The morning call., 1891-06-19
GROSS NEGLIGENCE.
Moore and Collins Responsible
for the Accident.
The Engineer Breaks Down in His Testi-
mony and Cries Like a Child He
Wanted Collins to Fun Away.

knowing this, Why did you take your
train onto the main line aud cause dis
astcr In which fellow workman lost his
Ife?"
The questloner was Coroner Curry Of
Contra Costa, the questioned Robert ii.
Moore, engineer Of the graYel-train which
collidcd with the Los Angeles express near
Port Costa on last Monday
The last query rather staggered Moore,
who had been extremely nervous through
cut the examination. He cast a hurried
glance around the room, as if for a look Of
sympathy, then burst into tears. Twelve
stOiid jurymen gaztd cOldly upon the mans
agony, and looked as if they were wonder
ing how an engineer who had lived at the
throttle fer ten years, and faced death
hundred times, could cry.
Between sobs which shook every fiber Of
his frame. the man managed to articulate,
i don't know"
After a few minutes he grew calm and
Coroner Curry proceeded with the inquest
held over the remains of W. j. Jordan yes
terday afternoon at Port Costa, for which
tue following jurors were sworn: Stillman
Rowland, James Carol, William Cash
man, J. Twomey, a. d. Smith. William
Young, ". H. Reckley, Paul Beda. j. Nc
CIoskey. William Bartlett and Daniel Bar
lett.
ENGINEER MOORE.
Engineer Moore was tie first witness
sworn, and his further testimony was sub
stauualIy as follows: l have lived at Oak
land for fifteen years; am unmarried and
reside with my parents. I knew the de-
ceased, Jordan, about tNo weeks. last
saw bin alive on June 18th. between 9:45
and go o'clock in the forenoon. He was
riding on my engine when the two trains
struck, and was crushed between the cab
aud tender. We arrived at Port Costa at
e.17 and | knew the express was due at
$40 Was working on the riSht-hand side
Of MY engine and out OF sight OF t1e track
over which is must have passed. l heard
1raiu pass which / have since learned was
switch tram. l thought that It was tie
express. and after UIlIng up got on the cab
and Whistled for a signal Jordan was
standing al the switch and had It open.
got signal 10 20 ahead from bOtl The con-
5UctOr am rear brakeman, and then pulled
cut on t. the main line. The wreck Oc-
Cured through the CaTeleSSDesS OF the con-
GuctOT and mySe 1.
Upon cro>s-eXamnation by one Of the
Jurors, Engineer Moore repeated his tes-
JIuuuy al least dozen times. lie was re-
Ieatedly asked such questions as these:
Does your mind ever take excursions,
Nlr. MO0TeP ''D0 you know pasSen-
ger train from one made up Of freight
cars?" etc. Moore was fairly bursting with
rage, but he answered all queries ID most
geulemauIy manner.
WHERE THE BLAME RESTS.
Finally the Coroner stopped this line of
Questioning and called 10 the stand Cyrus
laTue the gTaVel-tTaln fireman, Wh0 after
being duly sworn, testified that he lived In
Oakland and had zen three years IN the
employ Of the Southern Pacific. He knew
rs-AH 0t-hD
EetUeT. DId EOt know what time the gravel
train arrived al Port Costa Outhe 18th Inst,
or what time No. Is was due. Had talked
with Moore since the accident, and he
(MoCTe admitted that the blame should rest
upon himself and the conductor. Conductor
Collins Ead also said to HIM the same thing.
IS. G. Lister, ITaln-dlspatcheT 1t Oakland
Pier was the next witness called. lie had
been in the employ OF the Southern Paclhe
for tWeny-One years, and issued orders to
Collins and Moore on the morning OF the
18th % run from Port Costa to Avon, avoid
Ing regular trains. Mas sure they received
these orders at 9.26 on the morning ~ QueS-
ton. Tie express train left Martinez three
minutes late.
ALL THEIR FAULT.
Conductor Collins was sworn and testi-
fed as follows: l have been three years In
the employ Of the 5 utheTn Pacific Com
lany. Was promoted to conductor about
SIX weeks ago. Was with the Northern
Pd-IhC for three years and have a good
record. Knew deceased. Jordan, for
three weeks, and last saw him alive at 50
minutes past 9 O'clock on Monday, June
18Th. Al that time he was walking toward
the head of cur train, while we were walt
Ing for orders in the yard at Port Costa.
Arrived al Port Costa on the morning II
question al 9:17. Asked for orders and got
tlem, IGen told the operator to register me
cut when No. Is had arrived. Went TO
NY train, but forgot all about the Los An
geies express. l bore a message to Engi-
IeeT Moore from 1aTdmaster Cameron
concerning the strewing Of gravel about
the yard by stopping too suddenly, but
Moore did not seem angry or excited. a
man IN Tower could have certainly pre-
vented the accident The engineer could
not have. pulled out without a signal from
me. / gave the signal TO 60. Don't know
why L did il. We forgot eyeryt thing. 1t is
al! our fault.
THAT DESERTED TOWER
Don Cameron, yaTdmaster at Port Costa,
was the next to testify. BE was questioned
by the Coroner, concerning the tower service
and running time OF trains IN the Port
Costa yard. He did not know Jordan and
told about sending word TO Moore by Col
inns concerning the strewing OF gravel
about the yard,
Coroner-Are main line trains allowed to
run through this yard at full speed2
Nltness-Ihere is no order which CON-
lctS Etm 10 SLOW QOhu 1 LIE time CdTu
only specifies that they shall run with care.
Cor0ner-Did the accident Of Monday
happen within the limits Of the Port Costa
yard?
Witness-Yes, sir.
CoTOneT-Did you ever recommend to
Superintendent Wilder that a rule be en-
acted regulating the speed of trains run
ming through your yard TO seven miles an
hour?
Witness-I may have said something of
that kind
Curoner-H0w do you understand with
care found on the time card, as applied to
trains approaching this station?
NltneSS-l understand the engineer must
use his own judgment.
Coroner-Would you consider twenty
miles an hour as approaching with care?
Witness-That depends, sometimes and
sometimes not.
Coroner-What are the towers in this
yard for?
Witness-For signal purposes, but they are
only used during the wheat season when
there is a great deal of switching.
Cameron stated in conclusion that he
heard a conversation between Collins and
Moore concerning the time OF No. IS, a few
minutes before they Hft Port Costa Station
on Monday last.
WILL STAND THE CONSEQUENCES.
r. i. McCulley, the rear brakeman of the
gravel train, was sworn ana said: L closed
the switch alter our train had passed out
onto the main line and then gave the engi-
neeT a signal to 20 ahead. Then l got ON
tie eaboose and when we had reached the
main line Collins said TO me: "Where are
we going for No. 1872" We both rushed
for the front platform, but they came TO-
geth5T before | had time to get at the air
brake. After the wreck Moore came back
10 Collins and said: I've had better get
out Of this" Collins replied: mo, we will
stand the consequences like men. l am not
criminal to run for my life"
james Woodall, conductor Of the Los
Angeles express, was called to the stand
and testified as follows: Am passenger
conductor in the employ Of the Southern
Pacific Company. Did not know deceased
persnmallY. Had charge of No Is west