Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-15
RAILROAD COMPANY
BLAMED FOR ACCIDENT
THE C0R0NERs JURY, INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF WILLIAM
FIEDLER, so DECIDES TODAY

working of the air brakes on the engine
drivers and tender, and in no small de-
gree to the absence also of the back
sand. He was very positive in his opinion
that if the air brakes had been in work
ing order and the brakes on the cars as
well. the accident might have been pre-
vented. He graphically told what he and
his companion, Fielder, did when the
train started down the hill. They were
together on the hind cars, and just be-
fore separa ting. having secured the
brakes together to the best of their aldl-
ity, Fielder said. as the train was in
creasing in speed What shall we do
jump?': replied, mo, Billy; if they are
on we must stay. We will all work to-
gether at the brakes"
Soon after this, the train having now
& 1t an immense momentum, the timbers
began to fly from the cars, and when the
witness, having parted from his partner
1T now appears forever-saw no one on
the train, he jumped and saved his life.
John Smith, fireman.; testified that Oh
the morning of the day of the accident
the air hose became uncoupled and sew
eral attempts We're made to mend the
brake and eventually We're given up and
the engine and crew proceeded up the
hill with some lumber without the air
brakes. Mr.. Smith did not think that the
engine could have been held by the use
Of back sand.
William d. Ogle testified that he did
not think the accident would have
happened if the air brakes had been in
working order. He also stated that with
out air brakes the crew of the train had
no business to go up the hill.
Robert G. Whalen, yardmaster of the
Northern Pacific, testified that he was
not aware Of the fact that the air brakes
of the engine were out of order.
The coroner at this point adjourned
the inquest until $3.50 this morning.
All the hour appointed, Henry Carter
car inspector for the Northern Pacific,
was sworn and testified substantially
that his experience extended over ten
years; William O'Mallahan was his fore
man. When a car comes in with de.
fective brakes, he inspects and makes
repairs if he can with the material
handy; if not, then the car is sent to
the shop. Only limited quantity OF
material was on hand to make the work
Of repair thorough, and he used his own
judgment in sending out damaged cars.
Another man on the hill was invested
with practically the same Duties but
gave air brakes his greatest attention.
Cross-examined by Thresher. witness
said he inspected all cars sent up to the
hill, and Likely inspected the cars Of the
runaway train. Some cars, known as
pipe cars, instead of an air brake, have
a hand brake In making up a train,
these are sandwiched between such as
are equipped with air brakes.
Witness said that all cars assigned to
the hill must be inspected thoroughly:
therefore: If anything was broken, the
,i,,,,1 mus hn, {ol. ,,1oo ftn 4
cars left inspection at the yards. per-
haps during the period Of the acciien,
on the morning of the 12th.
William Cahill brakeman, was re.
called. With reference to the four cars
of the runaway train, he said these were
equipped with air brakes, and if the air
brake in the engine worked properly,
the train could have been braked and
the accident avoided. In switching at
the ST., Lawrence. the timber on one of
the cars-one of the four of the runaway
train-slipped and disabled the brake,
leaving but three on the runaway. The
train of - cars was equipped with air
and hand brakes.
Witness, when asked his opinion re-
gardny the proper act of the engineer
to avoid accident under circums tances
like the one in question, said after the
engine stalls there is no such thing as
taking sack on a per cent grade.
When the engine slipped, the engineer
applied the forward motion. but the
weight of the train in front pulled the
engine back.
William 0. Mallahan, general fore
| man of shops at the Northern Pacific
| transfer, was the next witness. When
| engineers report any damage to their
| engines he is at the shop to see that
! the same is repaired. but engineers are
supposed to handle small jobs, like con-
Meeting an air hose With the air brake
/ Engine No. Sc was in the shop for re-
| Pairs on the morning of the 18th on
account of broken casting between the
| tank and engine: out this had no ref
| erence to the air connection, and he
| made no observations along that line.
| Hardin, the engineer, also reported. on
| the 11th. that the driver brake was de-
| fective on account OF broken shoe
| but this could not be repaired by rea-
| son of the nOn-arrival of material at
| the shop. The broken casting, how
ever was replaced by a new casting
| between the tank and engine. The en-
! CINE was not equipped with back sand.
| Witness did not observe AN,t all cars
| sent up the hill were equipped with air