The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-05
viii Not Admit Loss of
Sleep Had to Do
With Missing
Signal.
Was on Duty Most of
Time From Friday
Morning Until
Accident.

Henry HIdebrand. engineer OF the
dead train which crashed into The
Frederick passenger at Terra Gotta last
sunday evening al the cost Of more tba,
two score lives. had. az the time Of the
accident. been for hfty-seven or hftv-
'isht hours in almost continuous serv-
Ice with only two Intervals. OF four
hours each. OF sleep.
The record OF his last hfty-six hours
before the disaster at Terra Cotta was
brought out bv process of close otes-
tioning during his es animation between
tho Interstate Commerce Cor .fnlssiou ir
itH investigation Of the wreck. Attorne,
Luther II. Walter, for the commission.
had the witness in hand when these
star ling facts were brought out
ilildebrand went on the stand ysster-
day afternoon, and was not done with
MS story OF the wreck when adjourn
ment Was taken last evening He re-
sumed his testimony this forenoon. The
detailed account OF his experience for
the frty-six hours before the wreck in
substance l. fliisza
tie rose aDout 9 a. ~. on .a, Fflday
before .ths sunday or the wreck aud
Tor the short run 20 Washington He
brought his train into Washington. and
then remained about the Trinidad Yards
which are part OF the Washington ter
minal, for two hours. not attempting 20
sleep, About midnight that tFridayb
night he YeIt Washington with Train
Tor Cumberland reaching that place
about 400 a. "a. lie turned over his en-
s re, washed, breakfasted and went 10
lrd about : d. m. Saturday
Called Within Four Hours.
Pie was called again at II a. m. 10
take out a light engine-that Is. an en-
gine without train-Which he was TO
bring 10 Washington. lie left Cumber-
land on the light engine some time after
noon Saturday, and a. Washington
Junction was asked if he was willing
10 return with a train To Cumberland.
He replied that he was. and proceeded
ou 90 Washington with the ligrt engine
He got no sleep In Washington. and
eft again about 1910 Sunday morning
with a train. lie got TO Cumberland
about a, Fa. Sunday took his engine
10 South Cumberland, and about a. m.
again went 20 bed, 10 be called again
II II a. m.
He was called az that hour TO take
delayed in leaving. but was about the
ard waiting 10 get away. An hour
lr so behind the expected time, he was
oven clearance and started with the
dead train which proved the messen-
ser OF death when, at $40 that evening.
Z crashed into the light passenger at
Terra Gotta.
Awake Nearly s. Hours.
In summary. Hildebrand was awake. /
nd most of the time on duty; from 9 I
b m. Friday until 60 p. m. Sunday
learly ffty-eight hours-except for two 4
our-hour sleeping periods He could /
lot tell how long he had slept before I
le got up Friday morning
This testimony is regarded as much I
he most important yet elicited. Hide /
rand insisted that during the last fatal /
un he was not worn out or sleepy
Ie would not admit that lack OF sleep /
Ould have had 10 do with mis- failure /
o see the red signal alleged TO have /
cen out for him al Takoma. On this 4
Oint there is apparent disposition of 4
he authorizes 10 disagree with his /
The case OF HHdebrand." said an
Continued on Second Page)