The Portland daily press., 1873-12-25
Reported for the Press.l
THE RAILROAD DISASTER.
Coroner's Inquest Continued.
THIRD Days PROCEEDINGS.

The inquest in the matter of the railroad dis
aster at Keunebunkport resumed its investiga-
tioa yesterday, and met pursuant to adjourn
ment at one o'clock yesterday afternoon. The
session was secret. and much mystery was af-
Sected. The aged coroner looked careworn by
the grave exigencies of his position, and sroOp-
ed as though the weight of an empire rested
upon his shoulders The aulacious face of the
County Attorney was wrapped in iDpenetrable
gloom, and the coroner's clerk looked happy as
child at being invested with little brief au-
thority.
The brakemen of freight F were called.
Their evidence brought out nothing new. What
little they did know was merely a confederation
of the testimony of their conductor and ensin-
eer.
The following is understood to be the gist of
the other evidence given:
Frank Day of Kennebunkport, the "strang-
err who was on the Mattawamkeag, testified
in substance as follows:
Was on the Mattawamkeag the night of the
disaster. Went over Oh the engine to Kenne-
bunk that night. Heard the engineers tell the
operator and night Waterman that w had
broken apart, and that they were going back
after the cars. They (the operator and watch
MANI were told to hold f. The red lantern
was hung out, and went back with the en-
gines and coupled on to the train. After COUP
ling on Gowen asked Davidson, Now this is
all right for US to go to Kennebunk isn't it?"
Davidson said yes and the conductor said. 60
ahead. They did go ahead and the collision &C.
Cured
MIR Gordon, operator at Portland, says:l
heard Kennebunk ask Portsmouth if there
were any orders for freight f, and the answer
came back that there were no orders. i heard
no question asked in regard to "holding" f.
This is all the conversation remember. Did
not go on until 80 p. M, and so didn't know
what was said before then.
Mr. Wing. the train dispatcher was recalled
and examined at some length. He again testi-
lied that if w had obeyed rule IA, or general
orders OF Dec. 9th and 10TH or either of them,
the accident could not have occurred He said
ne had no information of the condition of w.
He heard that the engines were at Kennebunk.
The next thing that he heard was that they
had gone. Having gone without orders, and it
being their duty to take care of their train, he
supposed, in the absence Of any information
to the contrary, that they had done So He
knew OF no signals being put out.
Mr.. George Bachelor, General Agent of the
road at Portland was called. Hypothetical
questions were put to him, and he was asked
Y hat he should do under certain circumstances,
such, perhaps, railroad accident in the
noon. These hypothetical questions were not in
patcher, aud tha he knew all the circumstan-
les relating to train w and its intention to re
turn to Kennebunk. He said if he had known
he circumstances he should have held train
8. When asked if he should accept informa-
ion from an OPERATOR he said yes.
The inquest adjourned to one clock Monday
afternoon.
A general summing up of the testimony SO
Jar, shows couclusvely that the violation of
ue IA and of the general or lers issued the first
Of the mouth, caused the accident. Bisbee was
IN the rear of his train, down in the hollow, and
20 did not know what conversation passed at
Aenne5dnk, or what or lers were given; he nat
irally accepted the statements of his engineers
Che conductor of the down freight undoubtedly
beyed the rules. Perhaps it would have been
better to have violated them aud remained at
Aennebunk. The operator might have inform
d the train dispatcher that he had hung out
he red lantern. Had the train dispatcher
'een informed Of the condition of affairs and of
he situation of train w, the collision would
hive been avoided. Tho rules provide that
til ,se in charge of the train shall inform tn, :
soatcher of its condition ia Use of any mishaD.
FIe .operat n is bat III. me linn throu, h wh,h
This information pa,ser
The Eastern roal have shown a commenda-
Ole desire for full and fair investigation, and
nave been ready since tue inquest b,gan, to
furnish the public with all information in their
power. The closing of doors ald the attempt
ID suppression Of information was not their
work.