The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-12
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENr.
The Old Colony Disaster-FuueraIs al
r, the Victims

The Journal OF yesterday says that the evi.
dence taken in the investigation by the Rail-
road Commissioners into the causes of the late
accident on the Old Colony Railroad lgoes to
show that while Hurlburt, the engineer of the
freight train, was crossing the inward track
with his locomotive and five cars, he discovered
the excursion train approaching at great speed
He put on steam and reached the outward track
In safety, at the same time swinging red lar
tern as warning of danger to the engineers
OF the excursion train. The lantern was seen
by Westgate, the engineer of the Easton, who
gave the signal for "down brakes" At this
moment Partwell, conductor of the freight
train, was running to throw the switch of the
side track to the main line. The switch over
which the five empty freight cars passed had
been left open after they passed, but the switch
being what is known as patent safety" it
was thrown back into its proper place, the
fange of the forward wheels of the locomotive
| touching. So far as learned the evidence went
| to show that at the moment the excursion train
| reached the first switch, Hartwell was in the
act of adjusting the other switch, and had it
| just half over when the train reached him. The
aange of the wheels of the engines struck
square on the end of the straight rail, where
the switch should have Joined, and both en-
gines jumped the track, followed by the bag
gage car, the English coach and several of the
succeeding cars. Hartwel who had hold of
the bar of the switch the moment the engines
struck the disconnected rail, was thrown vio-
lently aud some distance into field close by.
On Thursday evening the scene of the acct
dent was by thu Railroad Commissioners in
company with President Choate and Superin-
tendent .Kendrick, with view of fully COM
pretending the state Of affairs at the time of
the accident. A locomotive was run over the
switches to indicate the passage of the engine
and the five freight cars from the siding and
the spot indicated just where Hurlburt swung
the red lantern to warn the doomed trap The
misplaced switch was then turned half over
and showed red and whits light as it did on |
the night Of the accident. and which was seen
by Westgate when he was almost on to it.
Yesterday morning, at the funeral of Mr.
Reagan, in Boston, the floral tributes were
very fine. The most noticeable tribute was
that from Mr. M. P. Davis of this city, and his |
hacker, Mr.. Harry G. Meeker of New York |
city. This tribute consisted of single-scull |
shell, wrought of flowers, with the oars dipped |
downward and deep in the water, and repre- |
senting the shell that Reagan rowed as he left |
it at Silver Lake. The tiny craft was five feet |
long, the hull being formed by white glly flow |
ers, with the pit of cradle represented by rich,
dark pansies. The outrggers were composed |
of dark gilly flowers, and the oars of white /
gilly, the whole riding water represented by |
white gilly and vole.s.
A nj, ~, ~ Il.
were borne from the church by the pail bearers,
Messrs. John A. Landers, Richard Gookin, Sill
van Gookin, James Flaunery, P McAley A.
Connors. Behind the hearss walked members
of the North Eng, Mystic, Lakeman, Shawmut,
City Point, West End and Riverside boat clubs
and long string of carriages, forty in num-
Der, contained the relatives and friends A |
brother of the deceased, who was injured at
Wollaston Nights, attended the services and
went to the grave.
As the funeral procession slowly wendell its
way through the streets of the district on its
way to Holy Cross Cemetery, Maiden, the side
walks were thronged with people, many of
whom accompanied the remains to the grave to
witness the laying away of the mortal remains
of Patrick Reagan in his last resting place.
1t is understood til at Davis ard others of the
boating fraternity hava made up purse of
$1,000 for Rsagan's family.
The funeral of several other victims of the
disaster also took place yesterday in Boston.
The funeral of ex-councilman Michael f. Wells |
took place in St. Joseph's church, which was
crowded with the friends and relatives of tho |
deceased. Several members of the Legislature,
the city government and fire department were
present. The funeral services of James Boyle
were conducted at st. Stephens church, and of
Edward Doherty at St. Mary's. Both churches
were filed with sympathizing friends.