The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-18

C. D. Mattox, the operator in charge Of
the block signal tower ut Rangoon. Va.
has been held resDo 1sible for the accident
between Rangoon and Lawyers on
Thanksgiving morning. when President
Spencer, OF the road and other 3assen-
gers on mis- private train were killed
After having fixed the blame for the
accident. General Counsel Thorn, for the
railroad, states he considers the case out
of the jurisdiction of the company 1t is
understood that further action viii de-
volve upon the State Of Virginia.
Mattox. who has not worked for the
company since the day Of the accident.
has been discharged. and will not be given
further employment by the railroad.
The following ON cial statement concern
ing the investigation was given out yes
terday by General Counsel Thorn:
The undisputed testimony shows that
no less than three different rules of the
company were violated by C. D. Mattox
the operator at Raugoon. the observance
Of any one Of which would have prevent
ed the accident.
''Mattox, not having received the nee
essary information in rel-ard to the move
ments of train Ne 80. violated the rule
in regarding the block as clear of that
train before letting in the following train,
known as first 81
His Excuse Invalid.
His excuse is that the operator at Law
yers did report train No. 50 as by
Lawyers, but failed TO give him the time
it passed. as required by the rule There
is some confusion in his testimony as 20
whether this occurred before first 81
passed Rangoon or just afterward but
the operator at Lawyers emphaticaily
denies that he sent any such message as
claimed by Mattox and declares that
Mattox had never even informed him
that train No. 80 wanted the block or had
entered it
While there exists this conflict of evil
dence. operator Mattox. in his own state
ment admits that he did not receive from
the operator NJ Lawyers the time train -
passed ovt of the block al Lawyers. and
excuses his failure TO secure this inforua-
ton by the statement that after the oper-
ator at Lawyers had informed him that
No. 80 was by" he, the operator at
Lawyers. abruptly opened his key, and
he. Mattox. could not communicate fur
Their with him.
'MaJox's plain duty. then, under the
rules was TO stop No. 81 al Raugoon and
not let IL enter the block He admits that
this was his duty. and that ne did not
perform it, If he had, the accident could
not have happened
Human Factor Failed.
ItTa
that is not disputed the human factor
failed at the decisive moment and caused
this great catastrophe
'Mattox himself is a Virginian by
birth. having been born and reared in
Franklin County, the adjoining county TO +
the one in which the accident occurred. /
lie had been employed in pursuance of /
the policy of the company 70 recruit it's (
ranks from among the people along its /
lines whose anteceGents and environ /
ments are known.
He is twenty-five years old, had 4
been in the employment of the company /
as an operator for about two years. was .
educated as an operator, and before be- !
ing permitted TO undertake the duties of /
an operator. was duly examined on block /
rules, train orders, and other matters 4
pertaining TO the telegraph service by /
w. J. Coapman, chief dispatcher.
He had, at the time of the accident, /
been operator at Rangoon about twenty 4
months.
There is some conflict in the testimony /
as TO the conduct of Jacobs, the operator /
a. Lawyers. The above conclusions, how /
ever, have been reached without COnsid- /
ering any COntTOverted testimony" /