The Washington times., 1907-01-07
Hildebrand Says He Was
Not Expecting Sig
nal There.
Fast Watch May Have
Helped to Cause
Wreck.
Coroner Tries to Prove
Men in Cab Were
Drinking.

Ii was admitted by Engineer
Hildebrand, of the extra train,
while ON the witness stand at the
inquest this morning that he did
not see a signal OF any kind at
TakOma ON the night of the Terra
Gotta wreck, because he thought
that STATEN "deads and so did not
look for any signal. He admitted
having seen the base of the tower,
but states that he did not look at
the top because he did not expect
any signal to be there.
He stated thar he did not know at the
present time whether there was a red
signal ar any other signal at Takoma.
because after $50 at night he was not
supposed 70 get a signal there.
Engine Under Control.
Ask # he considered twenty-five
miles an hour a precautionary speed for
a fogsy night, he replied in the ahirma-
tive. Questioned as 10 whether OF not
he had his engine under control at the
time of che Terra Gotta calamity, he
replied; she was under control"
It was established as a fact this
morning that Engineer H~fIdebrand's
watch was three minutes fast. Ha
says that the wreck occurred at elsa
while the other watches at Terra Gotta
show SIS as the time. H~ldebrand's
time at the other stations west OF
Terra Gotta also shows that his watch
was three minutes fast, which doubt
less had some bearing upon the wreck.
some time was consumed by Coroner
hewitt and the Commissioners this morn
ing in an endeavOr TO establish the fact
whether Hildebrand and his crew were
drinking at the time. The engineer and
fireman Mcclellan, who was also on the
stand. denied the accusation.
Coroner Frustrated.
The Coroner also devoted a half hour
IN e-ndeayoring 20 get at the fact that
Hildebrand was rushing over the track
az a high rate OF speed In order TO end
the trip and Increase his earnings for
the day. and also TO follow train No.
la from Washington to Baltimore.
Hildebrand denied both.
Questioned as 10 Wether he had had
SUFFICIENT sleep between Friday morning
and the time Of the wreck he replied
that he had.
Just before recess was taken for lunch
Hlldebrand was called 10 the stand for
the third time since the inquest began.
He was asked 10 read an order from
q book, which read:
Engine 2l20 viii run as second and
last 10 section of Nc. ia from Washing
ton 10 Baley's. and then proceed 10
Locust Grove, Dent" Asked II he got
this order he said NO"
Asked II he was not e~ndeavoring to
get to Washington as quickly as pos
sible and follow No. "a. and live up TO
this order he replied, mo. I did not
get the order"
Dutrow Had Green.
F. l. Hewitt. postmaster OF Silver
Springs. was the first witness called.
lie is acquainted with Operator Dutrow
Witness said he arrived at Silver
Springs at twenty minutes to seven sun
day night.
That the first time you were there
sunday?"
Yes"
What did you do there?"
Il bought a ticket to Rockville from
Mr.. Dutrow. He said there was a wreck
on the road and did not know what
line could get a train"
D you know anything aboat the
signals displayed for trains 66 and
2lz0g'
mo. They both passed before I ar
rived at silver Springs"
See any signals at all at Silver
S%prings?"
Il saw Mr.. Dutrow with a green Ian
tern in his hand at 1880 o'clock. He said
he intended hanging IL up"
How long nave you known Mr.. Du-
trowS"
Never saw him before I bought my
ticket"
see any signal at Silver Springs
when YOU arrived there?"
Il saW a red. green. and white Ian
tern on the floor OF the office when 1
"see those three lights moved while
mo. Not before 1880 o'clock. when
the green light was picked up by
Was Mr.. Trundie In the Office when
you got thereY'
Have any talk with him about the
signals?'
Who is the regular operator at Silver
Miss Harrington"
a womanE'
Yes"
How old is she?"
Between twenty n thirty years
Does she throw the block signal
leversg'
Yes
"Whcre was she s~unday?'
Visiting relatives"
WANTS WRECK INVESTIGATED.
Senator Carter Rep. Mon) intro
duced in the Senate this afternoon a