Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-14
IDUTROW AGAIN HEARD
Charges Train Crews With Con-
spiracy Against Him.
no BLAME HIM FOR WRECK
Unable to Satisfactorily Explain
Theory.
TELLS OF HIS EXAMINATION
Investigation of the Recent Terra
Gotta Wreck Resumed by In
terstate Commission.
no BLAME HIM FOR WRECK
TELLS OF HIS EXAMINATION

After a weeks adjournment the inter-
state commerce commission today resumed
the inquiry into the recent railroad wreck
at Terra Gotta. Several sessions were held
by the commission Just after the wreck
occurred but the investigation was then
adjourned. much of the detailed informa-
ton being brought out by the coroner s
inquest. which was held simultaneously.
The investigation of the interstate COM
merce commission will have the same OBJ
Ject as the coroner's inquest, namel.- find
ing just where the responsibility for the
wreck lies. But the scope will be broader,
inasmuch as 1t will tend to bring out the
practical workings of the block signal sys-
tenn, on which the commission Is to re-
port to Congress.
The testimony today was largely a
repetition of the evidence given before
the coroner. 1t emphasized even more
strongly the conflict between the opera
tors and the train crews, Operator VIM.
M. Dutrow of the Silver Spring block sta
tion charging directly that the train
crews had conspired to contradict his
evidence with a view to putting the re-
6ponsibility of the wreck on him He
claimed specifically that he had shown
both train 66 and train 212O a white sig
nal at Silver Spring on the night of the
wreck. while both OF the train crews
claimed they had r,ee'yed a double green.
when he made this statement Commits
SlOner CLARK VINO IS himself old rail-
road man, asked him:
How would it put the train crews in
any better position for them to claim that
they had received green eautionary signal
from you instead of white light which
would have indicated to them a perfectly
clear track?"
Dutrow thought a minute and then said
he did not know.
The rooms were crowded when the hear
ing began. Commissioner Clements, who
had conducted the previous hearing was
accompanied by Commissioner Clark. Spe-
cial Attorney Walter did the questioning
represented the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road.
Tells of Examination.
Operator Dutrow was the first witness
His testimony was important mainly as
showing that there was practically, no ex-
animation when he was taken into the
service of the road as an operator. He
said that he had begun his study of teleg
raphy at Boyds. that the operator there had
taught him at night, the company allow
ing him to study in the Office, but paying
he went south and was employed for
year by the Atlantic Coast Line. He re-
ceived $40 a month as station agent. ex-
press agent and operator. They did not
have the block system on the road, the
trains being controlled by train orders.
After year Dutrow wanted to come
DdCA 10 w aSnlnStOn TO De nearer MS nome,
and applied to Assistant Superintendent
McCauley at the Baltimore & Ohio station
for job. He said that his examination
consisted in being asked whether he was
familiar with the rules of the road. and
whether. he was an operator, He said he
was, and the operator from Boyd s who had
taught him vouched for his ability. He
was told to go out and study up at one of
the stations and when he was wanted he
Jwould be sent for. He was working as a
substitute at the time of the accident, hav-
Ing served at Boyds, Rockville, Randolph
and other stations.
Stationagents, he said were paid dol
lar or two more month where there were
Signals to work, than if they were merely
agents. He was asked if he thought a man
could be an agent and an operator BOTH
'end properly attend to his job and he said
he thought one could.
Trouble With Train Dispatcher.
The questioning by Attorney Walter indi-
Coted that there had been some trouble
kbetween Dutrow and Train Dispatcher Dent
1t the time of the accident, and Dent had
pent message to Dutrow to get Day OPP
orator Burns out of bed and bring him to
,the wire. But Burns had sent back word
That he would not get UP and work at that
time for his grandmother" and this mas
sage was sent to Dispatcher Dent. Dutrow
said that he did not know why Dent wanted
Burns to come to the station, and did not
scCoNttt any particular row or disagree
ment with the dispatcher over the wire.
He went into detail as to the way the
lights were lighted at the station at Silver
Spring and where the colored lanterns were
placed inside the office. He said that the
double green signal was never displayed
I'LL after $50 In the evening, and that
when II was put out he did 1t himself
He said he was positive that he had not
Baked with any of the other operato tors
end cooked up the story he should tell
IN advance. Attorney Wilson for the rail-
aEoad. warned him that the result of false
testimony before the commission would be
p good deal more serious than having the
responsibility for the train wreck placed on
him.
a Operator c. z. Remsburg of the JTniyer-
Billy station, testified that he was on the
pane block wire as the other stations. but
4hat ne had not heard Takoma calling Sill
per Spring to report anything about the
movement % extra 2120 before Takoma had
Falled him and notified him that the extra
pad run by the red block signal
= The hearing then adjourned till the after
boon.