The Washington times., 1908-06-08
IS BEGUN
IN ELECTRIC WRECK
Train Order Grossly Violat-
ed, Say Witnesses Before
the Coroner.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. June S.-Evidence
given at the cOroner's inquest today
I into the causes Of the frightful wreck
/ on the electric line here Friday night.
/ shows that the rules OF the company
/ were grossly violated, and that at least
one OF the trains was operating in the
/ dirk, blind 70 the true situation in re-
gard to the other train on the track.
The testimony brought out the follow
I ing facts:
Train Dispatcher Scott at Academy
Junction ordered the extra to leave An
napoiis and report at Best Gate which
| is one mile beyond Camp Parle. and
three miles from Annapolis.
Should Clear Track.
It IS a rule Of the company. however.
that an extra shall look out for regular
trains and clear the track for them.
II this is impossible the crew of the
extra should send a man ahead to warn
the regular.
Dispatcher Scott apparently went over
these orders when he ordered the crew
of the extra TO run to Best Gate in
stead Of Camp Parole. Camp Parole
being only two miles from Annapolis,
for the regular was due 10 arrive at
Best Gate before the extra.
Furthermore, according to the re-
markable story unfolded at the inquest,
the regular train never knew that the
extra was coming toward It, for the
regular had left Academy Junction be-
fore the extra had been ordered by
Scott to leave Annapolis.
Collision TuavitahJa
It is easy to see. therefore, that the
chances for d collision were at about
the ratio Of 100 to l. for the extra was
running on q single track to meet a
regular that was due 10 leave Best
Gate and come on before the extra
could by any possibil,ty arrive at Best
Gate
At 1:15 the inquest was adjourned un-
til MOtOrman Wadsworth or Conductor
Edward BurnasCO could be brought 20
tsetify. The former is at his home suf-
fering from injuries, and BUrnasco Is
at the Emergency Hospital in Annapolis
1t is doubtful If they can be brought
10 the courthouse today.
The Il lie court room at Annapolis
was crowded to the doors this morning
when Coroner John Davis opened the
inquest
That the crew Of the extra train,
which left Annapolis by special order.
directing them 10 leave at 1880. violated
the printed rules OF the company, seems
to be 81 own by the testimony Of General
Manager and Vice President John N.
Shanahan. and b. c. Scott. train dis
patcher at Academy Junction. BY whose
orders the extra train was made I'D.
II would also appear that the OFFICIALS
ordered the extra sent out when the
time of meeting OF the two trains at
Camp Parole could have only been sep
arated by q few minutes. The train dis
patcher's order directed the extra TO
leave Annapolis at 1880. The regular
train from the West was due at CamD
Parole at 7-3T According TO the time
table, said General Manager Shannahan.
this would give the extra about FIVE
minutes leeway, as 1t ought to reach
Camp Parole and make the siding in tw,
minutes.
Not Aware of Extra.
The crew of the regular train was not
aware of the fact that an extra had
been ordered out from Annapolis. The
orders were given after this train had
left Academy Junction bound for An
napOlis General Manager Shannahan
stated that the only order which the
crew Of the extra had was the order
to make the siding and wait till the
regular passed by They were supposed
Continued on Ninth Page.)