The New York herald., 1871-09-01
THE REVERE SLAUGHTER.
Testimony Of the Engineer Of the
Express Train.

BOSTON, August 81, 1871.
The Coroners inquest into the cause OF the awful
| disaster at Revere, Mass, was resumed to-day.
| Annexed we give the testimony
Ashbe S. Brown sworn-Rcside IN Charlestown;
occupation engineer on the Eastern Railroad been
| IN Iis employ years; ran the Pullman express
| train which leaves at eight O'Clock; the name OF
| the engine is Newburyport; ran this train since
June s; was on the train August 20; to the best OF
my judgment 1t was twenty five minutes past eight
O'Clock when the collision occurred; started at five
| minutes past eight from Boston; after was ready
| to start the conductor gave motion to 60; Mr..
Lunt depot MASTER then came alongside OF the en-
gne IN o hurry and says to ME, "LO0k out for the
| saugus Branch train;' said, "Ali right;' then
started, ana the first stop made was at Prison
Point started and then stopped at the Boston and
Name crossing; started from there and ran to
| Mystic River br!dge-the first place that saw
| light as q signal OF danger the nyst light saw
was swung from tram going In the opposite direc-
| tiOn whstled for "brakes;' brakes were applied
and we came nearly TO q stop; Knowing had my
train under full control whlstled '0f brakes;''
ran q little ways and second light swinging
In the middle OF the track; soon after saw red
light on pole at Saugus branch was hauled down
and the train that was ahead of me crossed the
switches to Saugus branch; after the switches were
set the light was run up and as ours was up ana
another going up this gave me the right
OF the road; to suppose there another
train within SIX miles OF me; ran along and the
first signal OF danger saw was after leaving Over
head bridge; then discovered two lights looking me
in the face witness was affected TO tears and
could hardly 60 on; Immediately reversed
my engine and whstled for 'braKes'' having
done all In my power to stop train made
preparations 10 leave my engine, thinking she would
run into the rear of that tram; when l got with
in four or five rods jumred of; was thrown on my
face and was scratched little; got up as quickly as
l could; first thought whether my fireman got Off
or not; went up to my engine; she was blowing or
steam, so l could not into my cab; as soon as
the engine got rid OF the steam looked into
the cab and called the fireman by name; got
no reply; went round to the other side Of the
tram, near where jumped OIL to see II could fRd
him; think when coming back met him; asked
me tram to give all the assistance could; while
there saw man trying TO get ont of a window;
another man at the next window ana helped
MIN out; then recollect helping woman
next iaS hing | heard was that my baggage mas.
ter was hurt went INTO the car and asked him II he
was nurt ne answered he was; he was caught be-
tween the baggage car and smoking car; went 10
my engine TO get axes, JacKscrews. bars, &C., and
heped TO get out he bagsaee master; STAYED
round one and half or two hours; then went
down on to Mr. C0nney's engine. ''kockport," and
stayed with HIM tllree-9uarter5 OF an hour; got
coat OF hiin, washed my face and then Went 10 Tie
| ruins; stayed there hall or three-quarters OF
an hour; heard that a train was gong
TO Boston, and having done all could went bone;
| think il was haii-past twelve when entered my
house; the atmosphere was cloudy and 1t looked
Ike rain: knew nothing OF any rain after leaving
Everett that did not have twenty minutes start OF
me; did not expect ang train ahead; was running
not over twenty miles per hour wnen / passed
on the engine but the fireman; Judge
the rate OF sreed when l jumped was ten
no red lights; saw no lantern swung; being so near
| on to that train coming SO suddenly ana Knowing
thai the Jran was there my attention was turned 10
someIhinr else tbat ls - stop the train as soon as
could; reversed my engine because 1hey were
short distance ahead.
fore starting, except what was said ny The depot
master; did know that the Beverly train was behind
time; knew tnat II was half an nour beRnd tihie l
| DO not Know that ever had any instruction.
in resard to ond tram that ,e, went aheaa
condition OF the weather was; DO not
| recollect noticing signal hight before reaching
Prison Point; had difficulty III seeing the signal
tnat ngnt; could not tell the rate OF speed he1 re
reaching Prison Point; shonld Judge fifteen miles an
properly notified; after leaving the Know Nothing
DO not get on extra speed: after leaving Everett
usual after leaving Everett; did not run fast on
account OF the log always make IT a practice to run
with nv sight; the head light was in good cOnd
toD; the iIst point can see lReVere depoD Is just
az the engine leaves tue briage So saw no Laln
rate OF speed was increased on the straight line
OF the track; did not try to make up
los. time that night going through Revere at
the usual rate OF speed: around the curve my speed
Is twenty miles per hour; do at times run iaser
than at others; expect a train ahead TO give me
warning; have made no threat that If tram was
In my way would run 1t down; been Oh the road
six years connected win an engines
DO not know what kind OF brake IS
used on the train; cannot Judge whether
watch when am behind time; the reason Is that II
] am behind time there Is not much chance OF
getting ahead; ALWAYS compare watches with the
con Iuctor; an positive 1t was the Saugus branch
train that was to look OUT for; positively swear
that there was no train IN sight on the straight
track that night; Knowing that the Beverly train
had start of twenty minutes OF me, ana thinking
that they were ieaving Revere when was starring
had no anxiety about IT; IL IVA was my duty p 10
do not expect light there without there is danger
there was no light there.
william I. Smmonds was sworn, and his testi-
mOny was corroborative of the engineers evidence
Ii s not generally understood that there were
i've trains delayed at the Saugus branch junction
Saugus train was waiting for the inward Saugus
train, OBTAINING the Beverly tram. The latter
was followed by another Saugus tram, which de-
layed the Pullman train. Alter the Saugus trains
had passed the engineer OF the Pullman train sup
posed the track clear, and hence the disaster.
INQUEST on ONE OF THE VICTIMS
The inquest upon the body of John r. Wells. a
victim c the Eastern RAILWAY disaster, who died at
the CITY Hospital was confined simply to the man.
OF hs death. and verdict was rendered accord-
cases Of Jacob A. Allen and Ann H. Rawson VINO
were also victims OF the disaster.
FUNERAL OF REV. SUMNER X. MASON, D. d.
The funeral of Rev. sumner r. Mason. d. d.,
victim OF the railroad disaster took place this alter
noon in the Baptist church, Cambridgeport. Flags
places OF business closed. Tie services were c0i
Quoted by Rev. Or. Stearns OF Newton several
otner ciergymen assisting Tne remains were
deposited at Mount Auburn.