Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-05
The Railway Disaster Inquest.
SIXTH DAY.

Inc halfway DISASTER lnQ0eSt.
SIXTH DAY.
| The inquest was resumed at o'clock this
| afternoon. A. S. Brown, engineer of the
| Pullman train recalled, and testified as to
| the time he saw the tail lights of Nowland's
train which was, when he passed under the
overhead bridge; had no directions but to
look out for the Saugus Branch train never
had difficulty with trains before; was watch
ing for signal on the pole, and not seeing it
supposed the track was all clear; would have
stopped if he had seen signal on the staff at
Revere; had been running four years, and
never had but slight accident before.
| Henry L. Williams, one of the directors of
the Eastern Railroad, was called, sworn. He
testified that he held the Office styled as con-
troller; the duties are general supernten-
| dence Of freight business at East Boston
| also machine shop, the whole being under
the direction of President. The question as
regards supply of cars has been talked over
between the President, Superintendent and
myself; am aware that we were short of cars !;
the President has the power and right to
purchase cars. Superintendent Prescott has
frequently represented the necessity of hav-
ing more rolling stock. Four years ago at
an expense of $780, 900, the car shop was
moved to Salem to enable ms to have an es.
Enlistment to supply more cars built about
one car per month, since January, 1870; &c
regular passenger and 5 Pullman cars have
been added to the rolling stock. The camp
meeting parties made contract at reduced
prices to travel to and from the ground :;
have carried $4,000 to camp ground this year !;
have paid more attention to accommodation
of travel than to dividends; have built % new
stations during last years. laid out 500, 900
on Boston station; object of new stations is
to accommodate public, and for safety of pas
sengers; have 100 men constantly employed
in car shop, and keep two cars in frame all
| the time; think the cause of accident can be
traced to lack of cars have known trains to
be delayed by want of cars to make up trains ;
never saw so many people in station as on
Saturday, 10th, with exception of July 4th
In replylto Mr.. Adams, the State commission
ers have endeavored to make this road COM
plete to all its appointments, as director was
not aware that the aisles and cars were over
crowded There are SO trains in and out of
Boston daily. On that Saturday the Super
| intendent had l9l trains under his charge.
John Thompson, Master Machinist of rail-
road, was called and testified that he has been
connected with road for l6 years, his duties
being the general care of locomotives at all
times; was on the road shortly after the acct
dent Saturday; did not examine the engine
of Pullman train carefully; have since, and
found her generally used up; cause Of escape
of steam was the steam pipe being brok en-
and safety valve knocked off; did not dis
cover anything in condition of engine that
| showed any neglect of engineers engine was
reversed; could not tell about the brakes,
being so much broken started the wounded
in Pullman car as soon as considered safe ;
| should judge, from condition of engine that
it would have scalded all in car should Judge
three-quarters of mile was the distance of
straight rail between Chelsea and Revere ;
| think engineer of express train would have seen
Beverly train if they were on straight track
if Rowland had not been at Revere more than
minute and half he must have been on
straight track at same time Brown was, and
| consequently he must have seen the train ;
entire damage to rolling stock by accident
was $4,000; should suppose train was GO
ing at the rate 10 to 20 miles per hour; wit
ness thought that if cars had had Westing-
house brake train could have been stopped
before striking accommodation train, and cars
were set on fire by kerosene oil used in cars ;
| has direct charge Of all engineers and hires
them; regards Brown as trusty and safe
man, qualified for the position and of good
character.
Hiram Smith, station agent at Everett,
testified Had charge of depot gate al
years; was on duty August Goth; could no,
tell exact time of passing trains; at five
minutes of eight went to gate and waited
some minutes for Beverly train, which ar
rived and proceeded to Chelsea, and my
anxiety ceased as to train following it as soor
as heard it stop at Chelsea. l then saw
Pullman train approaching in opposite direc
ton; think it my duty to intefere if trains art
within mile of each other running in SAME
direction; can't see trains at Chelsea on &C
count of curves, but hear them; when
saw Pullman train should judge it was OF
bridge nearly two miles from Beverly train
it passed at usual rate of speed; could Sc,
tail light half mile; had some anxiety abou
train until it arrived at Chelsea should no
think itstopped at Chelsea more than min
ute, and that if there was any danger it would
be attended to after leaving Chelsea; con
slider it my duty to have stopped them if the,
had been within mile of each other.
Joseph II. Hips, fagman at Second St
crossing at Everett, corroborated the testi
mony Of the proceeding witness as regard
time, speed and other particulars.
Israel p. Williams, depot master at Chelse,
testified.-NOwland was behind time; did no
arrive until after o'clock, but how mucl
there was no train in sight; as soon as rea
lights of his train passed abutments of Broad
way bridge think Pullman train head ligh
came in sight coming round the curve, abou
one and a half miles from the bridge; thinl
Pullman train was three minutes late as tn,
trains were under full Roadway and on,
and a half miles apart; never gave it
thought that there was danger; calculated
Pullman train was going at rate of % mile
per hour, which is not two-thrds as fast a
it usually runs have no right to stop train
at Chelsea, but after hearing of acciden
stopped all down trains.
Andrew Betters, station agent at Rever
testifed.-Have been employed II years a
Revere by the Co.. was at depot at time o
accident; it was twenty minutes past eight
o'clock; Beverly train had not been standing
more than a half minute before the collision