Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-09-27

THE BRooksvlLLE ACCIDENT.
REPORT OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION
ERS.
STATE OF VERMONT,
In Board of Railroad Commissioners,
MONTPELIER, Sept. II, 1889.
In the matter of the head collision on
the Rutland division of the Central YER
mont railroad near Brooksville, August
80, 1889.
The accident was investigated the
Monday and Tuesday after its occurrence
by Commissioners Pingree and Fletcher,
Commissioner Ormsbee being in the
West at the time.
States Attorney c. NJ. Wilds appeared
in behalf of the State and the railroad
company was represented by its presi-
dent. general manager, superintendent
and division superintendent.
The scene of the accident was visited
by the board on Monday, the I'd inst,
and testimony was taken that day and
the hearing was continued at st. Adams
the next day.
The nature of this accident was such
as to demand investigation, even though
no serious consequences had come of it.
1t was a head collision in which a pas
senger train was involved, and that of
itself demanded an investigation. 1t was
of all accidents that kind that never
takes place without the grossest negli-
gence or other grievOus fault of some
body. In this case, the death of four
men and the iniuring of several others,
coupled with the narrow escape from a
far greater fatality, emphasizes this as
one of the saddest of the railway acct
dents in the history of the State.
The collision occurred in this way: A
special train had been put on for three
days between Burlington and Rutland to
accommodate the public attending the
meeting of the Horse Breeders assOcia-
ton, leaving Burlington in the morning
and returning from Rutland in the early
evening of August rs, 30 and 30. This
special was called "G," and its time card
or schedule was published in the usual
way for the information of the public and
the instruction and guidance of the en-
ployes of the road. 1t left Rutland with
nine cars-one combination and eight
passenger coaches,-at 6 80 p. III. of Fri
day, August 30, generally well loaded
with passengers, though but five persons
were in the forward car at the time of
the collision. 1t was conducted by Hiram
A. Blodgett of Northfield, with William
Embrey engineer and George Robson
| fireman, both of St. Adams.
An extra train of twenty-one cars
freighted with hogs, conducted by
George w. Button, with William H.
Chillson, engineer, and Henry Perron,
fireman, was running "wild" from St.
Adams to Bellows Falls, over the Rut-
land division. This train passed New
Haven at :53 p. m, without stopping.
Excursion train Sc" left Middlebury,
bound north, at :52 p. NJ, five minutes
after its schhdule time of riyal there.
The distance from Middlebury to New
Haven, the next regular station north, is
eight miles.
These trains met about three miles and
a half south of New Haven, wrecking the
engines, tenders, combination car and
eight freight cars, and instantly killing
the conductor and engineer of the pas
senger train. fatally injuring the fireman
of the hog train, killing Mr.. w. w.
Allen of Ferrisburg, passenger in the
combination car. and injuring Charles and
Arthur Hunt of New Haven, also pas
sengers in the same car, and Conductor
Button and Engineer ChillsOn.
! A large number of hogs were killed
and maimed-the destruction of rolling
stock and freight amounting to some
$4,000.
The special train &C" was rightfulls
running on its schedule time between
Middlebury and New Haven, having this
right over all advertised trains. The hog
train was proceeding under orders to run
"wild' from Essex junction to Middle.
bury. The receipt of Conductor Button
and Engineer Chillson for their "wild'
order to run from Essex Junction tc
Middlebury reads as follows:
We understand we are to run wild tc
Middlebury, meet number ten (10) train
at Burlington, run to Burlington ahead
of number sixty-one (6l) train.
(Signed)
g. w. BUTTON, Conductor.
w. ii. CHILLSON, Engineer.
This train ran to Burlington ahead OF
No. CT and met No. 10 there and proceed
ed thence towards Middlebury under it.
wild" order, where it would await fur
ther orders.
Circular No. 81 establishing speca
passenger train Sc" and schedule of it.
running time between Rutland and Bur
lington, was issued August %, 1899, ant
this train which was to run Wednesday
Thursday, and Friday, August 2Sth
Goth and 3Oth, had "al the rights of reg
ular passenger trains"
The schedule of this train was furnish
ed the conductors and engineers both o
the special Sc" and the hog train. BY
that schedule train Sc" should pas
Middlebury at 7:47 p. M, and New
Haven at :OS p. m, where it was t.
meet No. II.
The "wild" train on arriving at New
Haven at :53 p. M, as stated, SHOULD
have stopped and taken the siding Their
for train &c" to pass it. 1t could go NJ
further without trespassing upon tn