The Washington herald., 1907-01-07

enc OF the first at the scene Of the wreck
at Terra Gotta on December 80 and who
has watched carefully the proceedings Of
the cOTOner's inquest. Is Of the opinion
that the investigation Will result in the
enactment Of laws that will benefit and
serve TO protect the travelling public
Although deploring the wreck as calam-
ity that should have been avoided, the
Commissioner believes it will serve to call
the attention Of the country at large,
and particularly Of Congress, of the
urgent necessity for protecting people
who ride on trains, and viii result in the
establishment OF new systems that viii
make such disasters as the one at Terra
Gotta impossible.
The death Of forty-six people is a fear
ful price 20 pay for reform in railroad
methods" said the Commissioner yes
terday, but their martyrdom is not in
vain, If it results in a larger degree of
safety in the future for those who travel.
It is now happily apparent that out OF the
Terra Gotta tragedy some good is to be
accomplished.
The proposition of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad officials" continued Mr.
west, TO place ticket collectors on the
trains, and thus allow the conductors un-
restricted opportunity 10 attend 10 signals
ana other details connected with the
movement OF trains, viii appeal uni
Versally as sensible and necessary. At
present there is too much divided respon-
sibility Every one viii hope. too. for the
speedy er 1ctment OF the bill recently in
uodueed IN Congress 20 limit the labor
OF railroad employees In the District OF
columbia 10 eight hours a day.
Need for Eight-HOur Day.
1t has been shown by the investigation
into the causes of the Terra Gotta acci-
dent that the engineer Of the train which
caused the wreck had only eight hours
sleep, four hours at a time. in sixty hours,
ana had been almost constantly running
his engine during that period; that watch
men at railroad crossings are on duty for
sixteen hours, and that operators at block
stations are on duty for twelve hours,
with only two days of each month.
These long hours Of duty must result
in inattention. with all the danger that
such overtaxing Of human endurance in
vites
Here, then. are two practical reforms
which We may hope 20 see accomplished.
This is only the beginning There ought
70 be law compelling all clocks in
block stations 10 be upon an electric cir
cult, connected with a standard chrOnom-
eter, so that the present variation and
uncertainty can be abolished. 1t ought
also 10 be illegal 10 impose upon block
operators the conflicting duties Of station
agenL ticket seller. expressman. and bag
gage handler.
System Is Universal.
politan Branch, which has aroused so
much criticism, is by no means confined
u this section. but is common TO ali
roads. There are . multitude of other
improvements which have been shown
by the inquiry TO be absolutely necessary,
and when the investigation shall have
been concluded, il is 10 be hoped that
they viii be iuaugUTated The railroad
companies ought 10 adopt them volun-
tarily, but if this should not be the case,
the power of the law can very properly
be invoked
Recall Hildebrand.
Engineer Hudebrand, OF extra 212O, the
train that crashed into the local passen-
ger train No. 66 at Terra Gotta, will again
take the stand this morning, when the
coroner's inquest is reopened. The engi-
neCr was on the stand for nearly an hour
Saturday afternoon, but the investigators
had not completed their examination
when the session adjourned.
The District officials feel that the great
obstacle standing in the way Of a speedy
conclusion of the inquest lies in the con-
ficting testimony regarding the signals
displayed at Silver Spring for trains 66
and 2l-0 the evening Of the disaster With
Operator Durow and his witnesses stand
ing firmly TO their declaration that
both trains were given the white light. or
clear block, to Takoma and seven mem
bers Of the crews Of both trains equally
lrsn on the point that the double
green IVES displayed, the investigators
find themselves at a loss as 10 what
course 90 pursue.
Freight Crew Summoned.
The members Of the crew Of the freight
train, No 1850, which was standing on
the siding at Terra Gotta at the time of
the wreck. We're summoned last night 10
appear before the coroner's inquest to-
day. Up to this time but little has been
said Of the presence Of the freight on
the siding at the time when the crash
came. Coroner hewitt now finds that
perhaps valuable Information may be OBJ
Jained from the, members Of the crew
Those who were summoned are Con
ductor L. W. Ross, living at the quarters
at the Baltimore and Ohio station. in this
- city; Engineer T. g Pope, of l542 Will
fam street, Baltimore Nd; Brakeman
William w. ZeDp Riverdale Nd. Flag
man Z. Selby, 80 East Barney street,
Baltimore, Nd. and Fireman J. c. Can
non. 1914 Twelfth street northeast.
The men viii state Just what they saw
OF the wreck, and may throw some light
on some Of the facts not yet explained
Baldwin Claims Brothers VaIuabIes.
DR.. Winfred Baldwin, of 462 Orange
street, Newark, n. J., a brother Of Lewis
Baldwin, Of 81 street northeast, who
was killed in the wreck at Terra Gotta,
Is here 10 settle his brothers estate last
night DR.. Baldwin called at the detec-
tive headquarters and inquired about GER
bodies of his brother and his sister-in-
law shortly after the wreck.
Some time this morning the property
clerk Of the police department. Arthur A
Kemp, VIII turn over the effects TO DR.
Baldwin. In accordance with the will of
Lewis Baldwin, his brother Winfred is
appointed guardian and administrator of
the deceaseds only child, Carrie Edith
Baldwin.
Joke Has Fatal Ending.
Chicago, Jan. 6-Tripping over a rope
stretched by playful boys early this morn
IL eT 80