Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-03
DEEPER AND DEEPER
Inquiry Probe Being Pressed
Into Details.
QUERIES HELD IN RESERVE
Explanation Desired of Crew of
Equipment Train.
WHITE LIGHT AT SILVER SPRING
Intricacies and Enigmatic Conditions
of the Block System-Witnesses
Who Appeared Today.

The inquiry probe is sinking deep
er and deeper into the causes which
surrounded the railroad disaster at
Terra Gotta station last Sunday
evening Important testimony was
developed at the coroners inquest
today, and The Star learned from
reliable sources that those who are
conducting the investigation have
in reserve some queries to be pro-
pounded to the members of the
crew of the equipment train when
they are placed on the witness
stand which may assist in the I'M
raveling OF the present tangled
skein. 1t was stated today that
the operator at Silver Spring will
testify that he gave the engineer
of locomotive 2I2o the white
light the night of the calamity.
Whether this signal at that time
meant clear track to Takoma or
through to University is matter
that will have to be settled, it is
SAID, as 1t was one minute past the
time the Operaor at Takoma should
have closed down his station when
the "deadhead' train bowled past
the station at high rate of speed.
Did the engineer and conductor
OF the equipment train believe the
operator at Takoma had closed
down a minute before, on schedule
time, and that Takoma was then
dead station, it was explained to-
day, is another question that will be
pressed. If they so believed, an
official added, it was evident to
them that the track was clear
through to University station, and
there was no reason for them to
expect signal of any kind at Ia
kOma. y railroad man said if was
his understanding that according to
the rules of all great railroad sys-
TENS train should be held at one
end OF block until seven minutes.
have elapsed after the train at the
other end had taken its departure.
1t begins to appear that the in
tricacles, inaccuracies and eng
matte conditions of the block sys-
tenn will come in for severe crit
icism and that radical reforms will
be demanded.
There was no abatement today in the in
tense interest manifested in regard to the
causes which led to the terrible disaster on
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at Terra
Gotta station, last Sunday evening. result
Ing In the death of nearly half a hundred
people and the manning of many more
When the corOner's inquest was resumed
TINS morning District Commissioners Mac
farland and West, Maj. Sylvester, the rep
resentatives of the general government and
the law officers, including Assistant United
states Attorneys Turner and Proctor were
IN their places facing Coroner hewitt and the
jury Of six citizens The legal department
OF the District government was represented
today by Assistant Corporation Attorney
Francis II. Stephens, while Mr. N. ]. Col
bert appeared with the other counsel for
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company.
Interest in and around the inquest place
continued at almost fever heat, and the
opinion was freely expressed that the in
curry would be both thorough and search
Ing. The statement was made that there
had been some criticism of the District
Commissioners because they did not mar
ticipate In the examination of the wit
nesses and suggest questions that will as
eist IN arriving at a solution of the mat
Ter under consideration Commissioners
Macfarland made reply that he and his COL
league. MT. West, had asked questions, but