Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-06
RAILROAD DISASTER INQUEST.
SEVENTH DAY.

SEVENTH DAY.
The hearing was resumed to-day at 8
o'clock, and James Hickey, fagman at Cory
vile was called and testified.-Had been in
that position one year ago last February; was
on duty on night of accident; saw both trains
pass the accommodation at 90 minutes past
s o'clock; my time is regulated by Chelsea
depot time, and does not vary more than one
and half minutes in week; regulate it
once week; saw express train coming
round tie curve after accommodation train
had passed; should judge the distance to be
three-quarters Of a mile; after Bey erly train
passed smoke from engine settled down so
| could not see tail lights fifty rods distant !;
noticed it particularly, and felt alarmed in
regard to safety Of trains, and thought that
express train would overtake accommodation
but had not time to stop express by signal,
which l would have done as felt authorized
in doing so under circumstances; both trains
were not in sight at same time, and were run.
ming at usual speed think Nowland's train
was at crossing when Pullman was at Tide
bridge.
Henry ID. Hill of East Boston was called
and testified that he was an engineer in freight
department, and been on railroad 10 years
was asleep in depot on night in question: Mr..
Beals spoke to me and said there was going
depot when collision occurred; should Judge
it was 20 minutes past 8 o'clock; stepped
back to depot when train struck for safety
it took half minute for engine after striking
to empty itself of steam and water, and should
judge it was moving at the rate of 10 or Is
miles per hour; went to East Boston imme-
dately after accident for help; returned with
Mr.. Thompson and doctor; the night was
foggy, and condition of rails greasy.
James A. Beal of East Boston testified
that he was stationary engineer at East Bos-
ton, and was in door Of Revere depot when
collision took place; Rowland had arrived one
and half minutes before; first saw head
light of Pullman train coming from under
bridge. The balance of his testimony was
coroborative of what the other witness testi-
fed to.
Joseph G. Babcock of East Boston testified
Am locomotive engineer, have been in en-
ploy of Eastern Railroad Is years, most of
time on the road; was passenger on freight
train which stopped at North Chelsea and
saw collision; should say it was 20 minutes
past o'clock; Just as Nowland's train came
down l and another person went for a pail of
water, and after l got it saw Pullman train
coming down, and thought it would stop, bnt
when it reached overhead bridge saw it had
no time to stop, although it was evident they
Cod ''my God" look at that murder; could
see tail lights of Nowland's train much
quicker than engineer of Pullman train owing
to my positions saw tail lights of Beverly
train and lantern that was swung at cross
ing.
Coleman Cook, a resident of East Boston,
and real estate man, thought he would be
able to get train at North Chelsea for camp
meeting, and started at quarter of s,larrived
there at s, looked at clock in depot at 10
minutes past s, and saw the train coming with
two engines attached; when train arrived
stepped upon hind car and asked Rowland if
he was going to camp meeting, he said no ;
stepped back, and when he was going under
bridge saw express train crossing; remarked
that express train would overhaul Beverly
train; about 8 o'clock man asked for depot
master and said there had been collision.
Geo. M. Brown, President of the Eastern
r. r., was then called and being sworn, tes-
titled that he had held that position - years;
have no means Of knowing the number of
passengers carried except by returns; in 1860
we carried l4,6l5, 900 passengers, and in 1869
nearly one and a half million; the last pub
lished return is for 10 months and shows that
we have carried about 2,000,0O0 and think
the last two months win make it 1000 900 !;
in 1860 find by return that number of cars
the number is SC; the purchase of cars is
managed in this way: the superintendent
makes up his mind as to what cars are needed
and reports TO me, | assent and he goes and
orders or purchases them under my direction
no complaints have been made to me till this
summer, and am not aware from my own OBJ
servation that there was a deficiency of cars
the superintendent was on vacation, and while
he was absent, Mr.. Williams, one of the Di,
rectors, first called my attention to delay of
trains; asked him to see station agent as to
departure of trains and over wding of cars !;
saw him afterwards and he told me it was
remedied. There is a less number of cars
used now than formerly, on account of fire.
quency of trains which go over road oftener
than they did in 1860, and cars are also larg-
er and carry larger number of passengers !;
there has been IL cars added to road since
LIST of Jan. and time of accident, which is
about months; my attention was called to
| accident on longer train; owing to crowded
condition of cars we lost 2 or 3 ears by that
accident last winter; we had an estimate
made of the number of cars which we should
want this year and submitted it to board of
Directors, it was approved and ordered cars
made accordingly. think in May the super
intendent did not think the shops were doing
what they should, and he ordered four cars
built at the Taunton shops have heard COM
plants that the travelling public was not ac-
commodated last year; never have made any
statement that did not care for travelling
public, and don't think ever made the re-
mark, as we depend upon the travelling pub
lie; my own. observation would not lead me
to think that there was lack Of cars for &C.
commodation of public; don't go over road
but once or twice month. Board of Direc-
tors have their meeting once month il is