The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-08-13
THE AUBURN WRECK
Coroner Sspa1k Investigating
the Cause
EXAMINE MANY WITNESSES
Hearing Continued On Account
of Absence of Engineer
Conductor Oakley Frankly Admits
That He Forgot His Ortiers-Wit-
nesses Testify n To Efficacy of
middle Order" Systcm-State
Treasurer Lacy IA Witness.
Especial TO The Messenger

Especial TO The Messenger
Raleigh. ~ c.. Aug lO.-The
coroner's jury under direction OF
Charles A Separk. devoted today to
the inquest in the case OF the wreeh
on the Southern railway at Auburn,
which caused three deaths.
Chief Train Dispatcher Ketchum
was not able to show that any mid
die order" had been given to the
agent at Auburn. where the passen-
ger and freight trans had been no.
tilted to meet last Tuesday night.
Conductor Oakley of the passenger
train read the order to meet and said
he and Engineer Rippey had read
passengers that evening and the
signal at Auburn meant All safe.
go on" He got no orders there,
but said it was the Sauthern rail
ways custom to telegraph orders
to station where trains all meet
He believed that if the middle order
had been sent to Auburn the wreck
would not have occurred
Operator Massey, of Clayton, said
he gave the engineer and conductor
of the freight trains orders TO meet
the passenger train at Auburn.
Conductor Neal Of the freight
train, said that if the order had been
displayed at Auburn there would
have been no wreck and that the
emergency brakes of the freight train
were set before the collision
Conductor WitherspoOn said that
the middle order system had occa-
sionally been used between Greens
bcro and Goldsboro.
Flagman Adams OF the freight
train said as his train approached
Auburn a red board was displayed
and was then lowered and then a
white board was shown after the en-
gine had given the station blow.
State Treasurer Lacy, an ex-engi-
neer, said he considered the mid
die order system necessary 10 pro-
tect life.
Baggage master Hamilton, OF the
passenger train said the signal at
Auburn was white as that train stop
ped there.
Engineer Crawer, OF the Seaboard
Air Line said it used the middle or
der system and considered it neces-
sary for further protection.
Chief Dispatcher Ketchum was re-
called and asked whether he knew
of the use of any middle order sys-
tenn between Greensboro and Colds
borO.
He said that during his six months
service it had not been used to his
knowledge on any part OF the South
ern system.
He had never been notified TO use
this system. Had the Auburn opera
tor shown a red board the wreck
would not have occurred
Operator Powell, of Auburn said
he had during the year received the
-
day evening he received no orders be-
fore the collision. but after 1t occur
red he got an order He had no or
ders TO hold the passenger train.
Engineer Rippey's condition pre-
vented him being present today.
Oakley said very frankly that he
had overlooked and forgotten his Or
ders to meet the freight at Auburn
and was taking up tickets when the
| collision occurred.
The hearing is continued indef-
nitely on account OF the condition OF
Engineer Rippey and in order to get
the evidence of Operator Garvin. in
the office Of the train dispatcher at
Durham. Garvin having sent ord
ers for the meeting OF the trains.