New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-06

II did not fail to stop. 1t was the train
il has no brakes and it could not stop
Miller testified that on Tuesday morn
ing he failed to see several banjo Sig
nails until within 10 feet of them. Then
he added:
"If there was a precautionary slgnai
ahead Of banjo 9 at Talcotts Crossing
you gentlemen would not be here to-day
He said during mis- ten years as an en-
gineer only twice has superior accom-
panied him on trip.
Miller was not asked for the hours OF
rest he had in the entire week before the
wreck. He was asked about the day pre-
ceding the wreck. and he testified that
he slept only four and a half hours.
Drifting by Signals.
Gilbert A. Robertson, Millers fireman.
correlated his chief. and in answer to
one question, said:
There have been numerous cases OF
passenger trains drifting by banjo sig
nails set al danger. following from two
to eight car lengths. They run trains so
fast that you can't stop them before the
banjo signals always.
How often docs that happen on trains
you have been on?"
"Once A week in foggy weather, but not
on Milers train" he replied.
He said the fasmen on the road we're
not all of the first class.
"Of late he said. I'VE have not had
much trouble with the flagmen. They are
better now. But there are many of them
that we call piazza or platform haGmen.
Murray told his story in straightfor-
ward way.
81 was never given instruction as to my
duties as hagman.' he said, in answer
TO questions. II never took an examina-
ton as fagman. I did pass once Tor
brakeman on freight train. | have
been with the company since September
Of last year. but never had any previ-
Gus railroad experience"
Only Two Coach Lengths.
when your train stopped, where was
the banjo signal
II could not see it. / went back two
coach lengths. about 40 feet, when my
engineer Whstled for me TO come back.
put down two torpedoes, and Was tear
ing OF the rag from the fuse with my
teeth when the White Mountain Express
came down on me- | stuck the fuse into
the ground, hut had TO jump before
could light It,"
Murray said he had no watch. and
never computed time. with the engineer
and conductor. as the book of rules de-
mands.
Don't hagmen on the New Haven carry
watches?"
Not unless they're qualified. I'm not
a qualified nagman."
B. c. Adams conductor on the Bar
Harbor train. testified that he had oc-
casion two months ago TO reprimand Mur-
ray Tor improper tagging. Murray ne
MED this.
Adams was forced to admit that he did
not see 10 IL that Murray went back the
proper distance 20 flag the train. and tina;
il was he who gave the signal TO ms
engineer TO call Murray back after Muir
raw had but time 10 walk 40 feet. accord
ing 20 Murray's own sworn story.
You knew the White Mountain EN-
press was behind and yet you called in
this fagman How did YOU expect MIN
TO do the necessary long hassing?' asked
Chairman McChord.
We'll he is supposed 10 use his own
Judgment when anything is behind said
adams.
n. \. Clark. Pullman car inspector
was asked why ne did not have the air
brakes on tho White Mountain Express
AZ Springfield.
"Re,ause il would take An hour 70
make the repairs. and then We did not
have the facilities" he said
Disabled Trains Sent Out.
He said il frequently happened that
trains with one airbrske disabled were
sent out. provided s. per cent OF the air
brakes were working.
G. II. Morrison. the signal engineer. ad-
mitted the banjo system was poor. and
said he hoped to have 1t replaced with
scmaphores next January. lie said he did
no, know why twenty-five OF the "bsnIos'
on the Springneld-Sta branch were
equipped with cautonary signals while
the rest were not.
G. II. Wildin. mechanical superintend-
cnt, Sdlq the company o"HeN -''"' "V'''"
cars and 81 steel passenger cars. When
the steel cars now ordered will be deiv-
cred Inc could not say.
J. H. Droegc admitted that there were
only eight trainmasters 10 supervise three
thousand roadmen and other employees on
the road lie thought eight enough.
{. l.. Bardo. general manager, said that
since January !, 1912. l5s engineers were
reported for passing danger signals.
Thirty-two OF these were discharged. one
hundred and hfty-eight were repr1manded.
In the same period he received lol COM
plants for improper tagging. or these
twenty-eight we're discharged and the rest
disciplined in other ways.
lie was ordered to produce the minutes
Of the board OF directors OF all meetings
since the wreck of the Federal in 1911.
as Commissioner McChord wants TO know
what was done by the road to carry out
the suggestions OF tho Federal investga-
tors after that wreck.
Murray, the Bar llarbor Express nag
man. was bailed out to-day by Samuel
Hemingway. "A director OF the New Haven
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