Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-27
Unity Accident Suit
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superintendent Of the Portland Di-
vision for 16 years. Recalled, he
retracted his statement of Wednes-
day afternoon in which he said that
the crossing had no protection prior
to the order of the Public Utilities
in 1917. He said he misunderstood
the question. that the crossing was
then protected as now. by q warn
! ing displayed by the agent or assist
was open. and that the order of the
+. L. was that this should be con-
| tinued.
On cross examination it was
brought out that during the past
year there was three months cam
paign by the railroads of the coun-
try when signs were placed near
crossings. This was a picture of a
| train and automobile in collision,
and the words, Cross Crossings eau
tiously. Mr.. Foster said he could
not say when these signs were
placed or how long they remained
| at the Unity Crossing.
Edgar 7. Whitehouse, recalled by
the defense, stated that he remem-
| befed seeing the sign on the day of
the accident as he was driving TO the
station after it happened. He re-
called noticing the sign and speak
ing of it to his wife. fixing it in his
mind by the picture of the car and
| train. He did not read the letter.
ing.
Herbert Mcintyre, a baggage mas
ter. was on the train the morning
of the accident. special CARRYING
Co. X of Belfast to Burnham june
ton to meet the special troop train
Tor Camp Devcns. Some of the
soldiers were in the baggage car.
and one of them standing in the
door saw the auto approaching and
suddenly the witness, Mcintyre.
heard the emergency brakes and
sitting on soldiers pack, he leapeJ
to the door and saw the automobile
III the air. Witness did not see the
automobile coming. On cross-eX-
aminations he said he felt the light
application of the brakes and their
| release after the train Whistled at
| whistinS post and this was follow
ed by the emergencH. tive or six
seconds later. After the train stop
ped he got out and went to plat
form to look the situation over and
saw Laurence Burril and heard him
Groan. lie could not say just when
l)r. TrueWorthy arrived. lie heard
tho latter when lie did come, ask
tho boy if lie wanted his folks mott
fed and the reply, ".rhcy are all
here
MAYNARD +. Strout. witness. was
in the bagga sc car standing in the
doorway. \ lie saw lhe automobile
approach and realized it would hit
the train. Did not recall the speed
it was travelling if lie noticed it at
the time. It was coming in a
straight course down the road wit II
people in it. JIc did not notice any
thing unusual in their appearance.
Edward Cook. fireman on tho Bel
fast Rranch on July 10Th. was in
his scat in the engine, left hand
side, when he saw the automobile.
called to the engineer and heard him
throw in the emergency brake. lie
thought the machine and train were
making about the same speed, which
he Judged was about 20 miles. The
| train was stopped about it's length
from the crossing. Witness then
turned off the bell which had been
ringing since the whistle blew at
whistling post. fixed his fire and
after taking off and examining the
pilot. went TO the scene of the acct
dent.
On cross-eNamination witness said
they were about two engine lengths
or 40 feet from crossing when he
first saw the machine coming. tThe
speed of the train that morning was
! not oyer 80 miles an hour. Admit
ted he gave it as not over 30 before
| the p. l.. hearing soon after the
accident. Said he saw the engineer
throw in the emergency and later
| retracted this and substituted the
| word heard"
Harry f. Gordon. engineer on
No. $50 that morning. said the
special left Belfast at $40 Sunday.
July III. and arrived at Unity Sta
ton. the scene of the accident at 7.3C
and that this was made in 80 min
utes. Drove 30 miles an. hour, not
faster. The engine handled the
train in good shape that morning
He whistled as usual at the post
applied the air brakes. released
them and when he got the warning,
threw in the emergency. He had
| also started the bell ringing when
he whistled and this was not stop
| ped until after the train had come
| to a stop beyond the crossing. He
| did not stop it then. He was in the
right hand seat looking up the track
! and did not see the automobile. The
latter approached on the left. Wit
| ness had been % years on the rail-
| road and considered he made good
stop that morning.
On cross examination he denied
that he stated before the p. U. COM
mission tfat he had to apply the
brakes several times before he reach
| ed Thorndike to slow down the train
to 40 miles an hour. The counsel for
the defense here raised a ques ton as
to, the accuracy of the stenographic
records and tOok exceptions to the
testimony According to the records
Mr.. Gordan also testified at the p. U
hearing that he thought that the
brakes were dragging that morning
| and that at one place the train ran
on her own momentum for some dis
tav