Evening journal., 1896-08-04


Fponsibility for the appalling dlsaster Of
last Thursday is now in progress, and |
great interest Is felt in the inquiry.
The Reading railroad IS represented by
Judge Joseph II. Thompson of this city
and the Pennsylvania by Judge Gaskill
Of Mount Holly
While the coroner is not entitled by law
20 counsel, Prosecutor Of Pleas Perry was
present and helped HIM with his advice
upon the legal poiRts which arose.
A. o. Dayton, superintendent of the
West Jersey railroad, explained to the jury
the workings OF the signal tower. He said
that the agreement just read covered the
main workings Of the tower, but that no
frequently supplemented them with orders
Of his own.
Mr.. Dayton said that Semaphore sig
nal can be distinctly seon mNe distant.
II is operated from tower, and through
the irterlocking system the operator can
not give the same signal In both direo
tions, but In one way II must he dan
GER aud the other clear "
The s0maphore Is normally act at Gan-
ger. The operator II he wishes TO change
his signals after he has once set them,
must hrst change the "home" signal or
one nearest the tower and the distance
signal next, so that there is always a dan
ger signal set on Bne side of the crossing
and close TO It. The tower here operates
eight signals In oil on three tracks
Defending the Signal System.
Mr.. Dayton admitted that an operator
might change a signal after train had
passed the distance. but oontended that an
engineer would still have 20 pass danger
signal (the. home sign0D and weuld slow
up.
In the event of an engineer disregarding
OF not noticing the danger lhoms) signal,
he would In All probability pass IN safety
over the crossing before tho other train
reached IT, asthe latter must have como to
n full stop before the distant signal and
could not have reached the crossing at the
same time as the first fast moving train.
Mr.. Dayton stated that his argument
was being made generally In defense Of
the signal system operated as the safest
known, and that 1t is taken for granted
by all railroad officials that In a majority
Of accidents rule has been violated.
Mr.. Dayton stated that the rules OF the
right Of way were primarily for the opera
tor, but that circumstances LEFT the ques-
tl0n of passing trains over to the iudg-
ment Of the operator, and TINT, ne In the
preseRt case, although the Reading has
The right Of way, the operator could have
1AfNh bao CoNnItlNa blu4lA lhb aIlRhl "
Eoss If he considered 1t had the time to
DO so.
Mr.. Dayton's testimony was mainly.a
defense Of ths block signal systen. and he
asserted that collision under the system
would bo impossible II every one obeyed
ordOrs.
Atr. Dayton know nothing from pc.
Al knewlodgs of the accident as he wns
away ~ the time and did mos get here un-
I'll nearly 81 hours afterward.
He said that what struck him NJ re-
markabie was that the Reading train did
not go olean through the excursion train
and strike tho tower, and that the express
engine WIS thrown backward and on its
side
From thia Mr.. Dayton csnsludsS that
the two trains must have been going nl
about tl4 same rate OF speed.
rswer Operator LsnE's Testimony.
The mest inIUrosting witness OF the
laquiry was Nahslas Long, tho day tower
operator NJ the i'll fated crossing In the
muadows. He coFrehoBated the statement
sf Night Operator George y Hauser al
tls tiIAesof his arrest that the danger, sig
nalf wers sst against the Recalling train,
and that the West Jersey excursion trails,
whieh was run Into ~ the former, had a
white light which, In effeot iH an order
"a go ahead. Mr.. Long testified that be
had worked In the teweY about eight yesrs
lie was on duty on Thursday last from
s:4s In the morning until ASS 40 niRht.
lie left tho tower about $40, being re-
licvsd by George =. HausoY, who get tkeF'
On the Reading freight train about oiaS
The last train witness SAW over wAS the
Reading freight train, az 6;BS The 8try
oR the tower slip train 98 wrecked a.
j;4S, WAS not mado by Witness and b.
know nothing about H. Before HRuse
reported TO the witness All signals were Sc
as danger. Ho was positive OF this. HI
did not remember anybody being arouDS
tho tower that daytNna knew nothing o
boy from Wilmington, Del. who wa
said to have been seen I'm ths visinity.
As soon as the freight passed, witnes
threw the signal back. put the time OF
she sheet, reported to the main ofiice a
Camden and after exchanging a word O
two with Hauser left the tower and.lockol
the basement door. He hen started G.
walk home. The signal towers and 10
appliances were working properly tba
day. When he gave tho clear way to th
treight, neceasnrily the danSee s4Rnal
went up against every other truck. Thel
he returned them all to the normal dnnge
signals. The ReadiRg track was the onl
one he could give clear signal 10 In bot
directions, because IL is a double track oi
that road, and trains frequently PASS enc
sther. Witness had gone about 500 fee
away from the tower when he saw Oh
West Jersey approaching. He looked a
the home signal and saw that the Yves
Jersey had a clear track Then he hear
the long crossing whistle OF the IN bouh
Reading express. When he heard the Read
Ing whistle, the train was about a hal
mile off. lie paused and watched her ar
rt0ach, expecting to see her stop. Th
hest Jersey was going very slowly.
Reading Had Right of Way.
As soon as ne saw the position of Oh
trains he felt satisfied that the Readin
should have had the right Of way, as wa
customary. This was close to $3.50. Th
towerman who relieved him, however
had given the West Jersey the right
way, anu the Reading train should haI
come to stop The towerman has n
right to stop an express to let freigl
train pass If he sees fit, although 1t break
rule of the road. Then canie the crasl
Witness hurried to tho tower and foun