The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-05
KNEW EXTRA
WAS BEHIND
WHEN 1T HIT
lc0Htinued from First Page)

ward Oliver Belt, OF $40 Connecticut
avenue northwest, who was killed In the
wreck on Sunday. was an 0ccuiist and
au-isL IN the employment of the Balti-
more and Ohio RAILROAD.
Engineer -. l.. hermiiil0n. who had
charge OF the engine drawing No. is
vas the nrsL witness. lie said ne had
been AN engineer Tor tIirty-six wears
Before his promotion 10 engineer he
was a fireman Previous 20 becoming a
fireman be- was "a farm hos.
What time did you leave Frederick
on last Sunday o"
-Four o'clock
That. your schedule time?"
eyes"
How many stops aid you make be-
tweea Frederics aBd Washington June
ton
..Four" r-.-
Were YOU late when you got 20
Washington Junction.
IT was on time
when did You first hear OF extra
saw il on the main line at Washing
ton Junction
Were you. told that train was COM
No I was regular, The extras are
supposed 20 look out for regulars"
Then He Knew It.
when did YOU know zi20 was in your
rear9F
when DE Lii me"
mot betoreeT
NO"
was Tuskarora your next stop after
Washington Junction.
ON time there?"
YES
Get any orders there"
yes. L was ordered 10 take the sid
ing and let No. 4 pass
Witness then told OF stopping at sew
eraI other little stations and said he
was a few minutes late arriving al
each. He said he did not drink Asked
81 his hours were short enough for him
10 get plenty OF sleep, he replied IN the
affirmative.
Vermilli0n said he stopped at Takoma,
Lam0nds St0tts and Terra Gotta after
passing Silver Springs.
You say your didn't know 2l20 was
behind yOut
Il didn't know"
If you had known it was following
you, wouldn't that have imposed extra
precautions on yOue''
No"
Why
I'VE have pretty good operators and
they are supposed 10 look out for l. ans"
What kind of a night was it2'
About the foggiest ] ever saw. 30
HaVe any trouble seeing the lights?"
Yes. Couldn't see theW until / was
almost up on them
What signal did you set at Silver
Springs %
Double green"
How far did YOU see it,"
- bout forty yards.
"Double green means what 20 you2''
Meant proceed under pTeCauIi0n"
Did you think soluble green meant
that Tak0ma might be closed2"
Yes IL was pretty uear closing time
for TakOma'
How did you know fl wasn't cIosed?"
4 loked oUt when ] got near Takcma
and saw a White light and ! knew IL
wasn't closed
Describe the position of the two Ian
terms at Silver SPRINGS"
THE regular target showed a green
lantern and another lantern was hang
ing a few feet below Il
Shouldn't You have been notified that
ll20 was 50 close upon your
NO. The blocks looked after th>t'
'"inen YOU don't think fuses or tor
pedoes should have been used|'
Anyone else besides you and our
fireman il the cab OF your engine p
yes. An engineer named Anderson
and a fireman named Crockett Crock
stt got on al Galthersburg and Ander-
son jumped on al Tak0ma."
Against the Rules.
THAT against the rules?"
Yes"
Did you see the double green at Sill 1
yer Springs
yes. asked my fireman: That
double green over there?' he said
Yes.
What did you do that forg'
''To confirm my own sigh.
What did double green mean?"
Meant that some one was in the block I
between Silver Springs and University /
Using a crossOver.'
Were you expecting a double green I
II Silver Springs2"
No. l was looking for a white sig
Double green mean anything else
Yes. that Iakoma was closed up. but I
looked cut al Iakoma and saw il
lpen
What signal did you get at.Takoma %
White"
Did it change while YOU were look
ng al the tower2''
Yes. It was changed from red To
White while / was looking at it?''