Now state, Mr. Pearce, how this accident occurred. We were going along, I should judge, about forty-five miles an hour. I will preface it by saying that the roadmaster was very careful all the way coming up, and I had no reason whatsoever to fear any lack of duty in warning me of any such place; we were going about forty-five miles an hour, and I had to look out for my water; it was getting a little dark; we were going west; of course it cast a shadow and I could not see the water glass; after losing a little time that way I tried my gauge cocks; when I got through with that I looked up and I saw this St. Paul train; that is the first intimation I had of the crossing. What did you do then? I shut off and put on the brakes. Right off, did you? Yes, sir. You struck this train as described? I struck a train; yes. Did you do everything in your power to prevent that accident? Yes, sir; I don't see how I could do anything more. Commissioner Rinaker: Tell exactly what you did do? A. I shut off and put the air on. How far were you from the train, in your judgment, when you did that? I should say in the neighborhood of 600 feet when I saw it, and I would say right here about the speed, that that speed, down grade, would require about a thousand feet to stop; it has been proved by the Burlington tests. Mr. Dawes: What became of you, do you know? A. I only know that from hearsay. I know I was knocked off the engine and they got me up; I was leaning against the drivers, they told me, laying up against the drivers; the engine jumped the track, I understand; I don't know; I didn't remember anything until the next morning. Is your sight good--your eyesight? Yes; I think my sight is normal, with my glasses. You can see at a distance, can you, as well as ordinary individuals? I think so. In reference to your hearing? Well, I am hard of hearing in a room, but I am not hard of hearing on an engine. Had you received any warning before coming to this crossing, as far as you remember of it? No. It is fair to say that the roadmaster says he warned you; I say that in justification of him. He says he did. You did not hear any notice; that is what you swear, isn't it? I did not hear him. Are you, in your own judgment, from your education and experience, both in study and on the road, capable of running a locomotive engine? On such a train as that, yes; it is a branch road, and there are comparatively few trains; I would not care about going on a main line. Cross-examination by Mr. Sullivan: Who was the pilot who was furnished you? A Mr. Seegers, the roadmaster.