Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-08
WEST OUTLET DISASTER.
Railroad Commissioners Report Re-
suit Of Their Investigations.
Say Distractions Were Deliberately Placed
on Track to Wreck the Train.

The State board of railroad commission
ers held meeting at the State House, yes
terday afternoon, and rendered a special
report on the Canadian Pacific Railroad ac-
cident at West Outlet, July 2. An abstract
of the report follows:
The train wrecked 10 scheduled as the
Montreal express No. 0. It consisted of
one 10 wheel locomotive and tender, one
mail and express car. one baggage car, one
second class and one first class passenger
cars and one sleeping car. The board pro-
nounce it one of the most serious accidents
that ever occurred in this State.
The length Of the timber trestle ON which
the accident occurred, from the enbank-
ment to the stone pier, on which the plate
girder crossing the stream rests, 10 pa feet
Is feet in length. The height
western approach. ranged from 10 to 25
feet. The bents that were thrown down,
were from 10 to II feet in height. The
except in height. Posts, caps and stills l2x
10 inches; sway braces, 3x1 % inches; string
ers, 8xl6 inches and were of hard pine.
guards, 9x9; inner, 5xS. These were
bolted.
This bridge was erected in 1882, and was
one of the uniform standard wooden trestles
erected by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Co. From the inspection made by two
members of the board, shortly after the
accident, and from the testimony of the
witnesses given at the investigation, it ap-
A. g. g ~.
western end, and the bents supporting them,
were thrown down, and 9TH
er spans were somewhat displaced.
Nearly all the timber Which constituted the
bridge has been used in re-constructing the
same. No rotten or decayed timber was
found in any portion Of the wrecked bridge
after the accident From the top of the
embankment or west end of the trestle to
the forward end of the locomotive, as it
laid turned nearly upside down, is 1873 feet.
From the appearance of portions of the
wrecked bridge, and indications on different
portions of the deck that remained stand
ing, it is quite evident that the locomotive,
though derailed at or near the western end
OF the bridge, continued to run upon the
deck of the bridge about 100 feet, then
plunged into the valley, distance of s.
feet
From the evidence taken at the examina-
ton, it is clear that the accident was caused
by derailment Of the train, and that
such was not caused by any de-
fects or want of repairs in
the track or bridge structure. The
trestle bridge was substantially constructed
and had been inspected by an expert bridge
inspector, and by the board. but a short
time before the accident. Having found,
as we did, that the train was derailed, was
such derailment accidental or otherwise?"
"What caused it?r "We think that the
evidence taken at the investigation con-
go clusively shows that the rails of the track,
on the first span Of the trestle, had been
separated by the taking off of the fish plates
that the ends of one or both of the rails ex-
tending on to the bridge had been pried mp,
and new cedar tie placed beneath the rail
to hold it in that position and that several
other new ties were also placed in the same
manner upon the rails as an obstruction"
The evidence tended to substantiate these
facts. Several witnesses (trackmen) testi-
fed that shortly after the accident, they
examined the track, some distance west of
the bridge and found that it was blistered in
manner indicating that the locomotive had
been reversed before it reached the place
of accident. These facts the board believes
20 TO show that the engineer saw obstruc-
tons on the track and tried to lessen the
speed. Another significant fact in this con-
nection, is that Mr.. Mcdonald, the fireman.
was found, lying in an unconscious state
about % feet from the end of the bridge,
or point where the obstruction is supposed
to have been placed.
In addition to these facts several track
men testified that five cedar ties, which had
been distributed along the sides of the rail-
road for future use, about 100 feet
west of the bridge, had been re-
moved from the place where they
had lain, by someone. They themselves had
not placed any on the track in that vicin-
ity.s ssS 4
rn'the conclusion appears the following
paragraph:
THAT the cause Of the accident was that
some person or persons unknown during
the preceding night had withdrawn tie bolts
aud taken off the fish plates used to connect
the same on two opposite joints of the rails
that extended from the bank about three
feet on the bridge. That the end of one or
both of the connecting rails on the bridge
were raised and carried to one side and q
cedar tie placed underneath the same, and
that the new cedar ties we're used in the
same manner to complete the obstruction.
That no blame for the accident attaches to
the railroad corporation or any of its officers
or employees"
(Signed.) te
d. N. MoRrLANp, Railroad
A.W. WlLDEs, Commissioners
Benz. +. CHApBoURNE, of Maine.
AupuafT 1904 f.H