The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-02

TRAIN WRECK At
TERRA GOTTA

washington, Jan. Am endeavor TO
FIX the responsibility for the Terra
wreck OF Sunday night on the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, in which
large number OF persons were killed
and Injured began today at the dis
trict morsue.
The coroners jury Of six men had
already been sworn and yesterday
visited the scene OF the wreck. The
principal point OF contention developed
is as 20 whether the proper signals
were displayed at Takoma, a station IN
the middle Of the block In which the
accident occurred. The operator In
charge OF this station says his signals
were set red, which, II they had been
observed by the engineer OF the dead
train, would have obviated the collision.
The engineer OF this train MAINTAINS
there were no signals at Takoma
Coroner Nevitt had rule No - Of the
road placed in the record. IL requires
that In the absence OF a signal 1r In the
presence of a misplaced signal, the train
must stop. Mr.. Hobbs explained that the
station at Takoma was supposed 10 be
closed from till $3.50 a. IN. THIS station
he said was used In the day 10 facilitate
the trains TO go closer together, tl,e
blocks being shorter The University sta
ton was also a day station and closes at
D. m The Silver Springs station was
open "A hours.
At the inquest the district government
was represented by Coroner Nevitt,
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook, Commission
ers MacFarland and West, Assistant
United States District Attorneys Proctor
and Gibbons, Corporation Counsel Thomas
and Major sylvester, chief OF police.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad WAS
represented by John O.. Wilson, assistant
general attorney. Edward Galloway, SUI
perintendent of transportation. and .. "a.
Hobbs, superintendent OF the Baltimore
division. James NJ Watson. chief OF the
safety appliances division OF the Inter
state commerce commission and L. NJ.
Walters, attorney for that division of
prosecuting the safety appliance act. APP
peared for the interstate commerce COM
mission.
The inquest began at 1890 Edgar Bow
den told the jury that he performed an
autopsy on Prof. King, one OF the vic
tins OF the wreck Coroner hewitt ex-
planned that where more than one person
was killed by the same Accident IL was
customary that one autopsy should repre-
sent all.
o. III. Hobbs, superintendent OF the
Baltimore division. was the first wit
ness and was asked II he had made any
investigation. He said he had not. eN-
planning that he could not make n
complete investigation because the
operator at Takoma Park and the train
crew had been arrested He said that
he gave orders TO destccv the wreck
age
Has any one been detailed to make
an Investigations"
mo sir After the coroners jury re-
ports, / personally expect to make
thorough investigation"
Asked II he had interviewed any Of
the train crew. Mr.. Hobbs said: 81
asked the conductor OF engine 2l20. as
he passed me under arrest, what kind
OF signal he got nj Silver Springs
and also what kind OF a signal he got
at Takoma. He informed me he Bot
double green at silver Springs and
did not see n signal at Takoma on ac-
count OF the smoke and fog"
What does the company require In
cases OF that kind?"
That an improperly placed signal OF
In the absence OF a signal the train
shall stop for an investigation"
Did this conductor do SOP
mo"
Did you ask him why?"
II did not"
Mr.. Hobbs said that the operators sheet
a. Takoma had on IL this note: "2l2o went
By red target"
"On your knowledge of the accident
10 what do you ascribe the reason for IT,"
ION my present knowledge. would as
crihe IL TO violation Of the rules" said Mr.
Hobbs, who added that substitute
operator was In charge OF the station at
Silver Springs. Mr.. Hobbs was excused
and O. c. Bay. an official OF the weather
bureau. testified that the official records
showed foggy weather In the night of the
accident.