Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-30
OPERATOR MATTOX
CAUSED ACCIDENT
Southern Railroad Company Is
sues Another Statement.
DISREGARDED THE RULES
Train Let in the Block Without
Notifying Lawyers.
FLAGMAN BACK 800 YARDS
Men Are Securing the Country in the
Hope Of Locating the !.
Telegrapher.
Train Let in the Block Without
Notifying Lawyers.
FLAGMAN BACK 800 YARDS

Disobedience of the rules on the
part of telegraph operator was the
cause of the accident in which Presi-
kent Samuel Spencer and six other
PRISONS lost their lives yesterday. A
further investigation is being made
by the railroad officials and every
effort is being made to capture the
OPERATOR WHO has disappeared. A
curious feature of the accident is the
almost miraculous escape of Presi-
dent Spencer's private secretary,
who received but slight injuries. The
coroner is awaiting developments be-
fore holding the inquest.
LYNCHBURG, Va, November 30.-The
frightful accident yesterday morning near
Lawyers depot. on the Southern railway. In
which President Samuel Spencer and his
party lost their lives is declared by South
ern railway official to be due to the block
telegraph rules being dlsregarded by Oper-
ator C. D. Mattoax, who was in charge of
the night trick at the block station at Ran
COON. which is four miles north of the scene
of the wreck, and the first station north Of
Lawyers depot Assistant General Superin-
tendent E. A. Coapman of the company this
morning gave out the following statement
to the representative of the Associated
Press, which explains fully the cause of the
trouble: Investigation SO far made Of the
accident develops the fact that Operator
Mattoax at Rangoon let train No. 33 into
the block. and, dlsregarding the rules, failed
to notify the operator at Lawyers depot Of
this fact. When the first section of train
No. 81, the Washington and Southwestern
vestibuled limited, approached Rangoon.
Operator Mattoax asked the operator at
Lawyers for the block on No. 81. This was
given by the operator at Lawyers, who did
not know that No. 80 had gone in upon the
block.
Flagman Ran Back.
mo. 80 broke down at the south end of
@ curve and as soon as the train stopped
the fiagman ran back to protect his train.
As far as we can learn. the flagman had
proceeded about 800 yards when No. 81 was
in view on the curve. Engineer Mckinney
saw the signal and applied the emergency
brake, but he did not have time to leave
his seat before the collision took place.
AN inspection Of the telegraph sheets
In each OF the block stations substantiates
this belief. The sheet at Rangoon shows
that No. 33 was given the block by Opera
tor Mattoax, and the sheet at Lawyers
shows that Mattoax had not notified the
operator there that No. SO was on the block
and entitled to II.
"A fuller investigation will be made as
speedily as possible but we do not ex-
pect any additional developments. The
company has a number OF men scour-
ing the country In the hope of locating
Operator Mattoax. but up to a late hour
this forenoon we have been able to as
certain absolutely nothing as to his where
abouts.
Another Victim Identified.
The identification made this morn
ing Of the negro who was killed and burn
ed beyond recognition. The victim was
Benjamin Boswell of Toledo. Ohio, a din
ing car man who was taken aboard Mr.
spencers car for the trip.
further investigation is being made
this afternoon into the circumstances which
led to the wreck of the two outhern rail-
way fast trains near here yesterday morn
ing. resulting in the death of President
Spencer of the road and six other per-
and the injury of many others. The
death of William Pollard, the negro por-
ter in President Spencers private car and
j. W. Shaw. the negro fireman. both of
whom died in the city hospital here last
night. swelled the death list to seven In
all. The latest word from the hospital re-
garding the injured indicates that all of
them are doing nicely and probably will
recover.
Mr.. Merrills Remarkable Escape.
The scene of the wreck is ten miles south
of LynChburg and to 1t many persons have
wended their way out OF curiosity to see
the effects of the disaster. The work of
clearing the debris is being carried on and
some of the wreckage already has been re-
moved County Coroner ]. W. Davis is ex-
pected 10 take some action on the accident
today. He arrived at the scene of the
wreck yesterday. but. finding that the bodies
already had been removed. he deferred until
today any action in the matter The escape
of E. be-. Merrill of New York, private Sec
rotary to Mr.. Spencer, the only survivor In
the party on the Private car save a porter,
was miraculous. The injuries he sustained
are not serious. and he W.. be able to leave
the city hospital here probably by the first
of the week.
Gen. Schuyler's Body in New York.
Special Dispatch TO The Star
l NEW YORK, November 30.-The body of
Ten. Philip Schuyler, who was killed in
he railroad accident in Virginia in which
.hmueI Spencer. president Of the Southern
failroad. met his death. arrived at Jersey
City this morning over the Pennsylvania