Morning journal and courier., 1890-08-22
THE OLD ooIosr ACCIDENT.

| The OLD COkONH ACCkOBNTs
| An O0cial, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Of Genekal Manager; Kendrfck.
what the section Boss says-Why
the Jack Wa~ Net <Demoyed from
the Track.
BosroN, Aug. f.-@'rhe Official investiga-
ton into the accident on the Old Colony
railroad at Quincy on Tuesday last, was
begun at their oficet this forenoon by the
railroad commissioners. The rooms were
crowded. Chairman Cfoeker said that the
purpose Of the investigation was not to as
certain the Liabilities or what claims the
injured may have ON the road, bat to learn
the exact cause of the accident and what
can be done to protect the public in the
future from occurrences of the same.
General Manager Kehdrick of the Old
Colony was first called. In response to
interrogatories from Chairman Croker he
said that the wrecked train consisted of a
locomotive and nine cars and contained
$40 passengers. Car 26S, in. which the
fatalities occurred, had seventy passen-
gers Several witnesses were sworn and
Conductor Steadman of the Inflated train
took the stand.
The important portion of his testimony
was that Just before the accident, while
looking from the baggage car door, he saw
gravel train approaching on the other
track and saw a gang of laborers shift
from that track to the one his train was on;
his engineer sounded the danger signal
and the labores jumped from. the track.
Witness then saw an upright object about
three feet high directly between the rails
of his track. He could not state its nature,
but anticipated trouble from it and imme-
,diately threw himself fat on his face in the
center of the baggage car. Train jumped
the track almost instantly, the baggage
flew about the witness and he received in
juries to his hands and face; as soon as he
could get out he sent man back to flag
the track and then assisted in the work of
rescue. In reply to questions he stated
that the upright object" was just where
the laborers jumped from; from that he
could not see it until the men scattered.
The train was running about thirty miles
an hour, the usual speed being thirty-three
mony was then given by the baggagemaster
and brakeman
J. T. Thomas of Quincy, conductor on
the gravel train referred to, heard the dan
ger signal from Engineer Babcoek on the
Vineyard train Witness saw q track jack
standing upright between the rails and saw
the engine strike the jack; could not tell
whether or not the jack was clamped to
the track; supposed the train would wipe
the jack off the track and had no idea there
would be an accident; his train had gone
some distance before he learned that the
accident had happened; had no doubt the
jack caused it. .s5
At the afternoon session Section Boss
WEIGH admitted that he ordered Hartaey
to hide the jack. WEIGH received instruc-
tions to give the order; they came from
Roadmaster Bryant through workman
named Shea.
Shea was called and he said that Road
master Bryant gave the instructions be-
cause he wanted the jack saved 80 that it
might be used in the investigation which
he knew would follow.
Hartney here resumed his testimony.
He said that he did not think that it was
his duty to remove the jack from the rail
unless ordered to do SO by his boss.
Roadmaster G. B. Landell. of the Boston
and Albany railroad testified that he
would not send fagman out just because
a jack was in use. Would, of course, set
out flags if the track was being raised some
| inches. If a jack were being used near
curve the witness would send out flags;
would surely do so if he could only see
about three hundred feet along the track.
There is rule on the Boston and Albany
that if any track is obstructed flags shall
be sent out to protect the workmen and
jack is not considered AS an. obstruction.
He did not believe that he had foreman
who would put jack on a track at point
and at o time when a train was due and
that, too, on curve.
Hartney at this point gave an illustration.
of how he used the jack. There is release
arm attached to the jack, which, if proper
ly used, will admit of the raising of the
jack from the track very quickly. Hart
ney did not know whether he had prop
erly used the release arm. Sometimes he
used the release arm and 'sometimes he did:
not. - S'-'t ~ -
George K. Akers, agent for the company
which manufactures the jaek, was the next
witness. The Pennsylvania railroad has
bought n Thousand or more of the jacks.
On that road there is rule that in all
cases the release arm must be used and
then the jack can be instantly freed. = -
George NJ. Bryant, foreman of another
gang working at the point where the acct
dent occurred, testified that he and one
other man stepped from the 'sout" track
when the gravel train came along to the
Gin" track. The other men of his gang
stepped on the embankment. "
4. H. Bryant, division road master,
said it was true of the road that the man
who placed n jack in position should; have
nothing else to do, but. should stand by 1t
all the time. >. ,t>.
Chairman Crocker asked General Man
ager Kendrick if he had any testimony as
to whether the engineer succeeded IN set
ting brakes. Mr.. Kerfirick called; james
N. Lauder, superintendent of rolling
stock, who said that Master Mechanic Willis
had told him that he found the brake lever
in the, position where 1t would be If the
brakes were set; while il might have been
knocked into that position by blow the
chances were 30 out of 100 that it was
done by the setting Of the braks. =
Chairman Croker then declared the
public hearing closed with the exception
that the board would hear Engineer Bah
cocks testimony as soon as he was able to
Give IL