New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-01
FIFTY THREE DEAD.
Continued from first page.

cell at the police station. Hndebrand, the en-
gineer. is too full OF emotion to make any def
mite statement 1T will all come out at the
investigation" he said. II don't believe that
there Is anything for me to say. and I could
not say 1t IL there was" Before he was arrested
the engineer made statement to The Associated
Press, in which he declared that IL the danger
signal light was displayed at Takoma he failed
to see 1t on account of the dense fog
Milton w. Phillips. the operator who Is also
held prisoner at the 10th Precinct. said to-day
that the equipment train ran past his danger
signal at a speed of from fifty to sixty miles
an hour. He says there was a very heavy fog
but not enough to hide red light. He declares
that he Immediately informed the operator at
University station that the train had taken the
block against orders. His statement is corrob-
GRATED by the University station operator. who
says that he received the message Policeman
j, T. Kennedy. stationed at Takoma Park
will testify that he saw the signal light in its
proper place. and that Hlldebrand drove past
the signal Fred Lemkum. gate keeper at Ia
koma, makes similar statement.
c. W. Galloway. general superintendent OF
transportation Of the Baltimore & Ohio exon
Grated the company from all blame and put
the responsibility on the engineer of the equip
ment train. or the operator at the Takoma
block
IF the Coroner's jury fails TO hold the engi-
neer or the block operator" he said. I'VE shall
not consider the matter settled. We shall go TO
the bottom of the wreck This horrible catastro-
phe could have been avoided. Some one is re-
sponsible. and intend to leave stone I'M
turned until the responsibility has been fixed. The
Takoma block system was installed two years
ago and is the safest known 10 railroad men"
Chairman Knapp, of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. tonight said to the Associated
Press that the commission to-day considered the
ACCESSIBILITY of making a special investigation
into the causes of the wreck.
No decision has been reached. he says. TO
when this investigation will be made. Another
member OF the commission. in discussing the
proposed investigation. said:
1t has been suggested that we ought to have
an expert present at the Coroner's inquest, and
that may be done. though he could rot take any
part in asking the questions. But il Is probable
that under the Joint resolution instructing TO
investigate and report on the operation of the
block system we could make q special inquiry In
this and the commission will take up
possible the question Of doing so.
]. w. Kelley, trainmaster of the Baltimore
& Ohio for this division. with headquarters in
Baltimore is in Washington to make further in
,,estfaation into the causes of the wreck and to
assist I'm restoring affairs to their rorr1el cSnd.
ton. He declared that TO locate the RESPONSE
bjlitv for the disaster at this time Ia an utter
;mpossibility.
"The police have all Of the trainme; locked
nm" he explained. and until we get at them.
ask questions and compare stories. 1t win be i'm
possible to determine anything Meanwhile
vould not make statement, simply beause
have not the facts.
As a manifestation of sorrow and sympathy
for all afflicted by the Sunday night disaster at
Terra Gotta the district commissioners ordered
that flags on the public buildings in the district
he displayed at half mast until after the fu-
neraIs of the victims The Washington Stock
Exchange I'm view OF the terrible calamity and
as a mark of respect. held no session to-day.
The funeral of many of the victims who lfSe1
IN Washington and it's suburbs will be held to-
,,orrov The bodies of other victims will be
forwarded TO their homes by the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad officials. The railroad company
is sparing no expense in providing for all the
injured at the hospitals.