Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-01
OVER 200 WERE ON THE TRAIN
Officials of Road Have Not AS Yet
Fixed Blame, But Will Make
Thorough Investigation.

to have an expert present at the cor
oner's inquest. and that may be done
though he could not take any part il
asking the questions.
But it is probable that under the jcir,
resolution instructing us to investigate
and report on the operation of the block
into this, and the commission will take
up as soon as possible the question OF
doing So
]. w. Kelly. ,trainmaster of the Balti-
more & Ohio for this division. with head
quarters in Baltimore. is in Washington
to make further investigation into the
causes of fhc wreck and to assist in re-
storing affairs to their normal condition
1.-The police have all Of the trainmen
locked up" he explained. land until We
can get al them, ask questions and CON-
pare stories. it will be impossible to de-
termine anything. Meanwhile ] would
not make statement simply because
nave not the facts
As :, manifestation Of sorrow and SYM
pathy for Ill afflicted by the Sunday
night disaster at Terracotta. the district
conlmissi, ners ordered that flags on the
public buildings in the district Ne dis
played at haIf-mast until after the fu-
nerals of the victims. The Washington
Stock Exchange. in view of the terrible
calamity ana as mark of respect. held
no session today.
The funeral OF many Of the victims who
resided in Washington and suburbs will
be held tomorrow. The bodies Of other
victims will be forwarded to their homes
by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad OIL
Gals. The railroad is sparing no expense
in providing for all the injured at tho
hospitals
Washington, Dec. 31-The list of
dead as the result Of the appalling
wreck at Terra Gotta on the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad last night had reach
ed So at > o'clock today. At the vari-
Gus city hospitals are number of vic
Tins whose condition is regarded as
hopeless. The injured number over so.
1t has been decided to postpone the
coroncr's inquest until Wednesday. In
the meantime. it is understood, rail-
road officials are making a searching
investigation. Two distinct stories arc
today being told by the friends of those
who will naturally be implicated. The
entrance to the block on which the ac-
cidcnt occurred is ut Silver Spring. Md
II is said local No. &C. from Frederick
had entered the block with a clear
track. Two green lights were then sur
on tie signal tower showing that the
block was occupied. The engineer OF
the dead train. which was following
accordingly slowed down as he entered
the block to run Cautiously" At the
Takoma station near the center Of the
block. it is said. the day operator had
tied down white signals. showing a
clear track. and left his station. AT
this indication the engineer of the
dead" train crowded on steam and
forged ahead at great speed in the
fOggy night and on a slippery track
In few minutes, the huge engine OF
the Dead" train plunged into the real
Of the local just pulling out Of Terra
Gotta. and only three miles from Wash
ington.
Operator Phillips at Takoma denies
that his signals were white. He de-
clares he was at his post and that red
signals were set. showing occupied
tracks. He was much astonished t.
see the dead" train rush past. and ex-
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