Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-02

tigadon. Up to this time no steps have
been taken to make an investigation
You were aware that the crew Of the
train was under arrest at No. 10 police
station" said the coroner. land that you
could have access to them"
Yes" was the reply OF the witness, "but
could not make a full Investigation under
the circumstances"
Supt. Hobb acknowledged that he had in
terviewed the conductor Of the empty
equipment train that dashed into No 66
while he was in the police station.
II asked him what kind Of signals he got
at Silver Spring and Takoma- He informed
me that he got the double green signal at
Silver Spring. but that he did not see the
signal at Takoma because OF the fog and
smoke"
What the Rules Provide.
Being asked by Coroner hewitt as to what
the railroad rules provide in cases like that
presented at Takoma. when the signal can
not be seen, Supt. Hobb replied:
'The rules require that when a signal is
improperly displayed or in the absence o,
signal. the engineer shall stop and inves-
tigate the cause"
immediate charge of the removal Of trains
Witness went to the scene Of the catas-
trophe ON the first train he could reach.
He then read. at the request OF Coroner
hewitt. the railroad rule as to the display
of signals.
kteaQ from Rule BOOK.
Mr.. Hobbs continuing, read from the rule
book. by which operatives on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad are governed, to the eff
feet that a red signal or the absence of any
signal are supposed to work to the same
end-that Is, as stop"
Coroner hewitt asked that copy Of the
case.
Asking question about Takoma Park
block being open only part of the twentyfour
hours. the coroner drew q reply that Ia
Roma Park and other short blocks are used
during rush hours SO as to facilitate the
movements OF the more numerous trains.
Giving the hours Of operation Of the differ
ent blocks on the Baltimore and Ohio sys-
and Takoma Park block is worked between
the hours Of $50 am. and $50 pm
what Is the next block to Takoma Park
after the latter Is closed?' Coroner hewitt
asked.
University" the witness replied, until I
O'Clock pm. when 1t, too. Is closed, and the
block Is heightened from Silver Spring to
Rhode Island avenue"
What signal does the operator at Ia
koma Park leave when he closes the office r.
None whatever. He puts out his lights.
Il would like to explain" the witness
continued. that have been superintendent
Of the Metropolitan division only for ten
days and there may be some things with
which I am not entirely familiar
Asked who was train dispatcher in charge
of the movement Of trains Sunday night,
Mr. Hobbs said: Mr. Dent special dis
patcher.'
Over the latter, he added, was General
Dispatcher w. w. Eggston.
As to Blocking System.
When asked regarding the blocking sys-
Washington Superintendent Hobbs said it
Ia In Nhor of
ton. He could not express an opinion as
to the comparative value Of the automatic
blocking system and the system In use be.
tween Washington and Baltimore.
Describing the latter system, Mr. Hobbs
said signal station is required to have
displayed at all times red or stop" tar
get: that an engine approaching a station
must whistle for instructions and not pro-
coed until the engineer sees the target
change from red to white.
What Is the duty of an engineer when
he approaches a station and sees no signal
at alp
STOP"
When train No. &c passed Silver Spring
Sunday night the operator there SO reported
to Takoma Park. and when No. 66 passed
Takoma the latter operator so reported to
Silver Spring. Unless engine 212O passed
Silver Spring the fact was reported to Ia
koma. copy Of the rules governing oper-
ators In block signal stations was put in
evidence.
The block sheets from Silver Spring, Ia
koma Park and University were also called
for and they will be filed for the considera-
ton Of the jury. The running times Of
Sented ...--...,G 81.
Taking of Precautions
IF the block office at Takoma was closed
and train No. 66 was still in the block and
possibly delayed what precauton should
/ the operator at Silver Spring have taken
with reference to engine No. 212O?" Coroner
hewitt inquired
Superintendent Hobbs read from the block
sheets that train No. e6 passed Silver
Spring at 6:21 pm. and Takoma at 8:2S
Engine No. 212O passed Silver Spring at
626 and Takoma Park at 6:31
From the Takoma Park block sheet Mr.
Hobbs also noted that the operator at Ia
koma Park had written:
Engine 2l2O passed red signal"
Referring to his schedule. witness said
train No &C. if on time should have passed
Silver Spring at sos pm.
Under the conditions that existed Sunday
evening, Mr.. Hobbs declared that both
train No 6G and engine No. 212O should
have received the white signal at Silver
Spring.
Morguemaster Schoneberger, replying to a
question. said the watches that he saw taken
from victims were SO badly damaged that
he could not tell what time they stopped
said he saw two watches. one that stopped
at 635 and the other at $3.50.
No Accident In Fifteen Years.
''The block system now in vogue has been
in existence for fifteen years. and I do not
recall an accident in that time due to the
system Mr.. Hobbs remarked
DO you know what signal was dis
played for No. 212O at Takoma ParkY'
Coroner hewitt wanted to know III at
that hour. when the engineer of 212O might
have supposed the block station at Takoma
Park to be closed. was he under any obli-
CATION to look for signal there%'
Most assuredly. II Takoma had posi-
lively closed at $50 and had
made his transfer properly with
Silver Spring and University. engine 2t2O
would not have been permitted to enter the
block at Silver Spring. If the operator at
Takoma permitted train 66 to enter the
block at Silver Spring, and later engine
212O after train 66 had cleared at his sta
tion. he must necessarily have remained on
duty until train 68 had cleared University,
so that the block station there could stop
engine 2120.'
"H O passenger train had been in the
block the operator at Silver Spring would
have been violating the rules by permit
ting another train to enter" Mr.. Hobbs
stated In reply to another question. He
also said the distance between Silver
Spring and Takoma Park was about one
nd fUo miles