Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-01


seemed to be biased and incomplete
accounts of the accident.
Motorman Silas c. Perkins of Pasa-
dena claimed Conductor A. L. Smith
gave him the signal the track was
clear.
The conductor was equally positive
that he gave no such signal, but mo-
toned the motorman to stop, and
shouted Hold oni"
The coroner's jury, under the circum-
stances, asked to have the inquest con-
tinued for further testimony.
Testimony Is Conflicting
The inquest opened at 1O:30 O'Clock,
with the room crowded with witnesses
and spectators.
After testimony was introduced
proving Mrs. Flora Zobel was a pas
senger on the Sierra Madre car and
was found dead shortly after the acci-
dent, S. F. Wuest, real estate man,
gave his account of the disaster. He
said he was unable to tell whether the
conductor gave the signal to go ahead
or otherwise.
r. r. Behlew, a real estate man of
Pasadena testified he was sitting on
the front seat of the Sierra Madre car,
just back of the motorman. He said
the car stopped a few feet from the
crossing and the conductor alighted and
looked up and down the railroad track.
After looking, he threw out both
arms" continued the witness, land the
motorman started forward. Just then
he seemed to s-e the approaching en-
gine and did something with his con-
troller / jumped and cleared the car.
The collision occurred few seconds
later"
The witness was unable to say
whether the conductor signaled to go
ahead or whether he raised his hands in
token of danger. He thought the mo-
tornan tried to get his car across after
seeing the engine.
Engineer Potter Testifies
Louis L. Potter, engineer of the Pasa-
dena local train, said the speed of his
train was less than twenty-five miles
an hour at the curve, just before reach
ing the crossing.
II saw the electric car approach the
grade" said the engineer, and noticed
it stopped too close for comfort / am
positive | whistled before reaching the
crossing and am sure the automatic
bell was ringing.
81 noticed the conductor raise one
hand. / assumed it was signal to go
ahead, and instantly applied the emer-
geney brakes. L did not know the car
would reach my tracks, but / was
taking no chances if l could help it.
II am not positive whether the con-
ductor raised one or both hands. When
my engine struck the car our speed was
between eight and fifteen miles an
hour.
I'VE have absolute right of way at
the crossing, but of course we use all
reasonable precaution. l consider 1t
dangerous place"
Fireman A. Sherman said the whistle
was sounded at the curve and the bell
was ringing constantly.
AS he sat on the left side of the cab
he said his view of the accident was
not good and he did not remember see
ing the conductor or the motorman,
but he saw the car as it crossed the
tracks.
Motornnan Tells His Story
Bandaged and crippled, Motorman
Silas C. Perkins hobbled to the witness
chair.
He said he only worked on one run
with the conductor previous to the ac-
cident
II stopped the car at tie crossing.
The conductor went ahead. My car was
about ten feet from the railroad tracks.
train approaching.
"'rhe conductor held up his hand as a
signal to go ahead.
"I started up, with the lever at one
notch. Just then l noticed the trolley
was off saw the Southern Pacific
engine at the same time and reversed
the controller, but there was no power.
l saw the crash was unavoidable and
jumped. A portion of the car struck
me after the impact"
Although closely cross-eXamined by
Coroner Trout and the jurymen, the
motorman was positive he received a
signal the track was clear, and was
equally positive he could have pre-
vented the collision at the last moment
by backing the car IL the trolley had
remained on the wire.
Conductors Story Different
Conductor A. L. Smith of Sierra
AIadre told an entirely different story,
He said the car stopped about five feet
from the crossing and he swung off
and ran in front
'I saw the train coming at fast
rate Of speed" continued the witness,
"and looked around at, my car. 1t was
In notion 1 held up my hands to stop
and yelled Hold on, there! 81
realized the terrible danger and tried
to make the motorman understand the
crisis.
"I am positive the motorman started
ahead at the time l signaled. was
only three or four feet from the car
when / yelled to stop"
Miss Edith Bradley Of Helena Mont,
passenger, said she was sitting on the
inside talking with some friends She
was under the impression the car never
fully stopped at the crossing. She
glanced from her window, saw the ap-
preaching train and started for the
door Just as the crash came. She was
only slightly injured, she sad.
Several other witnesses gave unim-
pOrtant testimony, and Coroner Trout
stated In behalf Of the jury he would
continue the inquest until some OF the
wreck victims We're able TO testify.