Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-11


north side switch. The south side switch
man asked mo to switch some cars over tc
his side. said that would not 60 on the
main track as the Pacific express was due
A freight had just como in from the east or
the express trains timo. The switohmar
asked the trainmen how much the Pacific
was late. They answered twenty minutes
and L said I'll stay right here,
for its timo for them
if only twenty minutes late. Yardmaste1
Colwell just then appeared and said, "Bob,
want you to throw these cars OVER" and
replied I would not do it. Colwell asked
sWhy won't you?' I said, "The Pacific is
late.'' He says, "You've plenty of time, fol-
they are As minutes late.'' replied, Chow
do you know" He answered, "Because I
just came from the telegraph office.'' Com
pared watches. He was o'clock, I two and
one-half minutes slow. At As minutes late
| they would be here at 1:20. said 'I'ye got
time and I'll co. Whistled twice for the
| switch. Had just got on the main track
when saw the light of the express which I
at first thought was the moon. Then
thought the Pacific express and reversed the
engine, pulled the throttle open, gave her
sand and whistled for brakes. When I first
saw the light of the Pacific express my en-
CINE was moving slowly eastward. Had
nine cars including the way car in my train.
Am not sure that my engine had fully stopp-
cd when the express struck her. Did not hear
the express whistle. Don't think they had
whistled when reversed. I Jumped off,
walked up the track, looked back, and they
had struck. Saw. Colwell standing beside
the track. Then we went to my father
house, near the depot, and remained the rest
of the night. It is customary with US to
switch on passengers time if she is late.
Did not tell Colwell we had eighteen min
utes. Did say that if she was forty-fve
minutes late she may have made up some of
it. He said. "Oh, we'll, there is plenty of
time"
Engineer Jones said he had sometimes
ventured out on 16 minutes time, and per-
haps on 7 or 8, though the rules forbid Us
going out on less than Is minutes. Engi-
neer Jones then further stated that Colwell
| is nervous. excitable man; that he had
| talked the matter over with switchmen in
! the yard. They said he drank, though he did
not notice that he was under the influence
| of liquor last night. Jones has been on the
road eight years.
VIM. A. Girard, fireman on the switch en-
CINE, testified in substance as follows
| When Jones was asked to take his en-
CINE out on the main track he OBJ
jected, saying something about its being
express time. Did not hear them say how
| much the express was late. Colwell said she
was so many minutes late. Did not hear
the number. Jones looked at his watch
twice. Meanwhile Colwell stood on the foot
board. We then pulled down on the main
track. Did not see the light of the express,
but pretty soon Jones whistled brakes and
told me to juEp. Nothing passed between
Jones and about the Pacific. After the
collision saw Colwell at the wreck. re-
NAMED at the wreck all night helping.
was. Heard the Pacific whistle down brakes.
Could see the express when it was about
forty rods or more away. I always find ont
how much time have before sending a yard
engine on to the main track. do not know
of any time when there has been apparent
danger of collision. Have never had any
trouble or controversy with Jones about
switching. Have heard him have words
with switchmen. He is very obsti-
nate and contrary, and is in the habit of dis
putting about time. He has never refused to
Evander Colwcll the yardmaster, said he
has been employed by the company three
years, for the last six months as yardmaster
at the junction. My business is to make up
trains. Wanted some cars out from the
north to the south side. Went to telegraph
Office and enquired where the Pacific express
was. Operator Henderson tapped the in
strument az though taking message, and
said she is forty-fve minutes late now. He
gave no written message. l then went down
ten or fifteen rods to where Jones,
engine was, and told him to take those cars
over to the south track as soon as possible,
&bo iEo icf -Huo ,ufa 1o%I
20 over before she gets here. He says, I
should think could. have eighteen min
utes to DO it in. I said you have eight cars,
don't go if you have any fear whatever.
He whisled for the switch, but it was not
set for him. He whistled second time, be-
ing compelled to slack up because the switch
man was not there to set
it. He swore at the switch man.
said maybe it's all for the best. Don't
cross over to the main track now. T then
jumped off his engine. It was standing still,
and walked back on the other side of the
main rack to give some instructions to the
switchman. saw switchman down the
track in front of the yard engine signal it to
| ahead and Jones moved down on the main
track. When requested Jones to go out
he did not decline. He took out his
watch and said eighteen minutes, think
! can make it. Looked at my watch.
| Can't now say what time it
obey mo but sometimes he hesitates and
likes to have things his own way. Never
saw Jones drunk. Occasionally take glass
of beer but I am not a bringing man. Seldom
take anything stronger. Have taken q drink
or two of brandy to-day. Did not drink a
drop yesterday. Remained at the wreck the
whole night helping get out the bodies. It
was not eighteen minutes from the time
left the telegraph Office till the collision. If
there had been eighteen or seven or eight
minutes Jones would have got his train ont
of the way. Have never allowed yard en-
CINE to go out within ten minutes of train
| time.
Operator Henderson, of the jackson juno.
| ton Office, stated that some time after 1926
| could not state the precise time, Colwell
yardmaster, came tothe telegraph Office and
asked how the Pacific express was. looked
| at tho time card and answered forty five
minutes late now. Knew it passed Dexter al
| 1926 and it was forty-ive minutes
late then. It was several minutes
before Colwen came in that the Dexter
operator reported the express passed there
1 heard the dispatch as it passed over the
wires from the Dexter operator to the trair
| Colwell the train was forty-fve minutes late
at Dexter. Said it was forty-ive minutes
late now. Colwell did not know where thu
report that the train was late was made
from. I only said it was so late now
Can't explain why did not So,
it was forty-fve minutes late at Dex
ter instead of saying that it is 81
late now. It would have been natural ant
customary for me to say was it late at suct