Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-06
Did not know any person by the name
Of William Barstow.
At 1880 P. NJ a recess was taken.

|
for the afternoon.
The first witness called was Charles
T. Vose. a civil engineer. who drew a
plan Of the wreck. The witness identl-
flied the plans in evidence as the plans
drawn under his directions. One plan
scaled so feet to an inch and the other
scaled five feet to an inch. Both plans
were on the same sheet
The witness, when he reached the
scene Of the accident, found wheel
marks on the ties west Of the crossing
and found marks on the edge of the
bolt heads of the inside rail of the
curve. The first mark noticeable was
on the tie nearest the south rail on
the inside Of the tie. 1t was made by
the lange of the wheel. These marks
continued on every tie until the fange
Of the wheel struck the crossing plank.
breaking off the head of one OF the
spikes.
The first mark was about foot and
a half to the west of a joint in the
rail. The next rail showed no indica-
tions Of having been moved. Witness
found that the gauge and elevation OF
the track were good. The track was
well surfaced.
| STOSS-eAdiilIieu, tne WltHtSS ooiu
that he arrived at the scene of the ac-
cident at 3.15 p. NJ Tuesday. Witness
had shown on the plan the point where
the first trace of the wheel had been
| discovered.
This point was about seven feet
from the planking of the crossing. The
first bolt struck by the wheel was at
the joint in the rail. Nothing had been
l =. <,ff
cident For about another rail length
toward Waterville Is feet beyond the
crossing no change had been made. A
rail is 80 feet in length. The crossing
plank is 16 feet long The next rail east
of the crossing had been supplied with
several new ties.
The radius of the curve is about 1000
feet. This is about degrees and 81
minutes. The scene of the accident is
2 1-3 miles from Oakland and 140O feet
from Rice's bridge The grade is 40
to the mile. The grade is either level or
40 feet to the mile from Oakland to be-
low Rice's crossing.
Minot E. Rowe testified that he lives
at Rice's crossing. He was near fence
at the time of the accident. Witness
did not see the train until the train
stopped. Heard whistle blow. Could
look back into the cut and see the
train as it lay there. Went to the scene
of the wreck. Looked under the car at
the crossing and saw marks on the ties.
The rails were apparently all right at
the crossing. The witness was working
on the north side Of the track, east of
the carriage road.
Cross-examined witness said that the
1 fvof In Gso<
speed" When witness arrived the last
car was on the crossing and the one
ahead had gone over the crossing
On redirect by Attorney Carter the
witness said that he did not notice any
trouble until the whistle of the loco
motive was blown.
Questioned by Chairman Peaks, wit
ness said he saw no one in a wagon
on either side Of the track. Witness
said he was about four telegraph poles
distant from the locomotive when the
train stopped.
J. Howard WEIGH Of Waterville was
sworn. Questioned by Attorney Clair,
he stated that he had made an exam
nation OF the tracks. He had seen the
portion of the track east Of the cross
ing. Witness picked up several pieces
i
was about two car lengths east of the
crossing. Witness took away a piece
of a tie which was rotten.
"What kind of wood was that"
asked Attorney Carter.
1T might have been spruce" replied
the Witness amid q general laugh.
F. Z. Moore was sworn. Wat at the
scene at about 3.45 P. NJ. The two rear
cars blocked the crossing Picked up a
piece of sleeper. 1t was decayed.
II didn't find hardly a decent Sleep
err under the whole wreck"
| The witness went over 500 feet
'The specimen 1 had l could pull the
spike out with my finger. The specimen
| had l should say was IS inches long"
| "YOu think the tie was rotten?'
'This was the rottenest l have ever
seem" replied the witness emphati-
cally.
Later the commissioners had an OPP
portunity of examining the portion of
the railroad tie which Mr.. Moore
brought away from the wreck.
| w. p. Steele Of New York of the
American Locomotive Co.. had been
called to Maine since the accident and
had examined locomotive No. $50 The
brake rods had been bent and straight
ened. Witness rode the locomotive No.
$50 from Portland to Waterville Tues
day. Considered it smooth running
engine. It's weight was 10000 pounds.
/ No. $50 is not so much a high speed
engine as an engine to carry a heavy
passenger train at a good speed; to
make the time without excessive speed.
Witness considered the tank of No. $50
a very steadily riding tank. Had not
Ioxamincd seen Of accident. When cars
are derailed on htc inside Of the curve.
the locomotive has nothing to do with
the accident.
| Cross-examined. the witness said
that No. $50 is about four feet longer
than the next smaller engine owned by
the Maine Central.
II have never known Of derailmcnt
on the inside of a curve owing to cx-
ccssive high speed said the witness.
| Commissioner ChadbourEe asked
Conductor Hathaway as to the make
up of the train
| Conductor Hathaway said that the