1 A r. whose house was near by, and had just been missed when *nt courred. A PARET HALLAGAN was killed July 23d, near Lonsdale, by the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company while g upon the track. There was no crossing near this place. This xpress train, and the engineer, although he was looking out, ot see the woman, owing to a sharp curve in the road, until the same instant that she was struck, and instantly killed. >dent could not well have been avoided, and it is to be hoped at w prove a warning to those people, living at Valley Falls and wing in Lonsdale, who have been accustomed to using the railroad is a thoroughfare. HARD J. CONLIN was injured July 26th by jumping from a train ne Providence and Worcester Railroad Company, when in motion, Valley Falls. He had started from Providence in the 8:30 P. M. 11, and intended to stop at Central Falls. He fell asleep very shortly er leaving Providence, and after that did not remember anything Pat happened until the next morning. Another passenger on the , a stranger to him, testified that the conductor touched him Shortly after leaving Central Falls and asked him if he was going to he Valley, and then went through the car to attend to his duties. M. Coulin roused up, went out on to the platform and jumped off. the wonder is not that he was injured, but that he lived to tell about it. WILLIAM SNIVELY was injured August 9th, at Bristol, by a train of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad Company. He was in a p cart, standing near the track, conversing with several of his friends. He testified that he heard the whistle of the coming train several minures before the accident, and also testified that he knew the horse was afraid of the cars. Instead of heeding the signal, and moving to a place of safety, which he admitted he had ample time to do, he still remained talking, hence the accident. I took his testimony at his residence and subsequently examined the place of the accident. I found there a tree that materially obstructed the view of the track, which, at my suggestion, the owner promptly removed. Although this accident resulted quite seriously to Mr. Snively, and also resulted in the death of a fine horse, I could not see that a particle of blame tested anywhere else except on Mr. Snively. ARTHUR LEWIS, a brakeman in the employ of the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company, was killed, near Valley Falls, by coming in contact with a bridge. He was on a freight train and was at his post on the top of a car. It was about noon, and his hat had just blown off. Standing on the car, looking towards the rear after his hat, he hit the bridge, was thrown off, run over and killed. HENRY L. KENDALL was injured August 30th by a train of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad Company, while attempting to cross the track on India street, Providence, at the Union Oil Company's Works. He was riding in a buggy, and as he approached the track, he carefully watched the train and could not convince himself that it was in motion. It was a train of thirteen freight cars, backing up from the yard to the Bristol depot. When within about a rod of the track he saw the train was in motion, but had got so far that he could not turn around, and thought it was just about an even chance for him to get across safe, but he was hit by the train, and quite seriously injured. It seems to me that the responsibility of this accident is evenly divided between Mr. Kendall and the Railroad Corporation. He well knew the situation of the buildings at this crossing, how dangerously near they were to the track. On this Railroad Corporation, because the daily practice of backing long trains over India street is full of danger. The engine should always, be upon the approaching end. If it had been so at this time, there would not, probably, have been any accident, for the engineer, seeing the precise position, could almost immediately have stopped the train, but as it was, the signal was passed through three brakemen to the engineer, and the time required to do this caused the accident. I have since visited this place, and carefully examined the surroundings. I have suggested the moving of some small buildings and fences, the work of which is now progressing, and when finished, will render a dangerous crossing comparatively safe. CHRISTOPHER F. MAMWELL was killed September 3d, near the slaughter houses, in Providence, by a train of the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company. It was the hourly train, and coming towards Providence. When first seen by the engineer, he was some six hundred to eight hundred feet off, walking towards Providence, and between the rails of the outward track. When the train was about thirty feet from him, he stepped on to the other track, directly in front of the coming train. The engineer then whistled, blew for brakes, and reversed the engine, but without avail, as the man was hit, and instantly killed. From a nephew of his, I learn that Mr. Mamwell was deranged. The body of JOHN WYLIE was found early on the morning of Sep tember 5th, between Smith and Orms street, Providence, lying within a few feet of the track. He was probably killed on the evening of the 4th, or early in the morning of the 5th. From an examination of the body, his death was undoubtedly caused by a train, although other suspicions were had. Trains of the Boston and Providence, and Providence and Worcester Railroad Company pass over this place, but I could not find any one on either train that knew anything relating to it. FREDDIE BOWKER, a lad about seven years of age, was injured September 17th, near Atwell's