Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-05

: the signal. Inc DOCK dnedQ, at the
south end Of siding. was open for US.
Answering Mr. Shelton and Chairman
Cleaves, witness stated that he had some
| times received orders TO how many cars
| he was to pass. Did not depend absolute
| ly on .block system. Would always wait 10
| find out where late regular vas. in
| stead of running by. Should expect and al
| ways did find out about all regulars and
specials, the cars themselves not always be-
| ing marked as to their character or des-
! tination.
| Answering Mr.. Nelson, said he knew it
was the rule not to pass the siding until
! ne regular had come, but the extra vas CT
the usual regular mainline type and TIC
! peculiar circumstances Of III. northhound
! ezra not leaving the light block I'd red led
HIM ssrray he believing the regular TO he
Oh tic siding, with signal clear for bin II
r,oceed.
Al swering Mr. Harrington, he caid that il
wa e rainy day. He had one Of the en-
pny.s go with him to see if the light was
as he stated and others to note conditions
, which made him proceed. In this Ie was
oorroborated by Supt. Cole
Motorman Melvin M. Rankins
| Melvin NJ. Rankins has been a mo-
torman for five weeks and two days,
| including the two weeks he was learn
ing. He was running Car 328 as
| special to Gardiner, taking it at the
car barn. Knew 322 was following.
Entering switch, motorman was sup
| posed to pull cord for conductor to
pull off trolley. I gave the bell, the
conductor pulled the trolley, I know,
| for | lost the power. Knew l was to
wait at Hallowell siding for regular.
Car was ahead of me on siding. Didn't
leave post. but looked around to see
conductor put trolley on and saw No.
| 10 go through. Remarked on it to my
| conductor and raised hand and finger
| to 10, but it was rainy and they
! couldn't see me. Don't know whether
my conductor had time to warn No.
10.
| Answering Mr.. harrington. said the
conductor might have pulled the troll
ley little too late and thus left the
! signal clear for 10.
Conductor Harry w. Douglass
Harry W. Douglass has been con-
ductor for two weeks Took car 32S at
P. NJ, at Gardiner for Augusta car
barn. 1t has special" signs. Is of
mainline type. Understood orders.
Got the bell to pull trolley. so as not
| to cut out the light Am familiar
with light at that switch. Uusally look
back to see if light is right On that
day, rope was wet and slipped and
when ! got trolley back on wire and
! looked back, No. 10 had gone by
! No 10 was going at moderate speed
| and supposed it had orders to proceed
. to Maple street crossing Had not
seen Car No. 322 since we left ,Gardin-
er. Could not have called attention of
! No. HOS conductor, if he had been
on the rear of his car. Knew the rules
about making crossings. The special
car had three Special signs, one on
each side and one in front
Conductor Wallace L. Moore
Wallace L. Moore has been a conduc-
| tor for year last June. Was con-
! ductor of Regular 800, Waterville
bound. Knew No. 32s was ahead
DIDN'T see it. Augusta office said at
3 O'Clock to pass everything, all on
time. Winthrop and regular in street
and knew would cross extra at Hal
lowell siding. No, 322 had stopped at
Vaughan street. Hallovell, and was
going very slowly. 1t was rainy.
This concluded the testimony, Chair
man Cleaves remarking that he had
heard that there had been an accident
but nothing had appeared in the tes-
tlmony to show such fact. Counsel
explained in the same vein, that the
testimony of the injured men would
undoubtedly show that they had been
in the accident.