The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-03
 B. & 0. WRECK Coroner After the Rail
 road. VIOLATION OF THE RULES Only Explanation Offered by Off,
 cials of Company. Engineer of Extra Train Knew That Passenger Was Ahead Of Him and
 FIagmen Didn't Go Back
 4 At station.
VIOLATION OF THE RULES

Washington, Jan 2.--An investigation to fix responsibility for the wreck on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Terra Gotta, D. C., was begun here by coroner's jury today. The prin- eipal witnesses were three officials of the road. none of whom could give any reason for the wreck
 Nearly fifty witnesses have been summoned and the inquiry promises to occupy the entire week. Engineer Hildebrand and the other members of the train crew of the dead" train which telescoped the passenger train, and who are now under arrest, were in the room when the Inquest began but were later excluded.
 The testimony developed the move ments Of the trains from the time they were both at Washington Junction un- til the accident took place. No. 66, the passenger train, left Washington Junc- ton for Washington on time. The dead train, No. 2120, left few min utes afterward.
 No. 66 had passed Takoma Park when NoI 2120 was allowed into the block at Silver Springs. The train record kept by Dispatcher Dent. who had charge of the trains. showed that he received a message from the operator at Takoma Park that No. 2120 had run by his red signal. This message came seven or eight, minutes after the train had run past the danger signal. Dent immedi- ately called up University Station, the next towards Washington, and was told that No. e6 twas not coming" from this, he said, he feared trouble, and in six or seven minutes he got word that the wreck had occurred. Dent said there was no cause to apprehend dan- ger from the proximity of the two trains until the rear train ran by the "stop" signal at Takoma.
 Division Superintendent O. Hobbs said the company had made no effort to investigate the accident because the trainmen were under arrest. He asoribed the accident to 9 violation of rules"
 c. W. Galloway superintendent of transportation said he had no direc- ton as to the operation of the trains although he had been division superin- tendent up to December 20, when MT. Hobbs succeeded him. He had no doubt that Engineer Hildebrand knew that No. 66 was ahead of him as both trains were at Washington Junction at the same time. He said there was no re- quirement that the crew of No. 66 should send out warning to the rear when they made station stops, as 1t was running on regular schedule.
 Dr. l.. J. Battele, resident surgeon of the road, testified that all possible despatch was used in caring for the injured and removing the dead. Coro- ner Nevitt indicated there was delay in both the proceedings and asked many questions of the witnesses to bring out the cause. Mir. Galloway frankly told the coroner that he regarded the de- law as the fault of MT. Nevitt himself
 This Mir. Hewitt disclaimed. The &C., cident occurred about 6:35 o'clock and the statement was made that it was near midnight when the dead reached the station. That the weather was fog gy was testified to from the official records of the weather bureau by Pro- lessor O. c. Day.
 Both MT. Hobbs and MT. Galloway gave Engineer Hildebrand an excellent character; he has been an engineer on that road for twenty-three years. and on that particular division for twelve years. He had run the fast passenger trains and worked extra as passan- ger engineer. having no regular run
 The inquest will proceed tomorrow.