Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-05
The Revere Disaster.
sixth Day of the COroncr'. Inquest.

Ddg Ol SOFOhfFH AhuueSts
BosroN, Sept. 4.--The examination before
the cOroner's jury, in relation to the recent
terrible accident on the Eastern road, was con-
tinued to-day.
A. S. Brown, engineer Of the Pullman train,
was recalled and testified as to the time he saw
the tail lights of the Beverly 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 watching for the signal on the pole,
and not seeing it, supposed the track was all
clear; would have stopped if he had seen the
signal on the staff at Revere; did not think it
possible that the Beverly train and his own
could be on the straight track between the
curves; had been running four years and never
had but slight accident before; witness did
not think it his duty tn know of the blockade of
trains at Saugus branch or trains ahead.
Henry l.. Williams, one of the directorseof
the Eastern railroad, was called and sworn. He
testified that he held the office styled controller;
the duties are, general superintendent of freight
business at East Boston, also the machine
shop, the whole being under the direction of the
president; the question as regards the supply of
cars has been talked over between the president,
the superintendent and myself; am aware that
we were short of cars; the president has the
power and right to purchase cars; Supern-
tendent Prescott has frequently represented the
yours ago, at an expense OF Sl25,OOO, moved the
car shop TO Salem, to enable us to have an estab-
lishmcnt to supply more cars; build about one
car per month; since January, 1870, twenty-sX
regular passenger and five Pullman cars have
been added to the rolling stock the camp meet
inc parties made Il contract at a reduced price
to be accommodated in going to and from the
grounds; have carried 26,000 persons to
the camp ground this year; have paid
more attention to the accommodation
of travel than to dividends; have
built thirty-two stations during the last
nine years; laid out 100000 on the Boston sta
ton; the object of a new station is to accommo-
date the public, and for the safety of paSSen-
gers; have 1870 men constantly employed in the
car shop, and keep two cars in frame all the
time; think the cause of the accident can be
traced TO lack of cars; have known trains to be
delayed by want of cars TO make up trains; new
er saw SO many people in the station as on Sat
urday, the Goth, with the exception of July 4th
In reply to Mr. Adams, state railroad commits
sioner. Have endeavored to make this road
complete in all its appointments, as director;
was not aware that the aisles and cars were
overcrowded; there are thirty-three trains in
and out of Boston daily; on that Saturday the
superintendent had 191 trains under his charge.
John Thompson, master machlnist of the
road, was called, and testified that he had been
connected with the road sixteen years; his du-
ties 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
the Pullman train carefully; have since and
found her generally used up; the cause of the
escape of steam was the steam pipes being bro
ken, and the safety valve knocked off; did not
discover anything in the condition of the engine
that showed any neglect of the engineer; the en-
gine was reversed; could not tell about the
brakes, it being so much broken; started the
wounded in the Pullman car as soon as consd
cred safe; should Judge from the condition of the
pnuiDp tbot IL would SpnI1 all in the should
Judge three-fourthS of Il mile was the distance
of the straight rail between Chelsea and Revere;
think that the engineer on the express train would
have seen the Beverly train if they were on the
straight track; if Rowland had not been at Re-
we're, more than minute and half, he must
have been ON the straight track at the same time
Brown was, and, consequently, he must have
seen the train.
Question by Mr.. Adams-The entire damage
to the rolling stock by the accident was So, 000
should suppose the train was going at the rate
of fifteen TO twenty miles per hour; witness
thought if the cars had had the Westinghaus
brakes the train could have been stopped before
striking the accommodation train, and that the
cars were set on fire by kerosene oil used in the
cars; has direct charge of all the engineers and
hires Them regards Brown as Il trusty and
sale man, qualified for the position and Of good
character.
Hiram Smith, station agent at Everett teSti-
fied-Had charge of the depot gate at the cross
ing, and been in the employ of the company
seventeen years; was on duty Aug. Goth; could
not tell the exact time of passing trans; at five
minutes of eight went 10 the gate, and waited
some minutes for the Beverly train, which ar.
rived and proceeded TO Chelsea and my anxiety
ceased as to the train following it us soon as
heard it stop at Chelsea; then saw the Pull
man train approaching in the opposite drec-
ton; think it my duty TO interfere if trains are
within a mile of each other running in the same
direction; cannot see train at Chelsea on ac-
count of the curve, but hear them; when saw
the Pullman train, judge it was on the bridge,
nearly two miles from the Beverly train; it
passed at the usual rate of speed; could see the
tail half mile; had some anxiety about the
train until it arrived at Chelsea; should not
think it stopped at Chelsea more than a minute,
and thought if there was any danger it would
be attended to after leaving Chelsea; consider
it my duty to have stopped them if they had
been within mile OF each other.
Joseph IL. Phipps, fagman at Second street
crossing, at Everett, cOrTOb0rated the testimony
of the preceding witness, as regards the time,
speed and other particulars.
Israel p. Williams, depot master at Chelsea,
testifed-Nowland was behind time, not ar
irving until after eight O'Clock, hut how much
after cannot say; when Rowland left Chelsea,
there was no train in sight; as soon as the rear
light of his train passed the abutment of the
Broadway bridge, think the Pullman train head
light came in view, coming round the curve,
about one mile and half from the bridge;
think the Pullman train was three minutes late;
as the trains were under full Roadway, and one
mile and half apart never gave it thought
that there was danger; calculated that the Pull
man was going at the rate of twenty-five miles
per hour which is not two-thirds as fast as it
usually runs; have no right to stop the train at
Chelsea but, after hearing of the accident,
stopped all down trains.
Andrew Betters, station agent at Revere, testi-
tied-Haye been employed seventeen years at
Revere by the company; was at the depot at the
time Of the accident; it was twenty minutes past
eight O'Clock; the Beverly train had not been
collision; saw the express coming, and ran to
the crossing and swung my lantern for the OK
press train to stop; told Rowland there was
train coming, and Immediately started up the
track to stop all trains approaching; have nine
switches to tend, and when cannot tend all of
Them the freight hands on the train do it; do
not think | heard the whistle of the Pullman
train; saw it first coming under the bridge;
have an assistant whose name is Edward A.
DOnuelly, who was at his post, and was in po-
SitiOn to see n mile and a quarter and
could have been seen by the engineer of the
Pullman train; the signal of the pole was down;
think the rate of speed of the Pullman was
twenty-five miles per hour, and it was running
slower than usual the switches are properly
tended have time to do it; believe the trains were
on the curve at the same time; that is, the ac-
commodation was on the curve near Revere,
and the Pullman train was just entering on the
Chelsea curve.
The bearing was then adjourned till to-
morrow.
Sporting Matters.