The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-18

as to the name of her companion, and
when questioned she said that she did not
know any Sullivan woman.
The identity of the woman was fully
established this morning by visitors at
the hospital. They had been with her on
the sleigh ride aud said that she was
Annie Sullivan and worked in the weav-
ing department OF the Slater Mill.
A NEWS reporter saw the visitors.
When asked what seemed to be the opin-
ion as to who was to blame, they said that
they believed the railroad company to be
at fault.
What the Railroaders Say.
A NEWS reporter called on the claim
agent of the road this forenoon, and got
the following statement:
Viewed from the east, the approach to
the Lonsdale crossing is entirely hidden
by high stone wall several hundred
feet In length, and directly behind it is
block of brick buildings aud several
dwelling houses extending eastward.
The city statutes require that the road
keep watchman at this crossing until
p. NJ, during the remainder of the night,
traffic being practically suspended, the
crossing is left unguarded, it being
assumed that the few persons passing at
that time will look out for themselves.
There is no law requiring trains to slow
up at the crossing, but it Is usual for
heavy freights TO do so in order to have
the train under control at the station be-
yond. The frog freight, which wrecked
the sleigh. has a schedule speed of 'about
twenty miles an hour, but. according to
the usual custom, had slowed down
to speed of about fifteen miles at
the crossing. The roar of the en-
gine prevented Engineer Atwood
from hearing the merry songs
and laughter of the approaching sleigh
ing party. The engine was scarcely
twenty feet from the crossing when the
forward team suddenly appeared upon the
track. In the brief interval that elapsed
before the crash came the head team
cl cared the track and the engine struck
with crushing force directly in front Of
| the driver.
Had the freight been running at a
| higher rate of speed the probabilities are
| that the fatality would have been much
| less. A heavy blow would have thrown
the sleigh and its occupants to one side
of the track. But the slow rate OF speed
| at the moment Of impact simply caused
| the sleigh to slew to one side and the
occupants were thrown by the sudden
| jar directly in front of the moving loco
motive This is the secret Of the terri
BILE extent of the fatality"
A report OF the freight crew was pre-
sented at the Office of the Consolidated
at IL o'clock this morning and the facts
above stated were brought out, The
railroad company states that IL is in no
| way liable for damages as the train was
not running above regulation speed and
| all rules were complied with.
where the Bodies Are.
In the mems waiting room at Lorsdal Q
to-day were the dead bodies, laid out by
| Undertaken Clark of Pawtucket, and
| lying in row covered with white
sheet. Occasionally few friends or
relatives OF one OF the victims
sought admittauce for the pur-
pose of Identification, and upon find
| ing that their loved one was among the
slain their grief was: s:heart-rending. by
| 10 o'clock the bodies were removed from
| the depot aud on the way to Pawtucket
| in the uudertaker's team.
Medical Examiner Garvin will notify
| the coroner that an inquest will be nee
essary.