Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-01
The Revere Disaster.
Confirmation of the Coroner. Inqucs,

BosToN, Aug. 81 The funeral of Rev, DR..
Mason, victim of the railroad disaster, took
place this afternoon in the Baptist church at
Cambridgeport. Flags on the public buildings
were at half mast, and many places of business
were closed. The services were conducted by
Rev. DIR. Stearns of Newton, several other clergy
men assisting. The remains were deposited at
Mount Auburn.
John b. Wells, another of the victims, was
buried to-day from the Old South chapel. Rev.
DIR. Bladder and J. NJ. Manning, pastors OF the
Old South, officiated,
CoRoNER's INQUEsT-FoURTH DAY.
Ashbel - Brown, sworn--Reside IN Charles
town; occupation, engineer on the Eastern
railroad; been in its employ six years. run the
Pullman express train which leaves at eight
O'Clock; the name of the engine is the New.
buryport; ran this train since June 6thi was on
the train August 26; to the best of my Judgment,
1t was twenty-five minutes past eight O'Clock
when the collision occurred; started at I've
minutes past eight from Boston; after | was
ready to start, the conductor gave a motion to
go; Mr.. Lunt, depot master, then CARTE along
side of the engine In Il hurry and says TO fife
Look out for the Saugus branch trainj" ]
said; "all right" then started and the first stop
made was at Prison Point; started, and then
stopped at the Boston and Maine crossing;
started from there and run TO Mystic river
bridge, the first place / saw light rs signal Of
danger; that first light | saw was swung FROM
train going in the opposite dlrettioh !
whlstled for brakes; the brakes were applied,
and we came nearly to a stOpj knowing that
had my train under full control,
whistled off brakes; ruH little way
and saw second light swung in the
middle of the track soon after saw that the
red light on the pole at sadgus branch was
hauled down, and the train that was hhead of
me crossed the switches to the Saugus branch /,
after the switches were set the light was run up,
and, as otrs was up and another going up, this
gave me the right of fOadi | had no reason to
suppose there was another train within six
miles of met ran along, and the first signal Of
danger | saw was after leaving the overhead
bridge; then discovered two lights looking me
in the face; (witness was affected to tears and
could hardly go on;) Immediately reversed my
engine and xhistled for brakes having done all
in my power to stop my train, made pfepara'
tOns to leave my engine, thinking she Would
run into the rear end Of that train when got
within four or five rods | jumped Off wds
thrown on to my face and scratched little;
got up as quick as could; first thought whether
my fireman got off or not. went up to my en-
gine she was blowing off steam, so ] could not
see into my Cabj as soon as she got rid of the
steam looked Into my cab and called flie fire
mans name; got no reply; Went FOUND tile
to see if ] could find him; when coming back
met him. asked him 1.-The was hurt; said "nO;"
then went to the train to render all tile assist
ance ! could; while there saw a man trying to
get out Of window; helped him ont
on the platform; then saw another man
at the next Window helped him out; then rec
Ollect helping woman and child from under
the train; the next thing heard was that my
6aggage-master was hurt; went into the car and
asked him if he was hurt he answered he was
he was caught between the baggage car and
smoking carr went to my eugine, got jack
screw, bars, etc; helped TO get out the baggage
master; stayed round an hour and a half or two
hours, then went down to Mr.. COnverse'S, engi
neer Of the ROckpOrt, and stayed with him
three-fourths of an hour; rot coat of him
washed my face, and then went to the ruins
stayed there half or three-fOurths Of an hour
heard that train was going to Boston; having
done all | could do, went home; think it was
laf-paSt twelve when | entered my house; the
atmosphere was cloudy; looked like rain; some
toggy; knew nothing of any train after leaving
Everett that did not have twenty minutes the
start OF me; did not expect any train ahead was
running not over twenty miles an hour; when
passed overhead bridge, no one was with inc
on the engine but the fireman; Judge the rate
OF speed when jumped was going ten miles pei
hour; the color of the lights were white; saw
no red lights; saw no lantern swung; being SC
near on to that train, and coming so sudden
hhOhluS ludl luC lTdlu was lHeTe, my dtteOIlOl
was turned to something else, that is, to stop
the train as soon as | could; reversed my en-
glne, because they were short distance ahead
Cross eXamincd-Did not receive my orders be
fore starting, except what was said by the depot
master; did know that the Beverly train was
behind time; knew that it was half hour be-
hind time; | don't know that | ever had any
instructions in regard to train that went ahead
OF train; could not tell what the condition OF
the weather was; do not recollect noticing the
signal light before reaching Prison point; had
no difficulty in seeing the signal lights that
night; could not tell the rate of speed before
reaching Prison point, should judge fifteen miles
per hour; was detained at Sangus branch, and
was properly notfe1 after leaving the Know
nothing; do not get on extra speed after leaving
Everett; increased the rate of speed, but not as
much as usual, after leaving Everett;
ana not run so fast, on account Of the
fog; always make it practice to run careful
the smoke from the stack did not interfere with
my sight; the headlight was in good condition
the first point where | can see the
Revere depot is just as the engine leaves
Overhead bridge; saw no train ahead between
Chelsea depot andIth BRIDGE my rate of speed
was increased on the straight line of the track !;
did not try to make up lost time that night;
was going through Revere at the usual rate OF
speed around the curve; my speed is twenty
miles per hour; do, at times, run faster than at
others; expect train ahead to give me warning
navy uO lndL II u ITHlH was In my
way | would run it down. Have been on the
road six years, connected with an engine; do
not know what kind of brake is used on the
train, cannot judge W neither the brakes were up
or not; do not consult my watch when am be-
hind time; the reason is, that, if | am behind
there is not much chance of getting ahead OF
time; always compare watches with conduc-
tors; am positive that it was the Saugus branch
that | was to look out for; can positively
swear that there was no train in sight on the
straight track that night; knowing that the
Beverley train had start of twenty minutes of
me, and thinking that they were leaving Re.
we're when was starting, had no anxiety about
it; it was my duty to look out for the signal
right at Revere; do not expect light there
without there is danger; there was no light
there.
William F. Simonds, sworn, and his testi-
mony was corroboratiye of the engineers evi.
dence.
1t is not generally understood that there
were five trains delayed at the Saugus junction
when the accident occurred, The outward
Saugus train was waiting for the inward train,
OBTAINING the Beverlyitrain, followed by anoth-
er Saugus train, while ItheIPulman train was
delayed after passing the aSaugus branch train.
After the Saugus train bad passed, the engineer
of the Pullman train supposed the track clear,
and hence the sad result.
Fatal Accidents.
BURIED ALIVE.