The Washington herald., 1906-11-30
STATEMENT BY Mr.. THOM.
General Counsel Says Full Inquiry
VIII BE Made.


Mr.. Thorn. general counsel Of the rail-
road in Washington. who was aboard the
special which brought the bodies here,
made a statement concerning the acci-
dent, based upon the hurried investiga-
ton which he made to-day.
Mr.. Spencer was taking party Of
friends 10 spend Thanksgiving Day hunt
ing at his country place. Friendship.
which is near Greensboro, n. c.
said Mr.. Thorn. He left New York
Wednesday afternoon on the Congress
sloual Limited, arriving in Washington
about $50 O'Clock. Mr.. Schuyler came
over with him. His private car, No 100,
known as the officers car was attached
20 the rear Of train No. %, which was
DELAYED in leaving Washington. owing TO
the fact that e waited for a Pennsyl-
vania connection.
AT Lynchburg one of the couplings
was found to be in an unsatisfactory con-
dition. and the train was further delayed
about an hour at that place while the
defect was being repaired. This brought
its departure from Lynehburg up 20
very near time when train No 81, which
ran into her. was due at that place
ceeded below Lynchburg about eight or
ten miles the defective coupling broke
and the train parted. AS soon as the
accident was discovered the engineer
stopped and sent out a fagman 10 warn
train No. 81.
According to our reports. which have
necessarily been meager and incomplete
so far. No 81 was given a clear block by
the operator and proceeded into the block
In which No 90 was disabled. No. 81 was
proceeding at full speed.
The hagman. going back, met the
train. but as It was on "a down grade II
was too late for the engineer to stop IT,.
and the locomotive crashed into Mr..
Spencers car with very little Of its We
locitv reduced. Why the signal was given
10 No. 81 that the block was clear we
have thus far been unable 10 ascertain,
but that Is a matter which will at once
be investigated We have not had an
opportunity TO do il yet.
..The engine Of the cOlliding train went
almost entirely through Mr. Spencer 5
car. the pilot. according TO our advices,
stopping az about the kitchen, which was
on the front tpart of the car. Mr. Spen-
GERS car at once took fire and was en-
tirely consumed 1t is supposed that all
AMI had no opportunity 10 escape; it was
only by what seems almost a miracle
that Mr. Merrill was not killed with the
rest. He was occupying a section toward
the front Of the car, just opposite the
section occupied by Mr. Davis. whose
body was pinned beneath the wreckage,
and who died about fifteen minutes after
the accident occurred.
Only Three Escape Alive.
''NIr. Merrill was slightly burned about
the hands and feet and sustained n
slight injury to his back. He and two Of
the colored servants were the only occu-
pants OF the car who escaped with their
lives. William Pollard, one of these
servants. is probably fatally injured, and
the other is said to be in a serious con-
dition It is our purpose to make the
fullest possible investigation Of the cause
Of the disaster, which is most lamenta-
BILE"
Second Vice President Finley said that
he could make no statement until after
Il thorough investigation. According TO
reports made to him by Superintendent
| Copeman and Judge Horsley. he believes
! the signal operator was 20 blame for
giving the train following that to which
/ Mr.. Spencer's car was attached the right
Of way. He said it has been conclusively
shown that the operator gave such a sig
nal.
/ Mr. Finley said the train 20 which Mr..
/ Spencers car was attached was delayed
about an hour at Lynchburg because of
/ a detective coupling. This was repaired
and a start made. Within a few miles
the coupling broke and the train parted.
The engineer returned to pick UP his
train. and a flagman from the rear of
/ Mr.. Spencer's car went back TO flag the
approaching Southwestern Limited. Mr.
Finley says he did flag the train, but the
signal was too late. and the heavy train,
going at full speed, down grade, crashed
into Mr.. Spencers car. The pilot ripped
| through the car from the back platform
to the cook galley.
According to Mr.. Finley, the escape OF
Private Secretary Merrill was narrow
He was sleeping well forward, and in a
berth opposite that occupied by Tele-
graph Operator Davis, who was killed.