Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-03
GARDNER collJslon


The hearing appointed by the railroad
commissioners to investigate into the causes
of the railroad accident At Gardner
Dee. %, resulting in the collision between
trains No. II and No. IL. began Monday
afternoon at ? O'Clock and al 6 o'clock was
adjourned over till . A. NJ. Tuesday.
The testimony was, TO aconsiderable de-
gree, contradictory and somewhat con-
fused.
Conductor .Jewett of No. is testified that
he WAS at Gardiner on time and waited his
Is minutes and then started, giving The
switchman the order to put up the signals
xhieh gave him the right on the main
| i:ne. The signals were put up and lust
hen the other train came in sight and the
collision occurred.
Isaac Blake, engin er on Jewetts train
testified that he arrived on time at Gar.
diner that he run the train down toward
the main line, and at about 3.42 hauled
down 70 the signal station; saw the other
train coming, and tried to reverse, but
found the brakes on and could not get his
train back He was not perfectly positive
as the waiting Is minutes, but thought he
started close 10 IL minutes.
A. c. Partridge, brakeman on Jewetss
train. knew nothing about the time. Was
sent down by Mr.. Jewett into the yard Il
let No. II know if she stopped that We were
waiting. Was there about five minutes
,Jewett called him back and told him he
had waited his time and was going on. The
signals were put up anil his train CAN'T To
the switch Just as the other train came in.
Joseph Donovan the Gardiner switch
man, testified that about a minute after he
put up the signal balls No. II came ii
sight.
+. s. Newell. engineer of the switching
engine at the Gardiner yard testified he
! heard Jewet,'s train in depot. Took oul
his watch. II was 3.35. Some minutes
later heard Jewett's train coming down
toward switch. Heard driving wheel' slip
ping and saw Jewett's train braking
Thought it was four minutes after but not
sure. Sooner think ii more than less.
W. IL. Baker, engineer of yard engine
was another witness. Not much steam
escaping from his engine at the time.
Fred l.. Sanborn. conductor of No. IL
train, testified that he left Portland IL min
utes late arrived at South Gardiner at 3.3l
ttil Ut Dol anu ~ sttpiuss lSh'hHS thi,
by table is 5; 49, Had 10 minutes to get tc
Gardiner. When collision occurred he
lacked 10 seconds of 3.39. Had watch III
hand. Then compared with Jewett ant
Blake and two other men. Had walked b,
baggage, mail and another car and to th'
engine and their watches were "a or abou
3 II. Before leaving Portland compared
. tci with standard time. Exact time Of
/ accident was 3.3s and 30 seconds.
/ Engineer ShOrey of Sanborn's train test
| fed that they left SO. Gardiner at $50 AM
80 seconds by his watch. Had . MINUTES
,nd % seconds to get TO Gardiner o.
Jewetts time. Would then get there
minutes before Jewett could leave. Looket
at watch as came to Gardiner yard and saw
had just time to squeeze in and so told fire
man. Put on brakes. Saw one ball ant
! let off brakes. Then saw two balls Blu
could not then stop as brakes would no
take quick enough. His watch was 45 sec
onds slower than Sanborn's. After acct
dent compared with Jewetts. His 3.4o,
little past, $50 by mine.
A. $. Young. proprietor of Young hotel
Gardiner, testified: Was in station at tim
| of accident. Consulted his watch less thai
minute later and it lacked II minutes o
4. Afterwards compared watch with tina
of engineer of Yankee and found the
agreed.