaughters.
We trust the company will not only Civ
this subject the attention it demands a
their hands, but that they will seriousl
take into consideration all that relates il
their management to the safety of lif
upon their trains. This disaster occurre,
almost under the eye of the superio
officers, with an available telegraph. /
there as much care, thoughtfulness an,
prudence exercised as there should be