The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-04
LOSS OF LIFE IN WRECK
ON BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD

and is scheduled 10 reach Washington
at G:25 O'Clock.
Shortly before midnight a hospital
train, which had been sent from Wash
ington, arrived at the scene of the
wreck and the work OF taking on the
injured and the bodies OF the dead was
begun. The unidentified dead will be
taken TO the morgue, while the bodies
OF those who have been identified will
be conveyed to their late homes
1t is now stated that the danger
signal at Takoma Park, a short dis
lance from the scene Of the accident.
was set when the train of empties
passed. The train was going at the
rate of 60 miles AN hour, and Engineer
Hildebrand stated that on account of
the heavy fog he could not see the sig
nal. His train ran into the Frederick
train just as il was pulling out Of Ter
ra Gotta, where it had stopped TO take
on four or five passengers. Two Of
these were among the killed.
Both Engineer Hildebrand and the
fireman on the train Of empty cars
were placed under arrest and brought
to Washington in the charge of Off
GERS.
About 300 workmen are engaged in
clearing away the wreckage All traffic
On that division has been stopped.
Washington, December 31-The Bal
timore and Ohio wreck at Terra Gotta
last night grows in magnitude as the
hours pass The most conservative es-
innate Of the dead tonight is fifty two
with three scores Of injured in the hos
nitalS and ar the homes Gil orr n O from
wounds and fractures sustained in the
rear end collision which completely
demolished the two day coaches and
the smoker attached to the local Fred
erick, Maryland, train No. 66. Several
of the most seriously injured are ex-
pected to die and the death list may
reach sixty or more
H~eartrending and pitiful were the
scenes at the city morgue today where
hundreds of persons f1Ocked to assist
the police in the Identification of the
dead. Women, girls and even men
with iron nerves sobbed and tainted
as their relatives Or friends were found
among the cOrpses Strewn about the
floor.
Officials of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad are conducting an investiga-
ton of the wreck in Baltimore for
the purpose of placing the RESPONSE
bilitv for the disaster. General Super
Iouu cAoIIC ldlSo N1IltOIl "
Phillips, the operator at the Takoma
block station, the last signal station
that the equipment train passed before
crashing into the passenger train at
Terra Gotta. The superintendent de.
clared that Phillips was ebeying in
structions when he went home at $50
o'clock, leaving the double green
Signal burning. While making no
positive charge. Superintendent Todd
intimated that the burden of the blame
fall upon the engineer and
crew of he extra. The five members
OF the crew whO were arrested shortly
after the accident, are now being held
to await the result of the official inves-
tigation. They are:
Harry Hildebrand, engineer: Ira c.
McClelland, fireman: Frank F. Hoff-
meir. conductor; Ralph Rutter, brake
man, and William A. Norris baggage
master.
Gazing vacantly between the iron
bars of his cell at the police station
Engineer Hildebrand is too full of
emotion to make any definite state
ment. 1T will all come out at the
Investigation he said, Il don't believe
that there is anything for me to say.
and | couldn't say it if there was
Before he was arrested the engineer
made a statement to the Associated
Press in which he declared that if the
signal light was displayed at
Takoma he failed to see it on account
the dense fog.
Milton w. Phillips, the operator. who
is also held a prisoner at the tenth
precinct station, said today that the
equipment train ran past his danger
at a speed of from fifty to sixty
miles. He says there was a heavy fog
not nough to hide a red light. |
He declares that he Immediately noti- |
fed the operator at University station |
the train had taken the block
against orders. His statement is cor |
by the University station
operator, who says he received the
message. Policeman J. T. Kennedy. |
stationed at Takoma ark will testify
he saw the signal light in its pro- |
per place and that Hildebrand drove |
past the signal. Fred Lernkum. gate !
at Takoma makes a similar |
statement. |