The Washington herald., 1907-01-05

One Of the two points upon which the
cause Of and responsibility for the wreck
AT Terra Gotta is believed to rest, was to
all intents and purposes cleared up yes
terday at the third days session of the
coroner's inquest.
Through the testimony of Operator
Phillips. of Takoma. and several witnesses
appearing in his support, it was shown to
the officials conducting the investigation.
and the jury. that the red target, ct dan
ger signal. was displayed al Takoma when
the extra train, drawn by engine No.
2l20. approached and passed that station
last Sunday AT 6.3l O'Clock in the evening.
Far from injuring the prospects of En-
gineer HIdebrand, of the extra. who has
not yet appeared on tae stand. the testi-
mony yesterday. while establishing 10 the
satisfaction of the investigators that the
red light was displayed. failed TO show
any reason WY HiIaebrand should have
expected any signal at that point al that
time
Darkness Enveioped Red Target.
Furthermore, Phillips statements and
those Of the other Witnesses VINO We're AT
TakOma at the time in question devel-
oped the fact that the RED light could not
be seen at a distance OF more than forty
yards and that in the smoke fog, and
steam envelopiug engine 21Z0, as il passed
Takoma. the red target may easily have
been invisible from the engineers seat
While the District officials We're conduct
ing the inquest at the. foot Of Seventh
street, Engineer. Hndebrand and Engi-
uecr Vermillion, Of train c. We're testi-
flying at the first hearing of the Inter
state Commerce Commission. Their tes-
timOny before the commission was con-
Trajectory 20 that given by Operator
Dutrow. IF Silver Spring, at the inquest
Thursday. Both engineers testified To
having received Tire double green" sig
nal ut Silver Spring. while Dutrow de-
clared that ne gave them both the white.
or green, signal. In other respects the
statements OF the engineers tended TO
show that Hilde5rand had no reason 10
expect signals at Takoma Park.
Block signals Described.
It was not directly through the cor
roboration of Phillips testimony to the
effect that he had the red light burning
that the Investigators and many of those
present became convinced of the truth
Of the statements of the TaBoma operator.
II was through the hitherto mintroduced
description of the block signal light
mechanism Tt was shown that when the
lever controlling the lights is at rest, it
always assumes the position that makes
the red target show on the target pole
outside the station In order 10 give
white or green signal the operator must
throw the lever either forward or back
ward and holi it there until the signal is
slo longer wanted As soon as the lever is
released. it drops back 10 It's normal posi-
ton and the target becomes red again.
When the Inflated train-No. G6-drew
into Takoma Sunday evening. Phillips, il
appears By Yesterdays testimony. was in
his Office. He save G6 the white signal,
and held the lever i'm position until the
rear of the train had passed on about 100
yards. Then, lie said. he released IT,, again
displaying the red. or stop. signal. This
would not be changed for approaching
trains unless word from University de-
manded the use Of either the white or
gIeen light. II was. therefore, made plain
that unless Phillips pUrposely changed
the light il was red when 2120 passed Ia
IOma. II does not seem probable 10 the
official iHquisitors that Phillips would hold
the white light on FOR the five minutes
ensuing between the passing of IS and the
arrival of 212o: nor in their estimation is
il likely that this trained operator would
change the signal when 2l2o drew near.
unless the University operator had sent
instructions regarding train C5 that would
suggest either the white or green signal.
All nnarusn-s TEaa-.a
The satisfactory establishment of the
fact that the red light was burning ap-
parently clears all the operators on the
line in the vicinity Of the scene Of the
wreck from responsibility for the fright
ful disaster. To the all-imp0rtant remain
ing point. the point that is expected by
the District authorities TO settle the fate
of Engineer Hildebrand. so far as his con
neCtiOn with the wreck is concerned. is
the one that has been repeatedly raised
during the three days Of investigation.
Was HiIdebrand to expect any signals at
Takoma when il was after the customary
closing hour of that station? And had me
nos q right TO think when lie passed that
station and could see no lights that the
block was closed for the night. and. there
fore. he could proceed, in accordance with
custom without stopping?
On the first day Of the inquest. Mr..
Hobbs, division superintendent. declared
that he believed the accident 10 have been
the result of a violation of the rules
of the company. What rules, he was IN
able TO state. no investigation having
been made After three days Of rigid
inquiry no infraction of the rules hay
ing any direct bearing on the accident has
been shown 90 have been committed by
any employee or employees Of the company.
Milton W. Phillips the main witness at
yesterdays hearing. seemed to make a
favorable impression upon the jury and
The investigators. His answers TO the
questions We're clear and concise, and il
was apparent from the start that he
would need but little confederation from
other witnesses to satisfy his inquisitors
as 10 freedom from all blame attached
to the Terra Gotta disaster. His state
ments concerning the display of signals
on Sunday night We're convincing.
Operator Phillips Duties.
He was first questioned as to his duties.
From his answer it was learned that as
telegraph operator. employed by the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad at Takoma Park.
his hours on duty were from $50 in the
mOTning until the same hour at night. orr
therea bout Besides these duties. he is
engaged by the railroad as station agent,
in which position he handles freight, sells
tickets. acts as baggage master, and takes
care Of passengers in general. He receives
$3.50 per month from the railroad.
As side issues. he handles the express
for the United States Express Company.
and works a Western Union wire for com
nercial messages For these duties he