The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-12-28

Michael Callahan, the engineer and
fireman of the Inflated emigrant train,
continued the inquest OF Thursday
morning. Herewith we give a sum-
mary OF the testimony adduced.
A. s. CURTIss,
Conductor of the emigrant train, who
was OH the engine when the collision
occurred, and sprang OFF just in time
to avoid being crushed, testified that
he received orders at Hillsdale, twenty
miles east of Cheyenne, ''to run to
Cheyenne regardless of train a" signed,
Nv. G. L., train dispatcher" When
within about 2 miles of Cheyenne the
coal on the engine gave out and the en-
giueer stopped the train, and picked
up a few old ties to make fire enough
to enable him TO run into Cheyenne.
About 4 mile from Cheyenne he stopped
again. Curtiss then went from way
a to engine, waited until there was
1870 pounds of steam, when the train
started again, and had not gone more
than half its length when lie heard the
exhaust of another engine. lie looked
up and could just see train 1 coming
through the fog. He called out ''for
Gods sake look ahead !" then jumped
of. Tie two engines collided just as
he struck the ground. The first man
he saw after that was engineer Weeks,
of train 4; asked him if he was hurt
and he answered mot mich" Then
fireman. Had told the engineer MA
guire) to take coal at Antelope, and be
sure and get enough TO run to Chey-
me. Could, he thought, have made
the run in time to have let train A pass
at side track if there had been plenty
Of coal. Mcguire thought he had
plenty of coal. 1t vas his first trip
with Curtiss. He had known Langdon
since last May; never saw him under
the influence of liquor; has always per-
formed his duty well so far rs witness
knows; witness knows of no previous
accident caused by Langdon, nor where
the blame for this accident lies.
EDWARD PURTILL,
Fireman of train 4, testified that he
told engineer Weeks when the conduc-
tor gave the signal for the train to
start. Weeks saw train I first, reversed
his engine, gave her steam and then
jumped off. witness following him.
Witness then put out the fires In both
engines. Could not see over 40 rods,
owing to the fog. Had it been a clear
day witness thought the accident could
have been avoided.
". p. DAVIS,
Acting Superintendent of the Moui-
tain Division, testified as to the duty
of conductors and engineers in obeying
the orders of dispatchers. Witness
couldn't say positively who IA re-
sponsible for the collision, but said the
train dispatcher was in fault to a GER
tain extent. Witness said Mr.. Lang
don had faithfully performed his duties
while under him; he had placed all
confidence in Langdon; had known him
five years and never had seen him under
the influence of liquor. Witness said
there was a wire running to Langdon's
house and that when not in the Office
Langdon gave orders from his house.
7. A. DAVIES,
Division foreman, Mountain Division,
testified that the emigrant engine, No.
80, was in flrst-class order before the
accident; and that it would take more
coal to make the run from Sidney to
Cheyenne as the weather was Wednes-
day, than in good weather.
Hon \. II. SWAN
testified that he had known Langdon
three years and never knew him to be
under the influence of liquor; saw him
in his office at / O'Clock Wednesday
afternoon; knew him to be duly sober
and thought him to be in as good frame
of mind to do business as he ever was.
N. j. WEEKS,
engineer of train 4, testified that lie
met Conductor Patterson in front of
the r. r. house Wednesday afternoon;
asked him if he was ready to go and
told him l vas ready to go out; he
said he would change the register
and did SO; heard Patterson ask an
operator if there were any orders for
train 4, and the operator announced
that there were none; left Cheyenne at
$3.50 p. M; collided with train Z one