The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-01
COMPLAIN OF DELAY
District Officials Say Railroad
Did Not Act Quickly.
EXPRESS GOT RIGHT OF WAY
Excuses offered by Baltimore and
Ohio Agents Fail to Satisfy Cor
oner Nevitt-BodIcs of the Dead
Were Allowed to Lie for Five
Hours Before Being Removed.

officials of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad were severely criticised yesteT-
day b. Commissioner West for the man
ner in which the removal of the bodies
from the scene Of Sundays deplorable
catastrophe was conducted. According to
the Commissioner, the railway officials
saw fit TO give preference TO a wrecking
train and a through Western express
over the morgue train that was TO carry
the mangled bodies into the Washington
depot. where hundreds of relatives and
friends of the passengers of the wrecked
train were waiting.
Arrangements were made by the rail-
road officials 10 have the local under
takers send cut their wagons to the
wreck and convey the bodies into the
city. instead of sending back a second
relief train. This plan was frustrated
by the police authorities, who insisted
that the train be used. and finally carried
their point. This action of the railway
authorities is strongly condemned by
Comwissioner West, Coroner hewitt, and
the police officials.
The Commissioners criticism, sustained
by the statement Of Coroner hewitt. Mai.
Sylvester. and cycWitnesses Of the spec
tacle of forty or more bodies lying be
side the railway tracks for nearly five
hours met yesterday with more or less
evasive explanations by J. = Carr, as
sistant tTaiumasteT. VINO had complete
charge of the work of removing the dead
and injured. When interviewed by rep
resentative of The Washington Herald,
Mr.. Carr made several explanations in
defense OF his method Of conducting the
relief-train work, none of which, when
reported 20 the Commissioner. answered
thai officials criticism 10 his satisfac-
ton.
Asked for Clear Track.
When asked why the Western express,
known as train No. 8. was permitted to
precede the morgue train. Mr.. Carr re-
Piled
The Baltimore train dispatcher asked,
Have you a track clear?' 10 which 1 re-
piled Yes and almost Immediately the
train dispatcher directed the station mas
ter at the Washington terminal. Send out
No. s.
Mr., Carr was then asked why it was
that any regular or scheduled train should
be given right of way over any relief or
naorgue train at the time of such terri
lie calamity Mr. Carr replied that the
express ran on the regular schedule and
thai the morgue train was an extra"
How is it. then," was asked that this
morgUe train was not already at the scene
of the wreck, inasmuch as the wreck oc-
CURED at about $50 and the express was
not due 10 leave until after . o'clock, Civ
Ing ample time TO send half dozen relief
trains to the scene Of the smash-up2
fF7.asf md r0I u
ing stock to equip an extra relief train?
Mr.. Carr replied that there were engines
and cars 10 equip more relief trains. but
that the railroad officials We're cOgniz8n Mt
of the fact that there was a law in the
District OF Columbia prohibiting the re-
moval of dead body before il had been
viewed by the coroner
Orders Train to Proceed.
At about 10:45 o'clock instructions were
received by Ri Carr from Superintendent
o. H Hobbs. in Baltimore, TO the effect
that coroner hewitt had consented to
the removal OF the bodies to Washington.
and ordering the morgue train 10 proceed
TO the scene OF the wreck Mr.. Carr. who
was at Terra Gotta at the time, showed
the telegram TO Inspector Cross. who was
conducting the rescue work of the police,
and the police official readily agreed.
Coroner hewitt, when questioned re-
garding the law prohibiting the removal
of dead bodies without the permission of
the coroner, said that whereas there was
such law. and that it dated back a
great many years, he had never, during
the six or seven years he had been con-
nected with the coroner's Office, enforced
the letter of the law.
+baf
of accident victims in public places
should be Immediately removed, without
waiting TO get my permission" said the
coroner. and this fact is well known %
the railroad officials and the police. The
claim that the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road could not send out the morgue train
until they heard from me is absurd.
Reached Depot Early.
Il was first notified of the wreck by
the police who informed me that there
were four dead. 1 went directly to the
depot and reached there about $50. The
relief train for the injured had gone
asked how I was TO reach the scene OF
the wreck. and was offered by the rail-
road officials the choice Of an ambulance
a patrol wagon. or a cab.
After over an hours argument with the
officials. I was told that the relief train
would soon return. and that it would
again be sent to the scene of the wreck
and that l could go on it, The train
started back TO Terra Gotta at about
$50 They backed and switched the trair
about the yards for many minutes, anC
finally allowed the express called No. C
pass US. It took nearly an hour 10 &C
the four or five miles to the scene of the
disaster. The delay seemed TO me to bt
entirely unnecessary, and in my opinion
the railroad officials deserve severe cen.
sure
EIees ,rith &c nnn