Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-11
FULL INVESTIGATION
Railroad Commissioners Look
into Rines Hill Collision.
Testimony Taken at Length Bearing
Upon the Incident.
Witnesses Examined Representing
Both Steam and Electric Roads.

The board OF railroad commissioners
were busy, yesterday, investigating the
collision between an electric car and
the Accommodation train at the foot
of Rines hill, Saturday afternoon. A
number of witnesses Were examined
from among the employees of both the
steam and the Electric roads. A num-
Der of Augusta citizens We're in and out
during the day, evincing by their pres
ence their interest in the hearing.
The first witness was Oceola Rob-
bins. the motorman on the car which
was struck on the crossing by the train.
Mr. Robbins has been in the employ
of the Electric Road about - years. He
testified that his car left Grove street
at 5.20. 1t stopped at a point opposite
the Goodrich house to let off some pas
scngers He looked for the signal al
the top of the hill, but the lights Were
not on. The conductor gave two bells
| to go ahead, and he ran the car down
| into the curve near the brow of the
hill where he found that the ball sig
nal at the foot of the hill was down,
giving the steam railroad the right OF
way. ! made every effort to stop the
! car, but was unable to do so. Didn
| SOC that the gates at the foot of the
| hill were down until we got to the ma
| chine shOp.
When the lights are burning at the
| top OF the hill we are ordered to stop.
| When they are not burning, we are
supposed to go to the curve, make
regular stop, and look for the signal
at the foot of the hill. If the ball is UP
the conductor gives two bells and we
| go ahead. If the bail is down We stay
at the curve until it goes up; but on
| this occasion | was unable to hold the
car although the rail appeared as usual.
I had never had much trouble on the
hill before this.
| Conductor George BoyntCn was the
next witness. His testimony was prac-
tically corr1barative Of that given by
Mr.. Robbins.
| William Hallowell. the next witness,
was n motorrlan, who was riding on
the car at the time OF the collision as
was also Herbert G. Lilley, conduc-
tor, who followed him. Both corrobo-
rated the testimony of Motorman Rob-
bins Vital Pickard was the next wit
ness. lie testified that he had been
taking care of the track on Rines hill
for the past five months. 1t was his
business to keep the track clear of snow
and ice, and thoroughly Sanded. On
stormy nights he had remained on the
hill as late as 10 o'clock. The first
thing in the morning he had carefully
sarded the track, beginning at the
bottom and working to the top. He
sanded the track for practically every
car. Mr.. Pickard stated that he was
on Rines hill, early Saturday morning,
end sanded the track. He then went
to work on the Togus branch; but re-
turned Mt a quarter of /. and sanded the
Rines hill track again. He returned
again at $50 for the purpose of again
sanding the track on Rines hill, arriv-
ing in front of the pest Office about the
time Of the accident.
II. W. Clark, Jr.. a motorman, was
the next Witless. He .testified~in eff
feet that he had been in the employ of
the Electric Road IS years. The latter
mart of January he was running a car
from Csartlinerss The lights at the top
| of RinSs hhl, weresl1ots On, and he ran
his car down into the curve where the
usual stop was made. At that time the
ball signal at the foot of the hill was at
safety. The car started down the
hill. when suddenly the ball was lower
ed, and a freight train put in an APP
pearance. Mr. Clark put on his brakes
and brought his car to standstill
nearly opposite Stilkey's stable. The
freight did not go by the crossing, but
s,onped at the water tank. and a mo-
ment later the ball was raised and the
Electric car was permitted to pass the
crossing.
4 O. L. Choate, motorman, testified that
several weeks ago he had brought car
in frcm Winthrop. When he started down
Rines hill the ball signal was at mast
head. Before he reached the crossing a
freight train went by in disregard of the