The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-12-04
OPERATOR MATT0X
HELD RESPONSIBLE
DEATHS OF PRESIDENT SPEN-
GER AND OTHERS LAID AT
HIS DOOR.
Left Immediately for Parts Unknown
Despite Vigilant Search. No
Trace Of Missing Man Has
Yet Been Found-An
Explanation is Much
Desired.

Lynchburg, Va, Nov. 3O.-The
cause Of the awful wreck near Law
yers depot, 10 miles south of this city
yesterday morning, in which Prcsi-
dent Samuel Spencer and his party
Of prominent New York and Balti-
more men lost their lives, is laid alb
solutely at the door Of G.. D. Mattoax,
the operator who was in charge Of the
block telegraph station at Ragoon.
Mattoax, who disappeared after be-
ing relieved less than an hour after
the wreck, has not been found, des-
pite the fact that railway detectives
have secured the country around the
wreck and his home at Sandy Level,
in Pittsylvania county, some 40 miles
from the scene Of the accident on a
small branch line Of the Southern.
An official of the Southern railway
late this afternoon stated that the
company was desirous of apprehend-
ing Mattoax in order to secure
statement from him that might throw
some light on the causes that led him
to allow two trains in the same block
at the same time. This official was
not prepared to state today whether
or not the company would take steps
and lie did not then know if he could
prosecute under the laws of the
State Of Virginia.
Offie Sheets Examined.
An examination Of the telegraph
sheets kept at the Rangoon and Law
yers block Offices by the representa-
tive Of the Associated Press discloses
the fact that Mattoax allowed train
No. 33, the jacksonville express, up
on the block, the train passing his
station, getting clear track from
him at COG o'clock. The operator at
Lawyers, the next station ahead,
claimed that Mattoax did not ask
him for "clear track' for No. 33,
and he, therefore, did not know this
train had passed Rangoon. The block
sheet at Lawyers bears out this
claim. The sheets at both offices
show that the operator at Rangoon
asked Lawyers for a clear track for
No. 81, the Washington and South
western Vestibuled Limited, and the
Lawyers opeartor, not knowing No. 33
was in the block, gave No. 81 the
right of way at 6:14 o'clock and No.
81 passed Rangoon at that time.
Simmered down, if Mattoax, at
Rangoon, had reported train No. 33
OH the block to Lawyers, then there
would have been no accident, because
the operator at Lawyers would have
held No. 81 at Rangoon until the
Jacksonville train had cle3rcd the
block at Lawyers, no matter how long
the delay might have been between
the two Offices.
An Erroneous Report.
Superintendent w. S. Andrews of
the Danville division, late this after
noon explained that the report that
the engine Of the forward train hnd
gone some distance ahead Of its train
when it became detached was crron-
eous and the fact is that the engine
did not leave the train more than 20
feet, the air brakes applying i'm
mediately upon the engine as we'll as
the train. The trouble was the
breaking Of knuckle Of the draw
head on the front end of the for
ward car. The trainmen were repair
ing this when the collision occurred.
Assistant General Superintendent
F.. II. Coapman, states there is not the
slightest doubt but the flagman made
every possible effort to protect the
rear Of the train but he could not get
around sharp curve in time to pre-
vent the collision. AS soon as En-
gineer Kinney saw the signal he ap-
piled the emergency brakes and stay
ed at his post to the last
Superintendent Andrews Of the
Danville division left late this even
ing, having been called to Washing
ton. It was Mr.. Andrews knowledge
that toe entire official family of fhe