Avenue, Providence, in attempting to leave a car of the Union Railroad Company. I did not have a formal investigation of this cause, because I saw the father of the boy and learned from him that the boy was seated in the car, and without notifying either the conductor or the driver, he jumped from his seat, ran on to the forward platform, and jumped off, retaining hold with his hand. He fell under one of the forward wheels, and the car was so promptly stopped that his leg was found still under the wheel. Learning these facts from his father, I did not deem a formal investigation necessary. MARY WELCH was killed September 25th, at Valley Falls, by a train of the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company, while standing upon the track. This, again, was the hourly train coming towards Providence, and the accident occurred about two minutes after leaving the station. When the engineer first saw her, she stood between the rails of that track, facing him, and about two hundred and fifty feet off. He immediately blew the alarm whistle, and continued doing so. She was looking at him all the time, and he, finding she did not move, blowed for brakes, and reversed the engine. When the train neared her, she kneeled down, and clasped her hands, as if in prayer. Her mother testified that she was eleven and a half years of age, that she had the scarlet fever when about three years of age, and her mind at times had been affected, and that there was no doubt in her mind that she did not realize what she was doing at the time of .the accident. THOMAS OSBORN was injured October 24th, at Warren, by a train of the Fall River, Warren and Providence Railroad Company, while lying side of the track. This accident happened about 9.25 A. M., near the station. When first seen by the engineer he could not satisfy himself what the object was, but as soon as he saw it was a man, he blew the whistle, and rang the bell. The steam was shut off, and had been for a minute or so, as they were nearing the station, and were to stop. The man did not pay any attention to the signals, but remained there, and the train was stopped as soon as possible. The engine passed him without hitting him, but one of the steps of a car inflicted quite a serious injury. After the accident he could not explain how he got hurt, or how, or when he came to Warren. From other testimony, from persons who saw him before the accident, I do not think there is any doubt but what he was partially deranged. MRS. ANN WORTH, injured October 28th, on Orms street, Providence, in attempting to get off a car of the Union Railroad Company. This was Sunday night, nearly eleven o'clock. She got into the car at Market Square, and did not say anything to the conductor about stopping. When she saw that the car had passed the place where she intended to stop, she left her seat and motioned to the conductor to stop. The car was stopped perfectly still. Her testimony was that the car started again before she was on the ground, while the testimony of the conductor was that she got off while the car was stopping and before it had stopped. November 8th, a brakeman in the employ of the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad Company was injured, near Pontiac, but upon finding it a very slight injury, did not deem a formal investigation necessary. PATRICK MAHONEY was injured November 10th, on Market Square, Providence, by a car of the Union Railroad Company, he being in a wagon and attempting to drive across the track. His own testimony was that he had crossed the track into a place that was very narrow between the track and the curbing, so narrow that his forward wheel was up against the curbing, and his horse on the sidewalk. He saw the car coming, and "while I was trying to get out of the way, I went a little mite in a see-saw way, moving sometimes a little ahead, and sometimes backing a little." The testimony of the driver of the car was that his horses were walking all the time; saw him drive across the track; saw his horse stop; saw that the car would clear him about a foot. When the car was passing the team, the horse in the team. backed, and continued to back until the hind wheel of the wagon hit the guard on the forward end of the car, cramping the wagon so that it tipped nearly over. In substance this testimony agrees, and although there were several other witnesses, it seems to me these are the full facts of the case. FRANK ROWDEN slightly injured November 22d, on Spring street, may entertain the various opinions as to the location, establishing and conducting the school, to waive something of their preferences and to endeavor to unite on some common basis, so that this great charity may not be indefinitely postponed through the dissensions of its friends rather than by the opposition of the few who may oppose its principle. The committee would respectfully ask leave to present the accompanying resolution: RESOLVED, That the sum of twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated for the purchase of the location for the State Industrial School, situated partly in the city of Providence and partly in the town of North Providence, as recommended by the joint special committee appointed at the May Session of the present Legislature, for that purpose; said sum to be expended under the direction of —; and the State Auditor is hereby directed to draw his order on the General Treasurer for said amount, as may direct, payable out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; provided, that the title to the said estates be approved by the Attorney General before the payment of any money therefor. A. O. BOURN, ALLEN GREENE, Committee. |
