The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-03
CAUSE OF WRECK.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PA

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)
o'clock, he said, that his attention was
called to the approaching special. He did
not attempt to make an estimate of the
speed, but noticed that the train was run
ming very fast.
George b.. Allen, of the Commercial Elec-
trio Company, the plant of which is near
the scene of the accident, testified that he
noticed the train approaching at 1851. He
paid particular attention to 1T because 1T
was so long and so heavily loaded. He
was of opinion that it was running at the
rate OF from thirty-fve to forty miles an
hour.
Robert Harryman, of the Polar Ice Com
pany. was one of those who witnessed the
approach of the train and took particular
note of the speed at which 1t was travelling.
He asserted that the speed was at least
twenty-five miles an hour. and probably
more than that.
c. p. Sparks stated that he was employed
at the workhouse, and that his attention
had been called to the special. He noticed
that it's rate of speed was terrific, and
estimated it. at the time. at about forty
miles an hour; He stated that he was
Mortified when his notice was called to the
coal cars. backing from an opposite direc-
ton at five or six miles an hour.
OTHER WITNESSES.
Ben Haskins, employed on the new plant
of the Marion County Hot Water Heating
Company, stated that he had a full view OF
the approach of the special train and OF
the switching train coming from the oppo-
site direction. The special was tearing
along thirty miles an hour, he said. Other
employees of the Marion County Hot Water
Heating Company. among them J. B. Nc
Nary, Walter Stevens, Matt Brady, George
Center. Fred III. Cook, Thomas O'Brien
and Louis Hoy, testified to substantially
the same as Haskins. They agreed that
the speed of the train was thirty miles an
hour or more, several OF them saving WV
idly that it looked like a yellow streak"
These witnesses were examined in the
afternoon. John Bodine, of 1906 Highland
place, who testified in the morning. said he
saw the approaching special. and that il
was running at the rate of about thirty
miles an hour. He looked down the alley
he said, and saw the freight train, al
though he could not tell whether it was
moving. He saw the two trains crash, and
ran to the place, where he helped carry
four dead bodies from the wreekage.
j. L. Bailey, employed by Undertaken c.
r. kregelo, described the wounds of the
men brought to the latter's establishment
Testimony will be taken in this manner
about the injuries received by each of the
victims OF the wreck, but the inquiry will
be as to the general cause of the collision
for the most part.
CONDITION OF THE CARS.
The coroner was doubtful for a time about
the legality Of making the inquest cover
the whole disaster instead of sixteen sepa-
rate cases, or the number of deaths tina
occurred. 1t was finally decided that sepa-
rate Investigations were unnecessary. One
phase of the inquiry that will develop some
interesting facts. no doubt, will be the con
dition of the cars that were wrecked. Ii Is
declared by many persons who We've the
wreck at close range that the material in
the cars, both WOOD and iron, was old anC
weak. The cars, especially the first two, are
said TO have been of oId-fashioned pattern
fiimsy and about worn out.
This morning General Superintendent j. Q
Ear Wrinkle, Superintendent c.. A. Paquette
of the Chicago division, General Yardmas-
ter John @. Hicks and other Big -Four OH.
Gals will be called TO the stand.