Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-01
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
Railroad Has Not Vet Fixed Response
bility for Disaster.

biIity for Disaster.
Baltimore, Nd, Dec &c. w, Cal
lOway, superintendent of transportation
of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, who
went to the scene of the wreck ut
Terra Gotta Sunday night, returned to
Baltimore Monday. He said that Il
thorough investigation of the disaster
would be held here as soon as possible
and no effort would be spared to fix
the blame where it belonged.
The boy named McCaughey, who was
killed, was Loine McCaughey. son of
Joseph G. McCaughey OF this city.
| chief clerk to Gen. Supt. Bent Of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. YOuri,
McCaughey had been spending the hoi-
days with the station agent of II,
Baltimore &, Ohio at Buck Lodge. Nd
Pres. Murray of the Baltimore &.
Ohio has left for Philadelphia to attend
the funeral of Mr.. Cassatt. In his abb
sence subordinate officials will not dis
cuss the diaster.
Later in the day Superintendent
Galloway gave out 4 statement which
he said contained all the informal ion
concerning the wreck so far as received
by the railroad officials Mr.. Gallo
way declared that he was not prepar-
Cd to make a positive statement in re-
gard to responsibility. but that had
there been proper observance Of the
rules governing the operation of the
manual block system with which that
portion OF the road is equipped the
accident would not have occurred. AZ
ter reciting the known facts about the
disaster, Mr.. Galloway continued:
The entire metropolitan branch is
operated under the absolute block sys-
| tenn. Under this system. when Il pas
senger train is on the section of track
between two block stations, no other
train Of any class in the same direction
| is permitted to enter that block under
any circumstances until the passenger
train has passed beyond the next block
| in advance, and operator has report
! Of such clearance when he is per-
| mitted to let another train into the
block. Ordinarily freight trains are
permitted to follow other freight trains
| into the block under caution signals
| but on the section road where this ac-
cident occurred, special precaution has
been taken, in that this section of tho
| line is not only absolute block for pas
sengcr trains. but is also absolute block
| for freight trains. This extraordinary
precautiOn was deemed desirable on
| account OF the grade and to insure the
safety in the movement Of freight
trains and has ben followed for several
years. At the time of the accident the
| passenger train had passed Silver
| Springs station and out of the next
block at Takoma and was entitled to
| the block between TakOma and Univer-
sity, the next block. The extra train
| with engine 212O passed Silver Springs
| at 6.2S and should have been held al
Iakoma until the passenger train had
passed out of the block ut University,
The operator ut Takoma states his sig
| nal was in its normal position prop
erly displayed red. or stop signal at
the time the train with engine 2l:u
passed his block station. The opera
| tors statement that his lights were
| burning and his red signal properly
| displayed is E.orroEorated by Policeman
| Kennedy of the District of Columbia
WHO was at Takoma station when the
| tram passed. and by the company's
| crossing ifa2man at that point Engi-
neer Hlldebrandt of engine 212O states
there was no block signals displayel
at IakOma and that. while it was fog
gy. he had reduced his speed after
passing Silver Springs to such an ex-
tent that he was able to see the signal
| mast at TakOma and is emDhatic
lnat no signal of any kind was dis
| played thereon. None of the train
crew OF engine 2120 had gwen any in
| formation as to the position Of tho
signal claiming on account Of the fog
they could not see same. If as stated
by the engineer no signal was display-
60 at Takoma it was his duty to stop
and ascertain the reason therefor. Int
IN IN" absence of official investigation
| am not prepared to make a positive
statement in regard to the responsi-
bility. Official investigation will he
promptly made to properly place re-
| Sponsibility. The investigation will bo
most thorough and as soon as full in
| formation is had an official statement
VIII be issued.
West of Baltimore the line is oner.
ated under the manuel block systcm
and the movement Of all passenger
trains is made under the absolute block
rules. This system has been in sue
cessful operation in the territory wher,
this accident occurred for Il vearc AMI
iiad ms appliance been properly ham
died or observed, the accident would
not have happened All parties con-
nccted with the movement or these two
Grains and with the operation of the
block have long and efficient service
records and have been regarded by
the management as thoroughly COM
| petent men,"