Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-25

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 Coroner Arthur G. Bili-was engaged here Wednesday in practically an all-, day session at which he took evidence; in an inquest, relative to the railroad wreck at Pomfret in which four men were killed three weeks ago and a fifth lost his life while the tracks were being cleared, early the aanext evening.
 The testimony of the following rail-- road men was taken during the day: Engineer Herbert Cook of the first To- comotiNe of the double-header freight A B. f. which crasheda into the rear end of extra freight 3200; Edward B. Lloyd, fireman of the second locomo- tive in the double header freight: En- gineer William J. Daniels of Extra 3200, Conductor Leo " Pritchard of the double header freight, c. L. Pierce and Jacob Lavine. the latter a train man on the double header. Engineer Cook, who was injured in the accident gave his testimony to the coroner at the hospital
 Interesting statements brought out at the inquest were that on the night Of the accident trains were being Fun between Willimantic and Putnam with out any blocking arrangement. as all telegraph offices between the two points mentioned were closed.
 It was stated that the double header freight, before leaving WiHimantic received what is known as a close-in order. in which the fact was set forth that there was another train ahead of their train and that they were to pro- ceed with caution
 Extra S2OO, the first freight, left Villimantic about 1 a. m. This train be,11 l1t- giant locomotives, No. 3200. that have been recently introduced on this di-' vision. Two stops were made between Willimantic and North Windham be- cause of trouble with the self-stoking apparatus of the big engine The first stop was of about 20 minutes. All proper precautions were taken to guard the rear of the train. The secondastop was of about 10 minutes, after the fire man had unnecessarily tried to stoke the big engine by hand At, the time of this stop the trouble with the stok- ing mechanism was discovered and remedied and the train proceeded to- ward Putnam.
 A B. 4, the double header freight left Nillimantic about 2.05 or q little more than an hour after the other freight. This train was drawn by two locomotives and had the close-in or der showing that there was another train in the same block This train came along without incident.
 On the down grade between the sta tons in Abingdon and Pomfret the brakes were repeatedly applied on this train to keep it's speed well under con- trol and the speed was kept down to approximately Is miles an hour.
 Near the Pomfret station the brakes were released to give the train q start down the grade, so as to be able to make the upgrade just beyond and the speed had increased to between 20 and p miles an hour when the train crashed into the rear of No. 32OO. which was laboring up the grade at, slow speed.
 The hearing also was featured by. the statement of Trainman Jacob La=. vine, who was in the 1caboose of the double-header freight, that between Abingdon and Pomfret their train was passed by another freight, west bound for Hartford. This train Lavine de- scr1bed as "the other side of the job" the train running opposite to theirs each night and that someone on that. train waved the customary recognition signal as the train ran past AB 4s cabooSe. LaVine was not certain that eeS SAo tieIlleu having passed Extra 32O0, as they should have done on doI ble iron, according to the New Haven operating rules, it was said at the nearing. Lavine said he of course. was not able to tell if the man who waved at the westbound freight as. he passed the caboose als, had waved and given the notion signalling an other train ahead to the engineers on his train.
 Coroner Bill had not completed his inquest at adjournment Wednesday, Other witnesses will be heard Friday. among them, probably, members of inc crew of the westbound freight that passed the two trains that figured in. the wreck within very few minutes before the crash.