The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-01-01
THREE SCORE ARE INJURED
Men Held Responsible for Disaster Placed
Under Arrest.
responsibility is fixed"

responsibility is fxed.'
Later in the day uperintendent Gal
loWay gave out a statement, in which
he declared that he was not prepared
to make a positive statement in re-
gard to the responsibility. but that
had there been proper observance OF
the rules governing the operation Of
the manul block system, with which
that portion Of the road is equipped,
the4accid lent would not have occurred.
After reciting the known facts about
the disaster, Mr.. Galloway continued:
The entire Metropolitan branch is
operated under the block system. I'm
der this system when passenger
train is on the section Of track be-
tween two block stations, no other
train of any class in the same direc-
ton is permitted in that block under
any circumstances until the passenger
train has passed beyond that block
in advance and the operator has re-
ported such clearance. On this sec
stion Of the road this applied to freight
tarins, too.
AT the time of the accident the pas
senger train had passed Silver Spring
station and out of the next block at
Takoma, and was entitled to the block
between Takoma and University, the
next block. The extra train passed
Silver Springs at 6:28 and should
have been held at Takoma until the
passenger train had passed out Of the.
block at University. The operator at
Y'akoma states that his signal was in
its normal position, properly display
ing the red, or stop signal at the
time the train with engine 23O passed
his block station. The operators state
that his lights were burning and his
signal properly displayed 10 proven
by Policeman Kennedy Of the District
Of Columbia, who was at Takoma sta
ton when the train passed by the
company's crossing fagman at that
point. Engineer Fiilderbrand OF en-
gine 212O states there was no block
signal displayed at Takoma and that,
while it was foggy, he had reduced
his speed after passing Silver Springs
to such an extent that he was able to
see the signal mast at Takoma and
is emphatic that no signal Of any kind
was displayed there. None OF the
train crew of engine 2120 has given
any information as to the position Of
the signal. claiming that owing 10
the fog they could not see it. II, Rs
is claimed, no signal was displayed
at Takoma It was his duty to stop and
ascertain the reason therefore. but In
the absence OF information i am not
TO make q positive statement
in regard to the responsibility.
"Oficial investigation will be
made to place the responsi.
All parties connected with
the movement of the two trains and
the operation of the block have long
and efficient records and are regarded
BY the management as thoroughly
competent men,"
Chairman Knapp. of the interstate
commission, tonight said TO the As
ISOLATED Press that the commission
today considered the advisibility OF
making a special Investigation into
the cause Of the wreck. No decision
was reached, he said, as to when this
viii be made.
The trainmaster of the Baltimore &
Ohio for this division is In Washing
10 make further inquiry into the cause
OF the wreck He said that to place
ehg responsibility at this time was an
utter impossibility.
sThe police have all the trainmen
locked up" he explained, "and until
We get at them. ask questions and
compare stories It viii be impossible
70 determine anything
AS manifestation OF sorrow over
the disaster at Terra Gotta. the dis.
trict commissioners today ordered
that all aaga ON all public buildings
be displayed at half mast until the
funerals OF the victims have taken
place.
esaaasaa e. EsaaA Peal