The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-04
WABASH WRECK INQUIRY
TESTIMONY OF CONDUCTOR MARTIN
AND ENGINEER STRONG.
Three Different interpretations of the
Order That Was Not Prop
crIy Carried Out.

ADRIAN, Mich, Dec. SIT is expected
that the coroner's jury which has been in
vestigating the cause Of the death of the
victims of the disastrous wreck on the
! Wabash Railroad, near Seneca, last
Wednesday night. in which so many Ital-
ian immigrants were crushed and burned to
death. will render a verdict tomorrow. The
taking of testimony was finished this after
noon unless Coroner Hamilton should de-
eide to put on one or two additional wit
nesses tomorrow morning. The testimony
this afternoon brought out the fact that
there were three different interpretations
among the crew of east-bound Train Of
the orders under which the train was run
ming. Conductor Martin and Brakeman
D1ttman, who understood the orders cor
and train No. at Sand Creek. Engineer
Strong, whose misunderstanding was
directly responsible for the wreck under
stood that he was to pass Trains and I3
both at Sand Greek. Fireman Bastien tes-
titled that he believed they were to pass
No. Is at Sand Creek and No. 3 at Seneca
just the reverse of the way the orders read
In reply 10 point blank question from
the prosecutor Engineer Strong admitted
that is was his misunderstanding of the or
ders that caused the wreck. Conductor
Martin and Engineer Strong of the wreck
ed train, both testified at the morning ses-
sion.
Conductor Martin, the first witness. testi-
ned that his orders, which he read to En-
gtneer Strong, instructed him to mass Train
IL at Seneca. He testified that he did not
hear the engineers signal for Seneca sta
ton, and as soon as he discovered that the
train had passed that place he ATTEMPTED
to pull the emergency brake cord The
brakeman, however had already done this
Conductor Martins testimony brought out
windows signals from the engine whistle
could not be heard by the conductor and
brakeman.
Engineer Strong was sworn next. He
said that he read his order handed him
by Conductor Martin to meet Trains I3 and
both at Sand Greek instead of one at each
place, as the order was written. He ac-
counted for the error by the fact that the
wind was blowing when the order was
handed him, and that while he was reading
IL one corner OF the paper was blown over
hiding the word Seneca. When he had
finished reading the order, he testified. he
did not understand that the word Seneca
had appeared in il. Engineer Strong adj
mitted that Conductor Martin read this or
der 10 him, but said he must have misun-
derstOod it then. AS soon as he discovered
Train Is on the same track and coming
toward him he shut off his engine and ap-
piled the emergency brake.
Brakeman Dittman was the next witness
but he brought out nothing new.
AT the afternoon session Mrs. Flora DYE
wrecked chair car Of Train 4 testified Ia
seeing Brakeman Dittman look out OF the
window as the train flashed by Seneca, and
Ihsn rush 10 'le ar-oTakes, which lie set.
member discussing the train order with En-
gineer Strong. His first intimation that
they had passed Seneca was when ne saw
Engineer Strong reverse the engine and an
ply the brakes. He looked out. saw Train
IL ahead and then jumped The other wit
nesses were Detective Townsend and I'm
dertaker Conkhn, Of Adrian, who testified
in regard to the bodies recovered from the
wreck.