Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-01-04
police reached the scene.

police reached the scene.
Engineer Harry Hildebrand, who
has been on the road many years, was
SO excited that he has not yet been
able 10 give any luc.d account OF what
happened. He does not even remem,
Der putting on the air brake to stop
his train, which ran full length after
1t had struck the rear coach of the
local. He states positively that when
his train entered the block at North
Takoma, a short distance beyond Ter
"a Gotta, he was given a clear track.
This statement is directly contrary
to that of the operator at North Ia
koma, who declares that he gave the
train the red light, indicating that the
track was not clear. The Baltimore &
Ohio is run by the block signal sys-
tenn.
Brakeman Says Signals Were Out.
Lying in a critical condition at
Providence hospital, Frederick Leigh,
brakeman on the Inflated passenger
train, gasped out his story of the
wreck and died soon afterward.
when we passed Kensington the
danger signals were hoisted, and we
were told to move cautiously" he
said. when we hit Takoma the sig
nails were still out, and we left the
station slowly and proceeded to Terra
Gotta, our next stop. The signals
were out at Terra Gotta, and we took
aboard few passengers and started
to pull out for Washington when the
train following us hit the back coach
and smashed it to splinters."
DR.. E. o. Belt, one of the most
prominent physicians of Washington,
and his sons, Edwin, seven years old,
and Sinclair. five years old, were pas
sengers on the train. Edwin and his
father were killed, and the other son,
missing, is believed to be among the
unidentified dead.
Scores Visit Morgue.
Scores of persons visited the morgue
Monday to assist in the Identification.
The total number of bodies carried
into the room shortly after midnight
was 80. Most of the victims were res.
idents of Washington and suburbs and
the majority of these will be buried
Monday and Tuesday.
Coroner hewitt began an inquest at
1880 Monday. After the jurymen
were selected and the list of witnesses
secured the inquest was adjourned I'M
til Wednesday. The coroner says it
may last several days.
The members of the crew of the
train causing the wreck, who were
placed under arrest by the local police,
are Harry Hildebrand, engineer;
Frank Hoffmier, conductor; ]. c. Nc
Cullum, fireman; Robert Rutter brake
man, and w. A. Norris, baggagemas
ter All were taken to the Tenth pre-
cinct police station.
The officials of the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad, who were unable to fl
the responsibility for the disaster, be
gan their investigation at Baltimore
Engineer Hildebrand and the fireman
of the dead" train, tower operator
Phillips, and all others in any wa,
connected with the operation of thu
train will be examined.
Two Versions of Cause.
Two distinct stories were Monday
told by the friends of those who will
naturally be implicated. The en-
trance to the block on which the &C
cident occurred is at Silver Spring
Maryland. 1t Is said local No. &C
from Frederick, had entered the blocl
with a clear track. Two green light
were then set on the signal tower
showing that the block was occupied
The engineer of the dead" train
which was following, accordingl.
slowed down as he entered the blocl
to run Cautiously" At the Takoms
station, near the center Of the block
1t is said the day operator had tiet
down white signals showing q clea
track, and left his station. At thil
indication, the engineer Of the dead
train crowded on all steam and forget
ahead at tremendous speed in thu
dark and foggy night and on a slip
perry track. 1t was only few min
utes until the huge engine of tn,
dead train plunged into the rear o
the local, just pulling out of Teri;
Gotta, and only three miles from
Washington.
Operator Phillips, at Takoma denie
that his signals were white. He de
clares he was at his post and that re,
signals were set showing occupies
tracks. He was much astonished t
see the dead" train rush past, an,
expected it to slow down and bacl
up. Instead, he heard of the acciden
in few minutes.
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