The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-09-29
From Sundays Daily.

Blame Tor the head on collision a
Toungs Point, Friday morning whel
the Burlington connection aud an ex
ira freight met, killing seventeen
outright, injuring three SO they diet
At the hospital and hurting nine, wa,
placed on the crew Of the freighl
train by the c%oroner's jury, which re.
turned q verdict last might.
The verdict declares that the
freight train 9 were running on
time allowed the passenger train and
thus caused the accident
The court room at the city hall
was thronged all day yesterday while
the inquest was in progress. County
Attorney Wilson and Stenographe1
Alex Mitchell represented the state,
while Attorney John Brown of Helena
appeared for the Northern Pacific
railroad company. General Superin-
tenddent Goodell, Superintendent Mic
hols Of the Northern Pacific, and Nat
than Godfrey and safety Appliance In
lspector Ross OF the state railroad
commission were present at the hear
ing and Mr.. Goedfrey frequently ask
sd#the witnesses questions.
There was a Discrepancy shown in
me testimony Of the freight crew and
"a 4 the passenger train crew, the for
Mer asserting that the accident hap
fened about 1858, while the passen-
ieer Grew declared that 1t was after
3 O'Clock.
The First Witness.
s@.s Engineer willard smith Of the
extra freight was the first witness
before the jury. He says that his
Grain passed Park City at 7:43 o'clock
and arrived at the east entrance 70
the siding at Young's Point at 1856.
He says he realized that No. 16, must
De close and 80 he sent the head
brakeman ahead to flag It and he saw
htm running ten "a lengths away
Nth q lighted fusee. He said he
could have made the siding had the
passenger been on time.
Conductor Hicket Of the wrecked
freight testified along similar lines
and said that when the freight reach
cd the siding It was 1855 O'Clock.
Ffreman Phillips pf THE freight
train says he saw No. 16 approach
ing when he reached the switch to
throw 1t and permit the freight to
take q siding. The freight had over
run the switch just a trifie. He says
he thought 16 was going to stop and
he stood at the switch, but when he
aaw 9 collision could not be averted,
he got out Of the way.
j. r. Paulle the head brakeman
said that he ran ahead to flag No. 16,
realizing that 1t was very close. He
declared that he lighted his fusee and
reached a point about 80 car lengths
from the east switch when No. 16
went past him and he shouted at the
engineer and threw q torpedo at the
cab window when he saw that an &C.
cident could not be averted, he said,
he ran into the weeds and turned his
head Al he did not want to see It.
Then after the collision he returned
to the wreck.
w. e. Snyder OF Livingston, the
OF the conductor II they had time to
Of the conductor IL they hal time to
make the siding when the train pass
ed through Park City as he some
what doubted It. The engineer and
he then discussed It and the conduc-
tor asserted that there was sufficient
time. He said that it was 1853 O'Clock
when the accident occurred. After It
occurred he went back to flag any
other trains.
1eisinger Testlfies.
Joseph Beisenger, engineer on the
passenger train, told his story in a
clear and concise manner. AS he sat
In the chair his hands trembled and
there was g look Of fear In his eye.