The Portland daily press., 1896-08-04
Mr.. DIICE WORRIED.
Superintendent Of Reading Road
Testifies At Inquest.
GIVES EIS ANSWERS IN A EESI-
TATING HAMMER.

And is Evidently Poorly Posted on the
Workings of the Tower System-Other
Witnesses Contradict His Statements.
Atlantic City, N. j., August Sat the
inquest into recent railroad accident after
| recess Q. s. Deice superintendent Of
Reading railroad explained working of
the tower. Nicholas Long was day
operator and was relieved by George
Houser night operator at $40 p. N.
Houser had been in the employ of the
company since July !. of the present
year. No other person has any business
in the tower, but the operator, except
men who may go there to make repairs.
| . Mir. Deice pointed out positions of
signal poles and ths Indications on the
TRACK which ring an electric bell in the
tower. The express which was in
| collision left Camden that Thursday
afternoon at 5.521S, according to the train
dispatcher 'ssstime sheet. had passed Pleas
antville four miles from the scene of ac-
oldent at 6.45, minute behind time.
Mr.. Diece, on arrival ut the scene of the
wreck found the signals set at their nor
NAL position, that Is the distance sig nal
at Caution" and the nome signal at
| danger
The engineer approaching the caution
airy signals, should be prepared to stop
when he reaches the home signal. Mr..
Deice submitted Operator Houser's S train
sheet for the evening of July 80. Houser
had SO far filed out his sheet as to the
time Of the express in passing there at
6.48. Mr Deioe thought this must be an
error as the train could not have made
that time from Pleasantvllle.
The signal apparatus was in perfeCt
working order on the day of the accident
Mr.. Deioe said it was possible that the
clear signal having been given the en-
gineer at the distance signal, the danger
signal might have been flashed upon him
as he approached the tower, according to
the rdles of the company. Even If the
engineer is given the clear signal at the
distance signal, he shall hPve the engine
under such control that he can bring the
| train to a full stop nt the distance of 100
feet from the home signal.
This rule seemed to be stumbling
| block to Mr. Deice. under Mr.. Perry s
cross examination. he fenced for some
time before he finally admitted that the
engineer should have had his train under
control as he approached the crossing.
In answer to the questions of Foreman
Eavns, MIR. Dolce said no one was in the
tower at the time of the accident with
| Houser. Under the rules the tower man
given the train.
Some question having arisen as to
| whether this was the first time the fast
express on the Reading was blocked by
towermen. Mr.. Deioe said it was not. but
added that 1t very seldom happens.
Uncer questioning Mr.. Deios admitted
that If the engineer got clear signal at
the distance pole, it was not customary
for him to shut down speed. This ad-
mission would seem to indicate that the
rule requiring the engieers TO have their
Uralns under control, was not strictly OBJ
served.
MIR. Deice said that Houser had not as
far as he knew, ever operated the block
| system tower.
Houser's salary was $40 month. This
concluded MIR. Deice's testimony. Mr..
Deice throughout the testimony seemed
worried and gave his answers In q hesi-
tating manner.
Thomas Bodell, road foreman Of en-
gines for the West Jersey was called. He
said that train composed of an engine
and six cars going sixty miles an hour,
can be stopped in 1900 feet; 80 miles an
hour, 1400 feet; 40 miles an hour, 1900
feet and 35 miles an hour. $500 feet.
MIR. Bodell said the engineer of the
West Jersey train coming out of Atlantic
City can see the distance signal on the
inbound track Of the BEADING.
II. L. Hustled, in charge Of the signal
system OF West Jersey, explained the
workings of the system. Mr.. Hustled
stated, in direct contradiction of the pre-
ceding witness, that the operator must
drop the house signal before he can give
the distance signal
bridge of the West Jersey railroad, just
outside of Atlantic City. testified that
the excursion train passed his office at
$40. The 5. 80 express from Philadelphia
passed over the drawbridge at 7.01. The
express due Gt 6.42, was nineteen minutes
late.
ss Nicholas Long, day operator In the
tower crossing, testified that he was re-
lieved from duty by Houser at 638
Long left the tower inside of couple of
minutes after being relieved. Long was
positive that all the signals were set at
danger, when Houser relieved him. Long
as he walked home passed the excursion
train about 800 feet from the crossing.
The signals gave the excursion right of
way. He heard the express whistle, and
looking saw the Reading train about half
a mile from the crossing. The excursion
train was running slowly. The danger
signal was sat on Reading. Gould not
tell how fast the flyer was going. He
says he thought the express should have
see the Reading stop. Long only heard
the Reading train blow the regular CROSS
ing whistle The West Jersey train
passed on, shutting out the express from
Longs view. Then the crash came. he
ran back to the tower and found Houser
there alone. He at once helped Houser
to fix the wires and reported the accident
to the station master in Atlantic City.
The distant signal on the West Jersey
was at caution, the home signal at clear.
This did not indicate that Houser had
attempted to change the signals for tho
excursion tram as Long said it was
customary as soon as the train had passed
ghe clear distant signal, to at once throw
| it back to caution. All signals on the
Reading were set at danger.