Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-16
ENTIRE BLAME
OF Accident on B. & A,
At GrindStone, Me-,
Placed on Conductor Dlbblee
And Dead Engineer 6arcelon,
'GrossIyReckless Disregard Of Duty
Criminal GareIessness."

Roctland, Me, Aug. 15.-The entire
blame for the collision of passenger
trains at Grindstone on the Bangor &
Aroostook Railroad on the night of
July 2S, by which eight lives we're
lost and % persons We're injured, was
placed upon Engineman F. w. Garce-
Ion, who was killed, and Conductor
II. G.. Dibblee, who was in charge of
the excursion train, in unanimous
report signed today by the State
Board Of Railroad Commissioners
Their acts. according to this report,
constituted grossly reckless disre-
gard Of duty, amounting to criminal
earelessness and were the sole cause
OF the accident"
The collision was between regular
passenger train No. from Van Bu-
rem To Bangor and second section of
No. :. running from Searsport to Car
ibou with an excursion party. Tie fire.
man on No. and the engineman and
fireman on second No. and five pas
sengers on the latter train were killed.
The report in part was as follows:
We find that the accident was eaus-
ed by want of reasonable care and
prudence on the part Of Conductor
Dibhlee and Engineman Garceion of
second No. :. Train No. S was clearly
within her rights in leaving Grindstone
when il did. and it was plainly the du-
ty OF inferior No. to keep out of the
way 1t appeared after the accident
that the brake on engine No. was in
the emergency and there is nothing
to show that the engineman on No.
did not dc the best he could when he
suddenly came upon the opposing train
and found that the accident was inevi-
table. No blame can be attached TO
Conductor Chester Nutter OF Engine
man VIM Orr or any other member OF
the train crew of No 8.
"The acts and conduct of Dibblee
and Gcrcelon. as developed by the
testimony ard shown in the statement
of facts. were in violation of rules
with which they We're familiar, const-
tulea grossly reckless disregard OF
duty amounting to criminal careless
ness. and were the sole cause of the
accident.
Conductor Dibblee admits it was
late when he left Millinocket station
and other testimony tends to show
that $50 was the leaving time Tor
No. 8. giving second No. 10 minutes
in which to clear the main track be-
fore No. S was due to leave Grindstone
Conductor Dibblee did not know
whether M. 8 was on time and he
made no inquiry. No in fact, left
Grindstone according to the testimony
nh 40 seconds
lote Dibhlee did not communicate nor
attempt To communicate with Engine
man carcelcn after leaving Millinock-
ct, nor in any way attempt TO c"htro'
The movements Of the train
He says that Garcelon told him ~
Millinocket that he could make GRIND
stone all right and that he relied upon
his Judgment. No attempt was ma lie
Ia take Bowdoin siding, although II
was their right 10 go in at the cross
over switch just beyond SeoodicI
stream Junction TO clear the opposing
train.
"Dibhlee testified that at sos he
first thought that they might be III
danger. vet he did not pull the bell
cord nor give any signal to the en-
einenan to reduce his speed. nor to
stop and flag.
He SAYS the train with its 10 pas
sengers attained the speed of TO miles
an hour. or a little better and main
tanned If for the entire distance from
MiIinocket to the point OF collision
And vet while making this mad run
under the unfavorable conditions then
existing through the darkness and the
storm although the train was fully
equipped with crew and signals, moth
ing whatever was done for its protec-
ton.
"The collision occurred AS feet
south of the south switch crossing at
Grindstone. a few seconds after $40
o'clock. Pullman Conductor Foge says
that he looked at his watch immedi-
ately after the impact and it was then
s11. Engineman Garcelon's watch was
produced in evidence. stopped at
9:10;O5. Conductor Nutter's telegraph
report of the accident gives the Tune
as gil, while Conductor Dibblee's re-
port states the time as 9:o9:1O. We
believe from the evidence that the en-
CONTINUED on Page Twelve)