Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-02-14
COMMISSION INVESTIGATES.
State Board Fixes Responsibility for
Railroad Accident.

A hearing BY the state board of railroa,
commissioners was held al south ROYAL
ton req d, 10 investigate the causes OF IN,
head-on collision Of the north,
bound passenger and mail train due al
south hoyalton al 2;20 p, m, and a freight
extra on running orders on the Central
vermont railway Jan, rs, in which Engin-
eet John Holland aud M. L, Arlington
mail clerk, and l., Larsen, fireman OF tht
passenger train, were seriously injured, q
cattle ON the Height train were Killed aud
rams were delayed i've hours. After 1
thorough Investigation, the commission
lounl The accident due 10 the disohedlenct
OF orders governing the running OF extras
oy the crew u the freight train.
lie state was represented by ATTORNEY
General Clarke G, Pitts aud Il. n, Buck
states attorney for Windsor county n
which the accident occurred, aud tht
central Vermont railway by C. W. Writers
attorney The members OF the commits,
sion, j. W, Redmond, T., h, Porter anC
,. H. Jackson, were all peFsent, Thu
hearing began at ap, IN, aud lasted unit
10 p, IN,
The commissioners and attorneys eX,
amlned nine witnesses, employees, In be-
hall Of the railroad company, OF whom
Fred Bronson, engineer, Charles Campbell
fireman, George Claiborne. brakeman OF
he freight tram; John O'Day, conductor
l., Larsen, fireman, Vim, Pelton and X. l.
RAYMOND, brakemen OF the passenger
train, and A, W. Bohonan, station agent
at South Royalton, were the most impor-
tant, The conductor of the freight train
failed 10 answer the summons TO testify
Fred Bronson testified that the freight
train was running on orders from 81
Aleans to White River Junction aud re-
eeiyed orders, after leaving st, Albans, at
Essex Junction, Montpelier Junction and
koNhury. The order at RoNbury was 10
run 10 White River Junction. lie testified
he could have received orders from Con-
dnctor Prentiss after leaving Bethel, IL he
had given them, to stop the train. He
said that they left Bethel at 2;l6, knowing
the leaving time OF the passenger train
from South Royalton TO be 2:30 p. M, but
relied on reaching South Royalton or near
enough TO the station to flag the mail train
II 1t had arrived, and claimed he had a
right to do so, using his five minute lee
way, but did not think he would have
time to sidetrack the train, which the
orders require by the five minute leeway
rule. He further testified that he reached
the place OF the accident at 2:2S. Other
witnesses OF the freight crew eorroborated
his testimony.
Conductor John O'Day testified that he
left South Royalton station at 2:30, his
scheduled time, and had no notice OF au
extra reaching South Royalton. His testi-
mony was corroboratei by the station
agent at South Royalton, both testIfying
that they compared their timepieces.
six witnesses, citizens of the village,
testified to the condition of the trains
after. the wreck aud concerning the in-
iured cattle and those killed in the freight
train. All the trainmen who were wit
nesses were questioned as to their knowl.
edge OF the rules OF running trains.
As result OF the investigation the COM
missioners found the freight train crew
guilty OF disobeying an order governing
the running OF extra trains, thereby caus-
ing the accident. A warrant was issued
against +. f. Bronson, engineer OF the
freight, and he was arrested Thursday at
ST. Adams and taken to White River
junction for a hearing He waived exam
ination and was placed under bonds OF
$500 to appear in county court. A warrant
was issued for the arrest OF Conductor
Prentiss OF the freight train, but he could
not be found
1t is unfortunate for the two men re-
sponsible for the accident. The conduc.
tor and engineer are both young and have
families. They relied partly upon fast
running, which it appears they made, as
the engineer said he left Bethel at 2:l6,
arrived at Royalton, five miles, at 2:25, and
at the place OF the accident at 2:2S, and
said he was slowed up TO four or five miles
an hour where the collision occurred. He
was expecting the passenger train to be
late as 1t had been every day before for g
week. He fully expected to pass the dan
ger point, knowing, however, that he was
important rules OF the road. He
risked and lost. The rules hold the con-
ductor and engineer equally responsible in
such cases.
The injured are doing we'll, John Hol-
land was hurt the most seriously, having
his collar bone and ribs broken and seri-
Gus cuts on the head; the mail clerk, arm
broken near the shoulder and injured in
will both recover very probably.
Fireman Larsen, shoulder dislocated, has
recovered. The trainmen of the passenger
train did not see the approaching train
until II was close upon them. Ii was at u
point OF sharp curve and the engineer of
the passenger train was looking out of the
window on outside Of the curve, the fire.
man being busy. The conductor OF the
freight had sent brakeman out onto the
front of the engine to flag the passenger,
ana the engireer had put on emergency
orapes, but the trains came together with
terrible force. The engineer, fseman and
head brakeman of the freight jumped
from the engine and were not injured.
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