Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-13
OPERATOR ROY
Tells What He Knows Of
The Carmel Disaster.
Says Freight Sc Passed Be-
fore Hold Order Was Received.
Saw the Train But Supposed II
Shifting Operations.

Shifting Operations.
Newport, Me-, Dec. 1.-THE State
Railroad Commissioners, who have
been investigating the wreck of the
Maine Central freight trains at Car
mel on the night of Nov. q, when one
trainman was killed and five or six
others severely injured, today exam
ined Antonio Roy of Quebec. the OPP
orator at Northern Maine Junction.
who failed to stop one of the trains for
which an order was given, and adj
iourned. Their decision will be an
nounccd later.
Roy testified that he had no knowl-
edge that the train left Bangor ahead
of its schedule time. While busy SELL
ing tickets and answering questions
of passengers, he noticed an engine and
string of cars so by the station seven
or eight minutes before the Bangor
freight was due and supposed they
we're cars being shifted.
When the Watcrville Dispatcher
called him with an order for the Ban
gor train numbered Sc. he looked out
and seeing the headlight OF an engine
believed it to be that of No. Sc.
He put out his red light and took the
order, only to learn afterwards from
brakeman that No. Sc had passed eight
or ~ minutes previously.
rhc Bangor Commercials report OF
Roy's testimony follows:
The witness said his home was in
Quebec. He entered the employ of the
Maine Central Railroad Oct. IS, as
night operator at Northern Maine
Junction. He had four years and half
experience as operator, being employed
both on the Canadian Pacific and In
tercolonial roads in Canada.
The questions to the witness were put
slowly and carefully on account of his
lack of thorough knowledge OF the
English language. The answers were in
broken English and were easily under
stood by those present. He stated that
his duties at the Northern Maine juno
ton office consisted of working the
wire, selling tickets and giving out in
formation to patrons Of the road. He
vas employed at the Junction on the
night Of Nov. u, and on being Qucs-
toned by Mr.. Patten said that train
SIS leaving time out of Bangor was
o'clock. No. SC, he said, was regu-
lar freight AMI never since he had been
at Northern Maine Junction had it left
Bangor ahead of time. On the night III
question. the witness had received no
notice that No. Sc was running ahead
of time.
He WAS engaged in selling tickets and
answering some questions asked by 4
man who had lost train, when look
ing out of the window, he noticed that
a train was passing the station. Looked
at his watch and il was about 91S =. NJ.
Roy stated he thought at the time it
was ono of the yard shifters placing
some freight cars on a siding. At
about 9.25 he was called by the dis
patcher at Watervillc and asked as to
the position Of train &c. Roy said that
he looked out of the window to the east
and saw the headlight OH the track In
the direction of Bangor. He supposed
1t was No. So and wired back to the
operator that "she's coming" The dis
patcher ordered him to copy and after
putting out his red light, he took the
following order: "Train So. Reynolds,
conductor. will meet 364 at Hermon
Pond instead of Etna." Signed c. H.
Priest
Operator Roy stated at the time thu
dispatcher asked him about No. SO. il
was near that trains arriving time
which had been running on its regular
tinlp csl,a t. .t, lao ln Er-
he knew of No. So having run pas
Northern Maine Junction was when 9
brakeman came in and asked him as t.
The reason of the display of the rec
hight. He answered that it was FOL
No. Sc and the brakeman told him thai
the train had gone past the station.
Roy stated that he called the dis
patcher and told him he had made &
mistake and that he had mistaken the
headlight of a shifter for the headlight
Of engine 81. He further stated tina
he had no further orders from the dis
patcher that night.
On being questioned as to the registe,
at Northern Maine Junction his answer
was that No. SO did not stop to register
but that had the train been on it.
schedule inc. the registry slip would
have been thrown off in going past. Be
ing ahead of time, they had the rights
OF an extra train. No. IS did not stol
TO register. Later in the evening, afte
the wreck. he stated that he had look
cd on the tracks ahead of the station
Tor the registry slip and found it be
tween the rails at the western end O
the station.
At this point County Attorney Pattel
attempted to clear up the rumor abroa
mat there was more or less liquor sol
around Northern Maine Junction on tn
night Of the wreck. The county attor
hey asked Roy point blank who ha
sold rum there and received the repl
lrom Roy that he did not know. TIL
witness stated emphatically that he ha
no liquor on that evening and to tn
oest of his recollection there was i
none Of the several restaurants acros
ehe road from the station.
III answer TO question as to his where
Continued on Page Two)
1904