Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-03


| periors in which the time of accident was
placed at 1894. and the statement made
that two coaches of train 66 and the front
| Of engine 212o were demolished that about
twenty-nine persons were killed and TWEEN
ty-nine injured. The same message con-
tanned the statement from Mr.. Carr that
Engineer Hildebrand said he passed Silver
Spring under a double green light. and Ia
koma with no lights at all showing, and
both paddles of signal post down.
Dispatcher Dent was recalled to interpret
the train sheets. and was asked how long
train 45, the relief train, was held at Uni
versity. About thirty minutes. he re-
piled.
Why did it not 20 Immediately in the
Because the wrecking train was on the
west-bound track and we could not send the
relief along until 1t was cleared"
why was the relief train held at Uni
versity and the western express allowed TO
go through"
Because No. O. the express, could set
through without delaying or interfering
with the work Of gathering up the dead
What time did No. pass University?
'Eleven-two p.m.'
What time did No 45 leave University
for the scene Of the accident"
''Eleven-fifteen p.m.. thirteen minutes al
ter No. o.
Getting Trains Through.
did this not show more or less inten-
| ton on the part of the company to get No.
| through instead of No. 45?''
mo, sir. Because 1 figured No. could
get through without causing interference
| with the relief train
| Mr. Dent was required to draw a diagram
| of the tracks. illustrating the movement of
| the express the relief and the wreck trains
After preparing the sketch he explained IL
| to the jury
1--WE had trains standing still at Silver
| Spring. Kensington and Gaithersburg. and
we could have used the west-bound track
| to get them through IL we had not given
preference to the relief train and given
both tracks to the work of getting out the
dead" witness continued.
The same ground was gone over repeated
| ly and with varying seris, of questions. but
witness continued in his contention that
there was no delay in getting No. 45 to the
scene by reason of an effort to advance the
| western express without further delay.
Statement by Coroner.
In statement to the jury Coroner
hewitt related his experience in getting
to the wreck, declaring after his arrival
at the Baltimore and Ohio depot he could
get no satisfaction from Assistant Train
master Robey about a train being sent
to gather the bodies of the dead and that
Robey seemed Indifferent
After the examinations of Mr.. Carr and
Mr.. Dent were concluded Maj Richard
Sylvester. superintendent of police, as
sumed the stand and said in part
after countermandilS an order to have
all ambulances and patrol wagons pro-
coed to the scene of the wreck and to
have all wagons walt at the Baltimore
and Ohio station an adequate number or
our men were dispatched to the scene"
William G. Robey. night station master
of the B. and O., was next called. AT
6:35 Sunday night I was seeking infor-
nation about train 66, which was late"
he said. and from the operators learned
that 66 and 2120 were In the block be-
tween Silver Spring and University. Soon
afterward l received i telephone message
from Baggagemaster Norris of the train
of 212O, telling me of the wreck. and i'm
mediately made arrangements to have
corps OF doctors and relief train to
carry them to the scene and afterward
bring back the injured. According to my
watch the relief train pulled out at 7:1S
Pm" ...-e.:@ -. IT, sd" q. II -.fr
Assistant United States Attorney Tur-
| ner asked several questions about the
| relative strength Of the cars which COM
posed train 60 and drew forth the state
ment from MIR. RObey that all were
standard coaches.
Chief Train Dispatcher Called.
w W. Eccleston. chief train dispatcher
of the Baltimore and Ohio. who was next
summoned. said he first heard Of the wreck
Monday morning. He Identified the train
sheet covering the movement of trains on
| tfie metropolitan DIdtiCH ouHudy night DIS
having been kept by his assistant L. F.
Dent.
Gould Mr.. Dent issue an order, through
any misunderstanding OF message from
| an operator along the line. which would
cause an accident? the coroner asked.
II do not think So" witness replied "be-
cause the block stations guard against too
close approach of trains
Have you made an investigation of any
sort into the causes of the accident"
mo investigation at all-but, of course,
have an opinion.
| I'VE have had the block system In force
| for many years, and 1t has proven sue
cessful," witness continued. Because one
| train is running faster than another and
| gradually approaching from the rear we
do not regard 1t as dangerous. because the
block stations are there to prevent two
trains getting into stretch of track.
| The trains are supposed to run from block
| to block, but never two In the same block"
Upon request Mr.. Eccleston named the
the operators charged with no duty
| other than attention to the signals under
which trains are operated. At ] O'Clock re-
| cess was taken for half an hour.
Afternoon Proceedings
When the coroner's court reassembled for
the afternoon session. Chief Dispatcher Ec-
| cleston was recalled, and Juryman Rick
| etts asked:
1.-The block tower operators come direct
| ly under your control?'
YES"
as 1t possible for the operator at Tako-
ma Park to communicate directly with your
| office in Baltimore? Coroner hewitt
| quered
YES"
"And there would be no reason for a de-
lay in such a meSSage?"
No, unless there should be wire trouble. /"
| A series of questions was preached by
Assistant District Attorney Turner about
| the system of block operators reporting
| the passage of trains to the dispatcher
| office. and the fact was developed that the
| block operators were supposed to COM
| municate with the blocks on either side
| before reporting to the dispatcher's Office.
| Il understand then that 1t is sometimes
| FIVE ten. fifteen or twenty minutes before
the dispatcher charged with responsibility
| for the movement of trains is appraised of
| the clearing Of the blocks?'
Yes"
| Assistant Division Operator Called.
w. f. McCauiey. assistant division OPP
orator Of the B. and O., was next called,
| and he detailed his movements following
notification of the wreck. 81 came to
Washington on No. 8 from Baltimore and
went to University on the relief train.
found Generator PhilliDS at his station Ia