Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-02-19

1ulRlll uOb Stb lue HbuU Oh Ills lIaln,
and an experienced brakeman
or conductor on the front car
might, by putting on brakes at the
wrong time, do a great deal of
harm. A sudden check in push
ing train would be more apt to
throw the engine off than any of
the cars. 1t would be impossible
to take train over four percent
grade at slow speed. The heavier
the engine the less speed is need
ed to take grade.
Cross-examined by the Attorney
General: 1t is not "a great deal
safer" to pull than to push a train,
but it is safer, not so much on
account of mechanical reasons as
because the engineer has not so
much control of his train.
Mr.. Walsh, the defendant, tes-
tilted: Was born in England, 80
years of age; had been railroading
and working on steamers since he
was IL years of age; drove pas
senger trains on the Kahului rail
road before taking employment
on the Waikiki plantation. Wit
mess gave an elaborate eXpla-
nation of how it was imprac-
ticable to dispense with pushing
cars on the plantation railroad.
He was in the habit of running
down the one-half percent grade
approaching the culvert, and as he
reached the foot of the ascending
grade putting on one-fourth steam;
followed the same practice on the
occasion of this accident; about 80
feet from the place where the en-
CINE went off he felt lurch and
put on the steam brake; before he
had time to reverse the engine it
went over on its side. Had been
working on the construction Of
the road for month before run
ming on it; did take into consider
alton the newness of the road;
discussed the number of cars that
could be hauled, with Mr.. Wells,
and witness thought ten cars
would be about right, but Mr..
Wells gave him no definite in
structions; witness was not parti-
cular, as he felt it was matter
for his own judgment when he be-
gan running; found there was no
difficulty in taking fifteen cars,
and since the accident no change
had been made in the number.
He considered the speed when the
accident happened was six to ten
miles; had he known the car
brakes were on he would not have
attempted to go up the grade, but
would have whistled off brakes,
reversed and taken q fresh start;
two brakes on going down the grade
would not have made much diff
erence, but if on when steam was
put on he would notice it at once,
and that was what happened. Wit
ness then gave details of the ac-
cident and his actions on the oc-
casion. When the engine was
righted there was nothing found
wrong with her, not even a nut
was started. He called the atten-
ton of all on the spot to the fact
that the steam brake was on and
the throttle closed. Would not
take an oath on whether he blam-
ed the road to Mr.. Carter or
not, did not remember but might
have done SO; was not aware that
he had been careless in any de-
gree, his greatest surprise was when
when he arrested for manslaught.
err; since the accident he had not
changed the manner of his work
on the road.
Cross-examined: Witness said
that after his committal in Wailu-
ku, Mr.. Howell had apologized to
him for the evidence he had given
at the coroner's jury; did not be-
Seve he spoke to Mr.. Carter as
chat witness had testified, but
would not swear he did not. He
did not always push the cars at that
place, he pulled them whenever
practicable; never put on steam
until the culvert is passed, as that
is where the grade begins; have
not the least idea how the accident
occurred; the road was good al
that place so far as he knew, if he
knew it was bad he would moi
run over it; had been driving
locomotives for ten months, was
previously a fireman; pay was
$50 month, but he made about