Evening star., 1901-02-08
THOROUGH INQUIRY
officials to Investigate the Collision
of Car and Truck.
INSTRUCTIONS TO CORONER HEWITT
Condition Of Injured Men Will Pre-
vent Their Attendance at Inquest.
TRUCKMAN KEEFE'S BURIAL

The District Commissioners, Chief Paris
and Major Sylvester are actively interest
ing themselves in the matter of having
thorough investiga ton made of the col
lision between Truck B and Metropolitan
car and the injury to three firemen, as pub
lished in yesterdays Star. Coroner hewitt
was summoned to the office of Commits
sioner Macfarland after the death of Fire
man Charles A. Keefe, one of the victims,
was announced. and was told that rigid
inquiry into the facts was wanted. CHIEF
Paris had members of the truck company
and Mai jor Sylvester had the third precinct
policemen to summon witnesses to attend
the inquest, which will be held tomorrow
morning at II O'Clock at the sixth precinct
station. Assistant Foreman George III. Rey-
nolds of Truck Company obtained the
names of about twenty witnesses yester-
day, and it is believed that Coroner hewitt
will examine about three dozen persons who
alleged to know something ABOUT tne
accident.
Foreman r. ]. Donohue and Private John
]. Ryan. who were hurt at the time keefe
received his fatal injuries, will not be able
to attend the inquest. The former is still
under treatment at his home, and should
his testimony be deemed important the jury
may be taken to his house to hear his state
ment. Ryan. who is still in the Emergency
his version of the accident. His legs are in
plaster casts and he is suffering from other
injuries. but the doctors are connuent lie
will live Because of his condition, how
ever. any excitement might seriously lnleI-
fere with his recovery. The physicians TO-
day reported that he is improving and ,hey
are well satisfied with the progress he is
making.
Motorman John Larne. who. with Con-
ductor Thomas c. Davis, was taken to the
third precinct to be held to await the re-
suit of the injury to the firemen, is still IN
custody, but the conductor was released
early last night The motOrman Will be
present at the inquest. The metropolitan
Railway Company will be represented at
the investigation by counsel, and 4 repre-
sentative of District Attorney Anderson
may also be in attendance.
The Motorman's Record.
Motorman Larne. 1t is stated, has been
in the employ of the railway company for
mere than twenty years, and until yester-
day he had never been in an accident. 1t
is contended, on his behalf, that MS car
was running at the rate of only about six
miles an hour, and that he could not have
prevented the accident after he saw the
truck approaching the crossing.
The body of Fireman Keefe was removed
from the Emergency Hospital YESTERDAY
afternoon tc his late home, No lo54 Norm
Capitol street, and prepared for burial by
Nalley. Today arrangements
were made for his funeral which-Wll take
place Sunday afternoon at O'Clock from
the Wilson Memorial Methodist Church, on
I1th street southeast Chief Paris Will Sc
lect the pallbearers from the fire depart
rnen., and there will be A special detail OF
fire,nen to act as an escort from the house
to the grave.
Chief Paris saw Mrs Keefe yesterday
after the death of her husband and assured
her that he would do everything in his
power to assist her. AS he understood the
law he thought she would be entitled 70
pension but some of the District officials
fear the law will not permit this for the
reason that keefe probationary fire
man, and had not been in the department
twelve months.
Provisions of the Law.
The law under which firemen's pensions
are granted is In part as follows
And shall be used for the relief of any
fireman who having served not less than
twelve months, shall, by reason of injuries
received or disease contracted in the line
of actual fire duty, going to, at, or returning
fl ON Il fire, or having served not less than
fifteen years. shall become so permanently
disabled as to be discharged from the ser
vice therefor; and in case of the death or
such fireman from such injury or disease
leaving a widow or children under sixteen
years of age. for their relief: Provided,
That no fireman shall be entitled to any Of
the benefits of this relief fund who may, by
reason of his own indiscretion, bring on any
injury or disease which may incapacitate
him from the performance of his duties as
a member Of the fire department, or who
shall be retired for such cause or causes:
Provided further, That such relief shall
not exceed, for any one fireman or his
family the sum of $50 per month; and a
sum not exceeding S15 may be allowed
from such fund to defray the funeral ex-
penses of any fireman dying in the service
of the District
The Chiefs View.
Discussing the matter with Star
porter this morning, Chief Paris said he
thought Mrs. Keefe should be given pen
sion of $50 per month. If she cannot be
given pension under the present law it is
because there was a mistake made when it
was framed. The provision respecting ser
vice Of twelve months. he said, was intend
ed to cover cases in which firemen became
disa bled from natural causes during the
first wear of their service and not where
man was injured or lost his life while he
was at, going to or returning from flre.
Rule for Stopping Cars at Streets.
Whether, in the event of it being found
by the coroner's jury that the accident was
due TO the excessive speed of the street car,
the Commissioners will require the street
railways to return to the near-side rule Of
stopping cars is not known. 1t is under
stood that Commissioner Ross is an advo-
cate of the near-side rule and Captain
Beach, the Engineer Commissioner, believes
that all things considered the far-side rule
is preferable. 1t is believed that Commits
sioner Macfarland is inclined to favor the
near-side rule, although it Is stated that he
has not yet been convinced that such a rule
would do more than slightly reduce the
chances Of such accidents as that of yes
terday. Mr.. Macfarland is inclined to the
belief that the accident yesterday was due
to the high rate of speed at which the car
is said to have been travelling as it ap-
preached NJ street. But, whatever may be
the fact developed by the testimony which
will be submitted to the cOroners jury to-
morrow, it is understood the Commissioners
will, as above stated, endeavor to solve the
problem of the speed of street cars in such
manner as to afford better protection to
the companies Of the fire department. and
at the same time not Inconvenience the
travelling public.
Commissioners View of Pensions.
Referring to the question whether or not
Keefe's family will be entitled to pension,
it is said the Commissioners believe that
the moment a man becomes a member of
the fire department he and his family
should become entitled to every right to a
pension which the law appears to give only