Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-31
The Railway Disaster Inquest.
THIRD DAY.

THIRD DAY.
Boston, 80. Ashabel S. Brown engineer
on Pullman train was called, but was excused
until tomorrow on account of stenographic
reporter being absent.
Charles S. Converse, sworn.-Reside at
Salem; occupation is engineer on Eastern
Railroad; run on engine "Rockport' !; have
been employed six years as engineer; was on
road on the night of August Goth; started
from Boston at 10 minutes of seven with a
spare engine for Salem; met the Saugus
Branch at Everett; stopped there 20 minutes
another train came behind me, it was Saugus
train; was waiting for train to come off the
branch; do not know but what it was more
than twenty minutes; the Beverly accomo-
dation train came behind me; was asked to
hitch on my engine to run to Salem and help
them on; expected the Pullman train and
wanted to Keep out of the way; coupled on
and first stopped at Everett; stopped there
one minute; next stopped at Chelsea one
minute.anda half; next at Revere not more
than one minute; got the signal to start, and
then heard whistle, and had not made more
than one turn of wheels when the crash came;
looked at my watch and it was % minutes
past o'clock; jumped up and looked over
my engine; left it in charge of the fireman
after seeing that it was safe; went back and
rendered what assistance / could; did not
see the express train; did not have any fears
of their running into US; it was very foggy
learned afterwards there was train behind
which proved to be the Saugus; at times it
was more foggy than at others; started on
my own time; no one gave me directions to
start from Boston; was to run to Boston and
return to Salem with the engine; only
stopped at Prison Point; got orders from
Mr.. Prescott at Newburyport; had no d.
rections in regard to time; did know what
trains there were on the road; started to re-
turn; stopped at Eeverett and was overtaken
by Beverly Branch, and attached my engine
to Beverly train; had no conversation with
engineer of Beverly train; the Pullman train
was alluded to by conductor Rowland, who
said that they would have to run slow and
keep out of the way; thought the Pullman
train was behind US and stopped; Rowland
said the Pullman train was behind and would
have to run slow to Chelsea, and then could
get out of their way; noticed signal lights at
Chelsea; did not notice any train ahead Of
me; it was thick and foggy; head light was
in good order; could not tell what distance
l could see, the fog seemed to hang in clouds
heard no whistle till l heard Pullman train
whistled at crossings; did not have any con-
versation with Rowland at time OF accident
from my position could not see a train be-
hind; under some conditions can see a train
approaching; my duties are to keep look
out ahead and behind; saw ruins after the
accident; am acquainted somewhat with
mechanism of a boiler; do not think boiler
exploded; did not compare watches when l
concluded with the engineer; if a train is
delayed on road, am supposed to help it
along; stopped at Charlestown, as it was not
considered safe for me to run in; did not nc
tice signals at Revere; was ordered to stop
there regardless of signals the train that
came behind me was Beverly train, and the
train behind that the Pullman train am
familiar with time tables of the road sup
posed on account of Saugus train being de-
layed would cause scarcity of cars, which
prevented making up the train which left be-
fore Pullman train; felt no anxiety as re-
CARDS train behind me, as they must keep out
of the way; think conductor should have left
notice at the station for Pullman train some
engines will hold better than others when
they are reversed; think it would take one
half or two minutes to run between Chelsea
and Revere should think collision took
place in one minute after stopping at Revere
understood conductor Rowland to say Pull
man train was behind there was no inquiry
made at Saugus if had a red light; had a
red light; object in htching on my engine
was to help them along; fastened the speed
on straight track so as not to bother the
Pullman train; am acquainted with Brown,
engineer of Pullman tram; have known him
six years know him to be man of good
moral character; never knew him to use
liquor; noticed condition of train after col
lision; appeared to be broken apart and on
fire; do not knew how much difference Of
time between nv train and Pullman train;
did have an impression that must hurry up,
from what heard Rowland say, and acted
nm hayn hod M satp ,tl,