The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-30
SWITCHMAN
BLAMED FOR
AVON WRECK
Engineer Sheldon Of Providence
Says Signals Showsd Safety,
but Cross Over Was Open,

Stoughton. Mass Sept S0.-In the dis
trict court here today, the question Of
responsibility for the wreck on the New
York. New Haven a Hartford railroad on
Sept. Is az Avon, was considered the oc-
casion being the inquest on the death OF
the six victims by Judge Marden Dis
trict Attorney Robert O. Harris conducted
the examination OF the witnesses A num-
ber OF railroad employees who were In
the accident were present as witnesses be-
side DR. W. o. FaNon, medical examiner
for this district
DR. Faxon testified that the accident
was caused by an express train. south
bound. striking the engine OF freight
train. also south bound as a result OF
which two passenger cars were over
turned and six people killed, 90 others
being more or less injuried
Engineer Louis IA. Trrell OF the pas
senger train testified that his train was
due at the Avon station at 1881. He saw
the freight train on the north bound
track, but the first signal north OF the sta
ton was set az safety, so he did not
Stacked speed Witness said that he no.
ticed the engine of the freight train
turn on To the cross over switch just as
they passed each other. and then he felt
"a jar hl Ant ttillSiou ana Knew llai MS
train had broken apart. lie had noticed
a switchman on the north bound track,
about one quarter OF a mile back.
Fireman l.. c. Lincoln. OF the passen-
ger train testified that he saw the freight
train as their engine passeu IT, but IL did
not appear To- be in motion.
Engineer W. IA. Sheldon of Providence.
engineer OF the freight train was the
chief witness OF the morning. He said
that his train was "A regular freight train,
due To leave South Brantree at 1915 but
on that day il was nearly an hour late.
He arrived at Avon at 1888 and cleared
the southbound track They left some
ears on side track at Avon. but IL was
learned shortly afterward that n mistake
had been made and II cars had been left
instead OF 10 ordered. He called I'm his
flsgmsn from the north so as TO let the
southbound express pass. The man at the
cross over switch stayed there until THE
freight engine had clea-ed it.
Il saw him throw the switch. The
southbound express was not then ian
sight" he said. 'Switchman Murphy" he
continued. gave me the motion 10 come
ahead so as TO slacken the train. The
express engine was then "A little way by
MY train ran up on 10 the switch and 1
felt the pilot swing over. set my
brakes and reversed my engine before the
collision occurred
was luIoNH 10 the loOT OI MY CdD
started my train i'm answer 10 the sig
nal from the switchman. The momentum
OF the express train dragged us some
forty feet. 1t Is customary for the engi-
neers OF freight trains TO take orders
from swltchmen as IL is impossible for
engineers 10 see the signals themselves
many times"
+. II. Latour, the rear brakeman Of
the freight train. dropped off when the
train was stopped AZ the switch, 10 pro-
tect the rear OF the train, as IL was his
duty to do. Just before the accident he
was recalled by the whistle OF the freight
engine. The automatic signals showed
the track all clear for the passenger
train.
a. o. Cooper. the fireman OF the freight
train. was unable 10 tell about affairs
before the accident. as he was. attending
TO his duties. When the engine struck
he jumped off. The train went about
the length OF the engine before II stopped.
When the cars came 10 standstin he
climbed back and then found the switch
set open into the crossing and the
train stood OH IL. but the signal showed
safety"
The testimony OF George r. Taylor. SUI
perintendent of the Plymouth division.
concluded the inquest.
The freight train. he said. was moving
at rate at which II could have been
stopped almost Immediately. Mr.. Taylor |
said that the rule was for the engineer 10 |
know whether or not switch was set
right
The result OF the inquest will be am
nounced later The Investigation of the |
accident by the railroad commissioners |
will be begun in Boston tomorrow