The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-24

fdCt lnaL lney COuIuH Ne IedCuSu
from North Bennington. Mr. Sibley's
memory forsOCk him when he tried to
recollect whether il was before the
wreck of September 7, or after, that
he had received this telephone mes
sage.
J. B. Whitaker of Rutland, fireman
on the milk train that was wrecked,
and who is still on crutches as he
result OF his injuries, testified that
the milk train was late coming out OF
Rutland on the night of the wreck
and that at the time of the collision
the train was running between 80 and
40 miles an hour. He had only time
to brace himself when he saw the
other train coming and said he re-
membered that the engineer put on
the brakes. This was about Z 80.
He said the train always stopped at
North Bennington, where the crew
were supposed to register. He was
not certain as to just how far within
the yard limits. the train was at the
time of the collision, but should say
about 200 feet.
There was some discussion as to
just where the yarG limit is fixed
ana as to the restrictions on the
speed of a first class train. after it
comes within the yard limit. This
question was referred to Sup
erintendent S. S. Cotton, who
could find no restriction in the
book of rules on the speed of first
class train after it is within the yard
limit. The yard limit was finally To-
Gated at a point north of the town
farm crossing.
l.. s. Durfee, telegraph operator at
North Bennington took the stand
next and testified that he remember
ed the occasion of the telephone mes.
sage that Mr.. Sibley had spoken of in
his testimony. He could not say eX-
actly when it was, but thought it was
on a Sunday night soon after the &C
cident The message had come
through Manchester and he under
stood it was from the dispatcher at
Rutland. He said he communicated
with Mr. Sibley between $3.50 and
9.45. On this occasion, the milk
train was late and the Troy local
was scheduled TO leave at $3.50 He
said the same rule applied on sun
day as on week days, that the milk
train being a superior train, had the
right of way lie said on other oc-
casions he had called Mr. Sibley by
| telephone at his house, but could
| give no definite dates He said the
| milk train had TO register at North
| Bennington and could not leave with
out an order or clearance card.
u ba fnanuiya~ nf n clearance card
was then explained by Mr.. Redmond in
response TO question by II. J. Cole
IA cleasance card can be issued only
by a operator and states merely that
there is no change in the regular
schedule
Mr. Durfee was the last witness
and w. T White, the photographer,
explained some of the pictures OF the
wreck to the members of the com
mission.
The hearing on the petition of the
| citizens for the correction of certain
| methods in the management of the
| local railroad station and other
matters. which was forwarded to the
public service commission by a com
mittee from the board of trade, act
! ing under the vote of instructions Of
the public meeting of Sept 49, was
J held in Progressive headquarters, yes
! terday afternoon following the public
investigation of the morning. Daniel
Guiltinan appeared for the petition
ers, +. w. Lawrence for the Rutland
Railroad co and r. +. Healy for the
Vermont Company, the latter beng
! involved because it operates the tiol-
ley line crossing the steam road on
Main street.
After the meeting was called to or.
der. Mr. edmond took up the issues
\ in the petition, which calls attention
to the absence of gates at the Dewey
and soldiers home crossings. to the
fact that the local railroad station is
closed after the departure of the Sis
train and that there is no operator
at the station after the departure of
the els train in the evening.
The petition requests that some
| method Of protection be adopted at
the crossings mentioned, that
some proper official be installed at
the local station until after the arri-
val and departure of all night
| trains, that the station be kept open
for the accommodation of the public
for the same period and that hereaf-
ter no train on the Bennington
branch be run with the coach at
tached directly to the locomotive
After reading parts from this pc
tition Mr.. Redmond read the answer
of the Rutland Railroad to the petit
I ton, which is as follows:
The Rutland Railroad Company, by
Edwin w. Lawrence. its Attorney.
| appears and makes answer to the said
petition as follows.
II admits that it is a railroad cor
! poration operating in the village OF
Bennington and crossing highways in
said village as described in said pc
tition
II denies that public safety requires
that it should maintain gates, fagmen
or other. signals for the protection OF
the travelling public or the safe op-
GRAFTON of its trains at said CROSSINGS
OF any Of them.
Il admits that no telegraph or tcle-
phone operator is employed or kent
atthe station in Bennington between
the hours Of els p. m. and 7.2O a. m.