Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-01-15

the engine went over the crossing
Upon cross-examination, the young
fireman said that he did not see the
wagon in which young Linniken was
driving, until after the collision.
Harvey B. Shaw, an old railroad
man. followed young Hand upon the
stand. He testified that he was the
conductor on the train which Hand
was running at the time Linniken
met bis death. He remembered very
distinctly the morning of the accident.
The train stopped and Shaw at first
thought the air had gone back on the
engineer. He looked behind on the
track, saw wreck, and gave Hand the
signal to run back. Hand answered
with blasts of the whistle. The con-
ductcr was sure that the whistle was
sounded for Oak road crossing. The
conductor and engineer have a code Of
signals by which it is possible to COM
municate with each other. Every
time the whistle is sounded 1t is the
businees of a conductor to listen to see
whether or not the whistle is meant
for him. The boy, Linniken, died
while he was being put in the baggage
car. The train was then run back
Vineland.
james NJ. Hand" called Mr.. Bacon.
That gentleman came forward with
toothpick between his lips. He took
hold, of the Bible, took the oath and
walked to the witness stand.
Said Mr.. Bacon, Where do you
live p
"Cape May City" replied the en-
gineer."
"You are the defendant in this
case ?''
"Yes SIR"
How long have you been the
employ of the railroad company -
about twenty years"
What is your family p
my, wife, small boy sitting there,
a boy who is home with the diptheria
my son Dan, the fireman, and my
father, who is seventy years old, and
whom support"
Were you in charge OF the engine
of train 8 on the morning of March 7th,
last year, at the time thel accident oc-
Cured -
'Yes sir.'
Were you on time at the Vineland
station on that morning?"
Not far out of time. Not more
than minute"
Then you left Vineland station
practically on time?'
Yes SIR"
What knowledge have you of the
this accident? ?'
None at ell sir. The only thing
l saw was an obstruction directly ID
front of me. The entrails of the horses
flew up against the window"
''Did you see the wagon before the
accident ?"
mo SIR"
Ibid you sound the usual signals
that morning."
Eyes sir. sounded the whistle at
the New Jersey Southern R. r. cross
ing, and what they call the gas house
crossing. Then l sounded the whistle
for this Oak road crossing"
You ere sure about this -
Yes sir.".
WAS the bell still rip ging when the
accident occurred?'
II think it must have been. The
tiremen, who had been ringing the bell,
had just stepped down from his posi-
tion."
"As soon as the object flew up you
knew something was wrong, and did
you Immediately stop your engine?"
II put on the air brake immediately. d
In how short space can you stop
train?"
II can stop 10 about three times the
length of the train, but there is con-
siderable danger in doing so."
I'm making that run on this morn
ing, what were you doing?n
Watching the track closely, attend,
ing to my business strictly"
The witness then was shown the
photographs. He showed by the pic.
ture that the heel plate of the pilot had
been damaged, and his conclusion was
that the horses were not fully on the
track, or they would have been struck
by the toe of the pilot. If the horse:
had been fully upon the track, the in
evitable result would have been that
the train would have been derailed,
and he said ''if it had been, we would
not have been here to-day. 1t is not
only our duty to look out for obstruc
tions, but it is also a regard for our
personal safety. l would stop for q
stick of wood"