New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-01
THE GREAT RAILROAD DISASTER.
Story Of a Observation-Disclosures Deaths
Reported.


Story Of Conductor-AdditionaI Deaths
Reported.
BosToN. August 81 Two additional
deaths by the railroad disaster are reported
to-day. The papers this morning unite in
demanding full investigation of the cause
of the catastrophe, and stern judgment upon
those responsible. An inquest will be held
near the scene Of slaughter on the bodies
ofpersons killed outright. Another inquest
will be held al the city hospital on the bodies
of those who died there.
a coroners Jury met this afternoon in re-
gard to the Revere disaster, composed of
DIR. James s. Forsyth, coroner, Jonathan
Harrington, Andrew Durham, John I'll.
Proctor, Charles Bird and Colonel Porter,
with DIR. jacob Mitchell, of Chelsea, clerk.
The investigation was held in the town ball
at Revere. There was large attendance of
interested citizens, including many railroad
people.
The first witness callal was John S. New
land, conductor on the Eastern railroad,
who testified that the regular time of start
ing the accommodation train was 7:l5
o'clock: was very late last Saturday night,
it being 1:45 before starting; proceeded
without interruption until arriving at Som
.erville stared and ran to Saugus' branch,
when ! saw train coming around a curve;
signaled the train which / had seen, and
stopped; afterward spoke to my engineer,
who said we could go along; after delay of
eight minutes at Junction, ran down to Ev-
erett and from Everett to Chelsea; stopped
there one and half minutes, and ran to Re-
we're: after the passengers had alighted, word
was given ''all right swung my lantern
to start; / can not say whether the train
started or not; some one on the platform
said, sshere comes the train;" Immediately
I Jumped between the tracks and swung
my lantern; not a minute elapsed before
the crash came; there was not time to do
any more before the c0llisiOn to the best of
MY knowledge, it was quarter to eight
o'clock when / started from Chelsea
station; the express train was not in
sight; / had three cars and baggage
car in my train / had orders to start
as soon as possible; the rule is to
carry tail lights; they are white in color,
and attached burning to the rear of the
car; when arrived at Revere station, de-
tention at Saugus branch of eight minutes
was occasioned by the half-past six O. clock
train; did not discover the express train
till it struck me; | first discovered the ex-
press train at Everett; the train was APP
preaching at a rapid rate; could not tell
whether the steam was shut off or net; the
train appeared TO be under full Roadway; |
know the engineer of the express train; his
name is William Brown; did not hear any
whistle from his train; could not say
whether he could not hear or not; call
thirty-fye miles per hour rapid rate; should
judge it was running at that rate; had the
right of the road; according to rules, the
use of lanterns on. the rear of the train is
to notify approaching trains, and the in
variable rule is to stop when these signals
are seen; it is an understood rule that no
train is to be within half mile of the pre-
ceeding train; the Instructions are printed;
1t would require ordinarily one and a half
or two minutes to pass over a. distance
of half mile; | should think it would
require distance Of quarter of a mile to
brake up train running at the rate of thir-
fy-five miles per hour the condition of the
weather was overcast, but clear did see
a light half mile distant that night; the
light could be seen a mile in a straight line (:
L was on the rear end of the car before ar
irving at Revere the first intimat;on / had
was man singing out from the platform
that the train was coming; did not see the
man Unattended the switch at thesdepot; !
think the man jumped in the middle of the
track and showed light; this man was at
my left hand, some seven feet in advance
when the train struck was delayed half
an hour at Boston depot, but could not tell
the reason !, the depot master and assistants
make up the train sometimes start on
time the camp meeting has deranged start
ing time by there being heavy trains has
than usual delays occur in Boston more
than at any other point; have never made
complaint of making up-train or time of
'atarting; received orders in running time
from the superintendent start when behind
time as soon as possible without any signal
the superintendent has never complained
of my starting behind time during the
term of nay employment Lurt the
depot master, said on the night of
disaster he wanted meto get out of the depot
as soon as possible; did not receive any eau
ton that night; did not know the express
was to follow; with ordinary DELAY the ex-
press would not reach my train before ar
irving at Revere; uid not speak to any one
as regards the starting OF the express train,
and had no more than the usual anxiety on
the night in question:; after the collision
neither of the engines of my train were dis
abIed TO my knowledge; dispatched an en-
CINE to East Boston for help; sent team
for Captain Prescott and another to Chel-
sea, having instructions to send Tor help,
physicians. etc.. in case of accident; did not
look at my watch from the time until mid
night; gave no orders TO run faster than the
usual rate that, night: in the case OF two
trains starting, the rear train Is to look out
for the train ahead; 1T was under
stood that the train had the right-of
way, and the burden OF responsibility
rested on the train following; the
trains at Boston, in the absence OF the Sa
perintendent, were started by the depot
master; left with the understanding that
that the superintendent would take care of
the train which started after me; have
made no complaint of being crowded for
tine: never cav before that night Pull
man train: my cars have been built several
wears: they are of the monitor pattern; did |
mot expect the express would pass before |
nv arrival at Beverly, and did not attempt |
to switch off did not consider the train |
would oyertake me; if the signal of danger
was seen by the engineer, would consider
him responsible; knew Brown, the engineer
Of the express train; never saw him intoxi