Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-05-25
1T WAS BAD RAILR0ADING
Significant Testimony at the Inquest
Oyer The Reading Railroad Victims.
THE SECOND ENGINEER BLAMED
Train Dispatcher Says He Was
Running Too Fast.
TRAIN MEN NOT PROPERLY NOTIFIED
Associated Press Dispatch by Special wires.

Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires
Reading, Pa, May "a. This was
the last day of the coroner's investi-
CATION into the wreck horror at Exeter.
The testimony of Train Dispatcher
james j. Rourke, who testified to the
leaving time of the regular and the
special from the outer station, and
that the special ran to Exeter in nine
minutes and had gained four minutes
on the regular run of six miles, made a
deep impression. Mr.. Rourke, when
questioned as TO who, in his opinion,
was responsible said:
Il attribute the cause of the wreck
to reckless running on the part of
second section Of No. 49," meaning
the special IN charge of Engineer
Orrell.
As additional light was thrown on
the causes of the wreck by the testi-
mony of today, it was apparent to all
that q great responsibility for the dis
aster rested ON Engineer Orrell, but
today's testimony showed Dispatcher
Rourke's connection with the accident
j. L. Bingaman, assistant train
master, testified that he saw the trains
leave. He said that Engineer Orrell
was accompanied by q pilot between
Harrisburg and Reading, because he
was not so well acquainted with the
Lebanon Valley branch, but that it
was thought he was perfectly familiar
with the main line.
Mr.. Bingaman said he was fully
acquainted with the rule that it was
the duty of trainmasters to keep
sections of train five minutes apart
and "a safe distance apart in stormy
weather.
Trainmaster M. E. Blaine was the
next witness. lie said that he had
charge of the traffic Of the division.
He had given no special orders for the
movement If the second section. He
said that trains should by all means
run five minutes apart, unless some
form of block is used, when they may
be run in two minutes. The two trains
were to keep apart at least five minutes
ON the night of the accident He de-
tailed at length the duties of tower
men and their signals, conductors,
second section should have been told
that the first was late. This had not
been done. This, he said, was the
duty of the train dispatcher.
"Should not the dispatcher have
told No. IL of the delay at Birdsboro?"
"Yes,'' was the reply.
"Did he do SOY" mo-
'.That was bad railroading?"
Yes, they should have been told
before either left Reading"
:. Trainmaster Blaine was hard pressed
for an answer as to what, in his judg-
ment, caused the wreck. Finally he
was asked:
IF the first section backed without
sending out signalman, did he vio-
late the rule?' Eyes. "
"Was it wrong for the second section
to get to Exeter by ISL p. m. ?"
''Yes, it made the trip in minutes
the time should not have been less
than II minutes. ="
Conductor Magee was recalled and
declared it was the dispatcher's duty
to tell him that the first section was
late.
Engineer Orrell was again called. He
admitted he did not know that the
towers below Reading were not con
nected with the trainmaster's office.
He again insisted that he saw no red
| light at any Of them. He was closely
examined as to colors.
The testimony closed this afternoon,
and the Jury then went to the scene
| of rhe wreck.