The Portland daily press., 1888-01-14
THE DANCERS OF TRAVEL.
One More Name Added to the Haver-
hill Death Roll.
Railroad Employees Testify Before the
Commissioners.
Two Accidents In Which Passengers
Narrowly Escape Harm.

Two Accidents In Which Passengers
Narrowly Escape Harm.
HAvERHILL, Mass, Jan. 13-The funeral
of Dennis Shannahan, victim OF the acci-
dent, took place from st. James Church
this morning.
Mr.. Zenas Thompson of Portland, now at
the Eagle House. is improving, and the
latest reports from the hospital regarding
the other patients are favorable.
The husband of Mrs. Ward of Bridgton.
Me-, arrived in Haverhill today ard fully
identified the remains, which he took to
Bridgton on the afternoon train. She leaves
three children.
Late information concerning Mr.. Calvin
McKenney of Auburn, shows that his inju-
ries from the effects of the accident were
more serious than at first reported. Mr.. Nc
Kenney was one of those who were unfortu-
nate enough to be in the fifth car. A piece Of
the iron tank fell on him and as result ne
received severe contuSions and scalp wounds
and four of the teeth were knocked out. His
right hand was crushed and 1t was imp0ssi-
BILE for him to speak.
The remains Of A. l.. Walker were taken
in charge by his friends and removed to
Harrison, Me. He was wire drawer by
trade, 3S years old, and leaves a widow and
one adopted daughter. He had been in
Salem, N. H., on business, and took the
Inflated train at Lawrence.
George b. Wentworth died at the hospital
at 8 p. m, making the. thirteenth victim.
The surgeons are Of opinion that his lungs
were punctured by broken rib. He suf-
fered all day severely. His home physician,
DR.. Lothrop of Dover, N. H., visited the
hospital today and PRONOUNCED Wentworth's
condition very critical. His family were
with him when he died.
w. +. Kimball Of Newton will probably
die. His wounded limb was not amputated,
owing to the appeals of his family. DR..
John Homans of Boston arrived Thursday,
and agreed with the hospital staff that the
condition of the patient was very precarious.
The remaining. patients, including John
Madden of Bradford, whose leg was ampu-
tated Wednesday, are doing nicely.
The judicial investigation of the disaster
will open before Judge Carter, Monday, at
City Hall. 1t is expected to consume the
entire week. Eminent counsel will be en-
ployed and the investigation will be search
ing.
Public opinion has settled down to the
idea that the accident was caused by flaw
human foresight could have remedied.
LEWISTON, Jan. 13.-The Friedman boy,
VINO was so badly injured. and cared for Tues
day night in Portland, is making but slow
progress toward recovery. The wounds on
the head are healing but the bruised arm
and hand are still quite painful.
The Latest Victim.
DOVER, N. H., Jan. 13.-George B. Went
worth, the last victim of the Bradford dis
aster, was IS years old. He was educated in
the common schools of his native town. Mil
ton, N. H., where he taught school for three
years. He learned shoe making and came to
Dover 30 years ago, and began shoe manu-
featuring. In 1878 he was worth S75, 900. The
next year, depreciation in real estate and the
falling off of business, caused his failure,
but he turned every dollar over to his cred
itors. He began manufacturing again and
leaves $4,000. He was an active Democrat
and representative In the Legislature in
1854 He was candidate for Mayor three
times. He leaves widow.
The commissioners Investigation.
BosToN, Jan. 13.-The hearing before the
Railroad Commissioners in the matter Of the
recent railroad disaster at Bradford, on the
Boston & Maine Railroad, began at 10 o'clock
this morning, at their Office on Beacon street.
General Manager Furber appeared to repre-
sent the railroad company, and at the outset
stated his understanding of the causes which
led to the disaster substantially as has al
ready been published. He then called as the
first witness. Warren French. the engineer
Of the train which met with the disaster.
Mr.. French testified that he took out the
train which left Boston at l O'Clock on the
day CT the disaster. At Wards Hill, about
a mile and half this side of Bradford, the
train was three minutes late. At Bradford,
at the junction of the Georgetown branch,
the signals and the switch targets were all
right As the engine ran on the bridge, he
felt jar, and looked back and saw the train
off the track. He thought that the jar
which he felt was when the first first-class
coach struck the tank and was separated
from the rest of the train. At the same mo-
ment the conductors bell in the cab struck
once and the electric bell began ringing.
The train was moving at the rate of about
10 miles an hour, after passing Bradford sta
ton. l sent man to Haverill to ring in
fire alarm. Then went to the smoking car,
which lay on its side upon the bridge, and
helped the passengers to escape from the
wreck There was no fire nor appearance Of
alarm given as matter of precaution.
got an axe and went back to the other
wrecked cars. Helped to rescue one lady
and two men. The train hands and passen-
gers, who were uninjured, all aided in extri-
eating Others. There was no confusion. The
water from the broken tank was six or
eight inches deep Oh the ground about the
wreck, for a time.
Witness was not aware that the track had
been repaired recently at that place. If
in its place he would have known it, 1t is
his constant practice, if he notices frog or
a switch that does not seem to be just right,
to report i to the first section boss he
comes to- The next time he passes the place
he finds it all right 1t is always attended
smooth. All engineers have or
ders to slow down to 10 miles an hour at
Haverhill bridge, and the order is always
obeyed.
The order was produced and read by Mr.
Crocker.
THE FIREMAN's STORY.
Mr.. II. II. Wilson, the fireman of the
wrecked train, was next called, He testi-
fed that the signals and targets were all
right at the junction. The switches were all
right so far as he could see from his posi-
tion.
The first intimation he received that an
accident had happened, was just latter
the train ran upon the bridge. He looked
back and saw one car running toward the
tank and others apparently going down the
branch. He told the engineer
that the train was going off the bank. He
was ordered by the engineer to stay by the
engine, and he did so. Never noticed any
thing wrong about the road at this place. 1t
had not been recently repaired to his knowl-
edge.
Mr.. j. B. Cate, engineer of the George
town branch train, which was waiting on
the branch at the time of the accident, was
the next witness called. He described the
position Of his train. As the train was pass
ing, he looked toward it and saw one pair of
trucks of one car off the rails. Thinks it
was the smoking car. The car went out of
his sight beyond the tank house. The next