Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-06
STORY TOLD BY
THE ENGINEER

Continued from First Page.>
charge at Silver Spring Sunday night abou
| it since the accident happened and M
claimed to have shown US the white sig
nal"
Quotes Book of Rules.
Coroner hewitt, reading from the book o.
| rules. quoted the requirement concerning
the equipment of passenger trains, includ
ing the number of red lights. torpedoes
etc, ana asked Maggie if his train carried
the signaling devices mentioned. The con
ductor answered affirmatively.
Under the interrogatores of Assistant
United States District Attorney Turner the
conductor said he did not remember hav-
ing received the double green signal al
| Silver Spring Oh any other occasion. lie
also replied he did not remember of haV-
ing run train of which he WAS in charge
past red signal. Maggie was asked the
same series of questions put to Engineer
Vermillion relative to the speed he would
feel safe in approaching Terra Gotta II
he was in charge of dead-head equip
ment train passing under double green
as did the engineer: Eight to ten miles
an hour"
when you reached Takoma and found
white signal shown, and the station stlll
open, Qlun you tnlnk some one Idu ih'uC
a mistake in connection with the showing
of 'doube-green at Silver Spring.?
Yes, sir
Didn't it then occur to you that you
should make inquiry of the Takoma opera
tor about the matter?'
We'll, 1 thought possibly Silver Spring
had shown the wrong signal. but thought
the white target at Takoma indicated
clear block ahead.
G.. w. Stivers, baggagemaster on train
&c. testified he did not the signal at
Silver Spring. but he saw the white target
at Takoma.
H. c. Crockett of 1914 18th street north
east, twenty-three years Old. said he has
been employed as extra fireman on the
Baltimore and Ohio for about year.
Crockett said he went out on run on
an extra engine to Gaithersburg Sunday
morning where he boarded the engine of
train G6, to ''dea dhead' back to Washing
ton
DO you know whether or net it is against
the rules of the company for extra men to
ride in the cab of locomotive?
Il don't know that it is neces sarily a
violation of the ru,cs We usually do it.
Did you see the signal displayed at ST.
YER Spring that night? II 50, what was it,
1T was double-gr
What did that indicate TO you?
That the train should proceed with cau-
ton to the crossover at Terra Gotta
Crockett gave the same description of
the appearance of the ..doub'e-green'' sig
million, Fireman era aud Conductor
Naglc-"one green lantern on a poe and
the usual target lamp.
Crockett was asked. at the suggestion of
Commissioner West what signals he saw
at Randolph. at Kensington and at Forest
Glen, and said he could not remember.
Question by the Coroner.
How is it, then. you remember so ac-
curately about the signal at Silver Spring.
when you have no recollection of the tar
gets shown at other PAGES along the line?'
quered the coroner.
Il don't krow-except that was the first
thing l thought of after the accident hap
pened." witness answered.
Did you hear whistle from a train up
the line after passing Takoma?
Il don't remember hearing any
Under examination by Mr.. Turner. Fire
man Crockett said he heard Crawford say
to Vermillion after the collision: TN bet
that was 2l2O struck u.s..
Recalled to the stand era wfOrd could not
remember making the remark imputed to
him.
Engineer r. I. Anderson who made the
extra" run to Gaithersburg Sunday morn
ing, testified to boarding train &C at Gath
ersburg on the return to Washington. and
riding in the smoker to Takoma. where he
went forward to the engine cab.
He said he none of the signals at
Silver Spring or at Takoma.
Asked whether he heard any one of the
train crew of 66 make any remark about
engine 2l2b Anderson said he heard Fire
man Crawford say something about 2l2O
following down the line from Washington
junction. Anderson said this remark was
made by the fireman after the collision oc-
Cured.
Crawford was again recalled. but his
memory proved unequal to the task of re-
peating his exact remark, If any, In refer
ence to 212O
Engineer Hildebrand's Testimony.
Engineer Harry II. Hldebrand of lO7
West Ostend street. Baltimore, who was in
charge of engine 212O which crashed into
the local passenger train at Terra Gotta
Sunday night. was next called. He said he
was thirty Eight years old and has served
through ali the grades from extra fireman
to fireman. to freight engineer and to extra
passenger engineer.
Asked whether he ran engine 2l20 Sunday
night, Hildebrand said yes. and to a ques-
ton. Under what orders" he read
&C and engine 212O will run extra to
Locust Point via " at Washington; 212O
and 1865 will follow each other carefully
under green signals (Sgned) H. o. H.
Hildebrand said his fireman was named
McCleland: brakeman. Rutler. and con-
ductor. Hoffmer. He said he received a
trains had passed that station coming east.
Did you see train rs at Washington
Junction." asked the coroner
Yes"
Did G6 know where you were gong?"
I'VE were headed toward Washington,
but could have come down the main line or
cutoff to AdamStown.
do you know whether anyone on train
66 knew you were going to Washington
Il do not know"
Should anyone on 6S have been notified
at Washington Junction that you were TO
follow to Washington?'
NO. sir; because 6G was scheduled
train"
What light did you get at Silver Spring.
Double green.
Did that signify to you that another
signal should be expected at Takoma
Park?"
mo sir; 1t sgnified that Takoma Park
was dead.
No Signal at Takoma.