Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-04

| SlIletT FRANK Ildu TSIIdTkGu 10 Iliitl
| that someone must have run into
them, to which Mr.. Parent had re-
piled that it could not have hit very
hard. After the accident. Mr.. Par
| ent went back to the other end of
the freight train.
Trainman Testihes
| c. T.. Henry, trainman on extra
freight No. 627. testified that he was
fixing hot box So cars from the en-
CINE when he felt the jar. He was
alone, boarded the engine and Mr..
Frank told him that the air was gone
and that there must have been col
| lision.
Testimony Of Conductor
William j. Monahan of Portland,
conductor Of train 627. testified that
the block signal ut $40 appeared to
be working all right. His train was
due to reach Gardiner at 9.08 and the
| accident happened at 9.2S o'clock. He
was fixing a hot box three cars from
the rear of the train when he felt a
| jar. He looked back and saw cars in
| the air.
In answer to a question by Chair
i man Quincy Of the Public Utilities
Commission. the witness testified that
the block signal $40 read Caution
ary."
Did you know that your train was
being followed by extra freight No.
623?" asked County Attorney South
ard.
Yes. did," replied the Witness
when did you last see No. G23 be-
| fore the wreck"
AT Waterville"
what speed is used in going
through yard?"
I'VE are always under control
What was the speed going by
Pittsfield on that day."
Twenty miles an hour"
What was the speed going through
the Augusta yard?"
II can't say exactly, but we we're
| fully under control. | don't thinl, we
were going more than 20 miles al
hour"
"You have rule which requires
brakemen to ride on top Of trains go
ing through yards?'
Yes. but that rule is not always
lived up to-
Rear Brakeman ON Stand
+. L. Potter of Portland. rear brake
man on train No. 627. testified that he
was 20 cars from the caboose helping
the conductor fix a hot box. His du-
ties were to see that tho train was
protected at all times from the train
following.
Continuing, the witness testified
that his left hand was holding up
the soccer OF a hot box, ne felt an
impact as IL his train had started
and he looked up and saw parts of
cars in the air.
! Previous to the accident was a
stop made at Vassalboro to protect
your rear?" asked County Attorney
Sc uthard.
There was" replied the witness.
Fireman Oh Train 623
John j. Mooney of Bangor. e~A-
man on Train No. 623, testified to
leaving Bangor at 1.50 A. NJ, on the
day of the accident with 50 cars
loaded with potatoes and a caboose
He did not see Train 627 after leav-
ing Waterville, ard the thought that
the rails were in good condition OIL
the day of the accidents.
Block Signal SIS was marked
"Cautionery" while Block Signal SO
was marked Danger" continued
the witness" the engineer put down
the brakes hall way between Block
Signals 37S and SIC and then he p /
the brakes in emei gency.
when did you see the rear OF
Train No. 627?" asked County Attor-
ney Southland.
; when the engineer told me tc
jump" replied the witness.
when l jumped I was seven cars
from the caboose." continued the
, witness. Il jumped on the left haad
. side. The engineer said Look and
then he said Jump. My train went
! by Signal Block No. SIS at the rate
of % miles an hour.
Engineer Describes Accident
, David c. Raynor of Bangor, en-
gineer OH Train No. 1913, testified
that his train had so cars and a ca
, loose and all of the cars were load
, ed but four. There was no serious
trouble with the brakes after the
train had left Bangor and he sa,
t Train No. 627 az Waterville ana
knew that it was not very far
ahead of his train. The block sig
raj 57S was marked "Cautionery'
, and his train at this time was pro-
ceeding at the rate of % miles per
hour. He immediatelY slowed down
.. when he saw "Cautionery" on
Block SIS and put on the emergency
brakes when 10 or II cars east Of
Block Signal SO. which was mark
ed Danger" These two block sig
malls are on curves. He felt an i'm
pact and told those on the train to
, jump.
, A recess Of an hour and a halt
vas taken at noon and at the open
ing of the afternoon session the e.
} animation of Engineer Raynor was
) continued.
: Questioned by Inspector Park
man, Mr.. Raynor testified that the
, tain left Bangor with 50 cars and
20 only fnlIr
brakes on the train lot working. but
that was within the limit which &C.
s.gnates that at least IS per cent Of
the brakes must 10 working or the
cars set off.
:, Engineer Raynor declared that he
ordered out the fiagman at all stops,
mis- being his practice unless train
is within yard limits. Back GOO feet
) from Block $50 he could see the
signal set at danger. He said that
on a curve there is trouble in see
ing a block ahead ef the >ngine.
Put on Air Brakes
"Block SIS was set at caution and
about 10 or Is car lengths from
Block $40 threw on the air brakes
he said.
do you think you began to ap-
ply the air brakes soon enough after
| you saw tho caution signal?" asked
Inspector Parkman.
Believing my frakes we're all
right and that one-half of the dis
tarce to the block would be suf-
fcient to stop the train" was the
reply.
Brakes Did Not Hold
II placed the brake in an emer-
gercy position when l saw block gu
vas wrong-at a danger position.