Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-09-15
THE WRECK NEAR RICHMOND.


the railroad Com IN issiouers,
MONTPELIER, Sept. GA hearing in re-
gard to the railroad accidents on August
30, near Richmond, took place this after
noon before Railroad Commissioners Ex.-
Governor Pingrec, Amory Dawson and
Leon q. Bagley, in the Supreme Court
room at the State House.
Engineer York OF freight train NJ, which
collided with the special said ho did not
see any flag or rel light, or other signal on
train Nc. 50, to show that the special was
following, aud it was almost too dark to see
the flag. He left Jonesville just as soon rs
No. 80 passed him. He had &c cars, and
zine were destroyed. He was going about
II miles an hour when he jumped, after
seeing the headlight Of the coming special.
The fireman jumped before he did.
j. w. Brock Of Montpelier was in the
fourth car of the special. The first he
knew of the trouble was u slight shock Of
the air brakes which nearly stopped the
train. He helped get the bodies
from the wreck. James Crosset
was dead, but George Brown lived.
MIR. Stewart, conductor on freight n.
was looking out Of his caboose cupola win
dow at Ionesville when No. 80 passed him;
suw no flag or lantern and heard no signal
whistle, bat it was quite dark, and the
headlight was lighted. His train went out
Immediately. The first he knew of danger
was the red light ahead. They wore going
about II miles an hour. lie heard the
heard the whistle for breaks, aud put up
one and started for another The train
Stacked up about one-third before collding.
That was York's first trip on train M rs
engineer. He would not swear That there
IT, L., 3.
did not see it.
James Lynch, engineer on freight No.
IA, standing. at Richmond, did see red
flag plainly when No. 50 passed there.
George Reynolds, fireman on freight NJ,
with York, did not see the front OF engine
No. 80, 60 could not tell whethor there was
he was easily reading a paper. They i'm
mediately lett Jore;ville. The first he
know of the danger 10 saw the headlight of
the special. lie sotri8ht Off did not welt
to see what the engineer did, but heard The
whistle for brakes While jumping and rolled
into the ditch, and the collision happoned
before he got onto his feet.
Patrick uanrahan, brakeman on train
H., did not look out soon enough at jones
viii to see whether CT not the engine No. 80
had signals. Conductor Stewart was in the
caboose and the first he knew Of tho danger
was when he heard whistle for brakes; he
put up two and was going for the third
when the collision happened.
Orrin Frasier, conductor on train No. II
standing al Richmond, saw red flag plain
~ on No. 80 when it passed, but didu't no
tice whether the headlight was lit or not
III. HaTrI gan, conductor on freight No, S
at Nilliston, plaialy saw rcd flag on No.
% when it passed him.
c. Il. Riggs, engineer on No. s, also
plainly saw II red flag.
Engineer Rice said he put tho red flag on
the engine at Essex, and lit the headlight al
Waterbury, whore 1t began to grow dusky.
lie was sure the engineer aud brakeman on
freight VI saw his red flag at Jonesvilie for
he pointed TO it and was answered. and
thought he wListleI. 1t was Lii, first trip
on No 90 engine and he was quite sure train
did not leave Jonesville until after he did.
The fireman said the headlight was not
lighted until they arrived at Waterbury,
the whistle was not sounded for signal to
train NJ. He did not remember of any CON
between the engineer and the
men on freight No. II at kichmond, and
did not see any one in the NJ freight caboose
at Jouesvillc.
1he brakeman had seen the flag on the
engine, but did not hear the whistle signal.
The Commissioners Investigation Con.
cluded-Brakeman Noars' Tcstilnonv.
Tho hearing in regard to thu railroad ac-
cident near Richmond, August so, before
tbs state board Of railroad commissioners.
was concluded here Saturday afternoon.
Commissioner Bagley came from Montpelier
On tho White Mountain train and in com
pany with States Attorney j. e. Cush-
man went to the Mary Fletcher hos
otal and took the testimony OF B, A,
Mesrs Of Milton, who was the for
ward brakeman or the freight train.
lie corr oborat5d the testimony Of Engineer
y ork, Conductor Stewart and the other
ranmen of his train. lie did not see the
ed flag and was not looking for one This
completed the taking of testimony. The |
commissioners viii now consider and re- |
lor:.
Brakeman Mears, who was one of the |
most severely injured, is improving steadi- |
Y, StGto's Attorney Cushman conducted |
he case in behalf of the public or, in other |
words, the State