Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-01
PLANS FOR THE1NQUEST
ROOM CLEARED OF GRIM RELICS
FOR THE WITNESSES.

The hustle of yesterday at the morgue
was succeeded today by the quiet but de-
termned efforts of the officials-the coro-
ner. morguemaster and police in combina-
tion-to prepare for the coroners inquest
The inquest room has been cleared OF the
grim relics of the railroad tragedy and
prepared for the reception of the coroner
jury and the witnesses who will give their
testimony concerning the deplorable disas
ter.
That the elements of nature will figure
to considerab BILE and important part in
the placing of the responsibility was de-
veloped today, and 1t may be possible tina t
the records of the weather bureau as to
the local meteorological conditions at the
time of the disaster will be used evil
dence in the trial before the Criminal Court.
should the matter reach that tribunal. The
prevailing fog and resulting high per-
centage of humidity, which made the rails
slippery, will be used as evidence in favor
Of the railroad men, it Is said.
Usually Seen a Mile.
This was indicated today when the con-
ductor of the train which crashed into No.
GO Informed one of the officials at the
morgue that on a clear night the lantern
or lamp signal at Terra Gotta station can
be clearly seen full mile away. The
| morgue official visited No 10 police station
and talked with the five trainmen who are
held prisoners there. The conductor de-
clared that had the night been clear or
fair the accident might not have hap
pened. He added that straightaway from
Terra Gotta Is full mile of clear track.
He said the engineer could not have seen
any lights at the station, owing to the fog.
In this connection the query was made
today why the railroad men did not resort
to the fog signals that used by all
first-claSs railway systems. These include
the track bomb, which is strapped to the
roll nd doc vr-ith aud VII %
the train passes over 1t. 1t Is probable.
some of the officials say. that Coroner New
lit will bring out this matter of fog sig
nails, and why they were net employed
Sunday evening.
The morgue official who visited No 10
police station today said he found Engineer
Hildebrand Of the big locomotive which
plowed its way through the Inflated Fred
erick accommodation train almost over
come with grief. He appeared pale and
haggard. and apparently realizes the ex-
tent of the awful disaster which is said 10
have been brought about by some ones
blunder.
Engineer Hildebrand's brother took him
a new suit of clothes for him to wear at
declined to talk about the wreck. and
seems to shudder at the mention Of the
direful occurrence, IT Is said
MI. Macfarland to Attend.
The inquest will be held in the large
room in the home Of the steamer Fire
fighter next to the morgue, and the in
quest room In the morgue may be en-
ployed as waiting room for the many
witnesses that have been summoned 1t
is believed the morgue bu,uing will be too
small for the hearing. Commissioner Mac
farland, who visited the scene of the dis
aster Sunday night, will be present at the
hearing. he says, and he has detailed two
expert stenographers, Messrs. Peachin and
Johnson, to make a stenographic record OF
the testimony.
Morguemaster Schoneberger was busting
about all of today arranging for the hear
ing tomorrow. The jury was sworn over
the remains of one of the wreck victims
yesterday and all that will be necessary is
1t is understood that Capt. Elliott, in
whose precinct the wreck occurred, has
summoned a long list of witnesses 1t is
said that the officials of the railroad WIS.,
tied No 10 police station today and made
stenographic copies of the statements of
the crew of the train who are held as priS
oners.
1t Is understood these statements are to
be used in an investigation to be made by
the railroad company. 1t is said Station
Agent Phillips of the Terra Gotta station
also made statement.
CoreHer hewitt has issued burial permits
for all the victims of the wreck except the
four now remaining at the morgue. Repre-
sentatives of the railroad also visited the
morgue and secured the official list of the
dead that had been prepared there. From
appearances this afternoon the investigation
tomorrow before Coroner hewitt will be a
| most thorough and searching one.