The Portland daily press., 1880-11-17
THE EASTERN RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Report of the Investigating Committee.

The board appointed to investigate the recent
railroad accident at Lynn, where the Portland
morning train collided with the Saugus
Branch train, has reported as follows:
Such an accident is startling one, and calls
for as thorough an investigation as if it had
been attended as it might have been, with a
great loss of life. The first impression made
by the facts is that if any one of the many per-
sons employed on the trains or on the spot had
been awake and attentive to his duty such an
accident could not have happened
The board, after careful deliberation, has
reached these conclusions:
/. The engineer of train No. 44-the Port
land train-was guilty of gross carelessness in
not observing that the ball at Green street
bridge was down. He ought also to have seen
that the switch was thrown, ana he would have
noticed the arm of the semaphore if had been
properly attentive. We, therefore, recon-
mend his discharge.
2. The signal man at that station was also
guilty of gross negligence in hauling down and
keeping down the ball, and in allowing train
No. 3S-the Saugus train-to cross the track
when the Portland express was due, unless he
had positive knowledge that this train was de-
layed. His own statement convics him. For
he says that he knew that the train was due,
but that he could not see whether it was COM
ing or not, because of the presence of freight
train and of large number of persons who
himself at liberty to allow the track to be OBJ
structed at the minute when the train was due
unless he actually saw the train, and this at
time when he says he could not see whether or
not the train was there. Ii he could see he
was wrong; if he could not see he was wrong.
1t is true, as has been said above. that the
engineer of No. A ought to have seen that the
ball was down, and ought to have stopped. But
this is no excuse for the signaman, who Gre
ated the danger into which the engineer care
lessly fell.
II seems also, that the signalman, if on the
lookout, as he should have been, for train
fully due, would have seen No Al before he
did see 1T, and in time to prevent the disaster
His discharge is recommended.
3. The engineer of the Saugus Branch ira in
ought to have seen No. A in time to have
avoided the accident, and would have done so
if he had been on the alert. 1t is true that he
trusted to the protection of the lowered ball
and to the presumption that the engineer of No
A would do his duty. But this is only one
lore case to show that it is never safe to rely
is shifting train across the track on which an
express train is due, should use extreme vigil
lance. This was not done by this engineer and
his discharge is recommended
4. While the engineer of No. Al is the person
responsible for the running of the train, it is
evident that the fireman ought to have noticed
the absence of the ball from the masthead and
the warning of the semaphore at the switch.
suspension from employment Tor reasona-
bic time would do no injustice, and would
tend to secure greater care in future.
5. AT such yard as that of the Eastern
railroad at Lynn it is very desirable that sys-
tenn of interlocking switches and signals should
be adopted. And we would recommend to the
Directors that they consider the expediency of
providing such system at an early day.
By order of the Board,
VIM A. CRAFTS, Clerk.
We learn that the President of the Eastern
Railroad Company, upon receiving the above
report gave immediate orders for the discharge
and suspension OF the delinquent employees as
recommended by the Commissioners.
Irish American Relief.
An adjourned meeting of the Irish Ameri
can Relief Association was held Monday even
ing and the list of officers for the ensuing year
com pleted as follows
President-F. w. Cunningham
ce Presdent--T. F. Sheehan.
Recording Secretary-P. j. Comedian.
Corresponding Secretary-Johp Davis.
neutrality-suspicious. O'Brien.
Assistant Bookkeeper-Hugh McDonough.
Treasurer-James Quinn.
Trustees-Edward Logue, Daniel Gallagher,
Daniel Desmond, James Melaugh, Philip B.
HugheP, Thomas McTuinneSs Patrick HaIuin