The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-02
WIDE CAP 'TW|XT
STORIES TOLD At
WRECK INQUEST


tanned In the wreck. MIR. McCrossen
was a passenger on the limited. and
he was positive the car did not stop
after leaving YpsilanJi until IL was in
collision.
Il remember distinctly that | learn
ed the wreck was three miles from
Ypsilanti. and had the car stopped
and asked for orders we could not
have gone SO far in such a short
time" he said. Il was one OF the first
out OF the car. | got out the back
door, and went toward the front.
When | got there blood was oozing
through the cracks. and then real
lied how serious the wreck was
At the opening OF court, Dispatcher
Harrington resumed the stand and
completed his testimony. interrupted
by the adjournment Friday afternoon.
Prosecutor Robison's questions
seemed to indicate that he was in re-
ceipt OF information to the effect that
had the wreck not occurred when it
did. train No. 81. which was follow
ing the limited. would surely have
been in collision with the local, had
the latter safely passed the limited,
with which IL coliided. This Mr.. Har-
rington denied, and explained that he
would have held 81 at Harris. He
defended the dispatching system used
by the ID. u. r., and claimed that IL
was safe, unless orders were disobey-
ed or forgotten. in which case no sys-
tenn was safe.
do you think you did your whole
duty in not giving the limited definite
orders to meet the local at Burrills?"
was asked.
Yes. The limited should have
stopped at Harris and the local al
ready had orders 10 stop at Burrill.
therefore the trains we're more than
a mile apart Had the limited stopped
the collision would not have occur
red"
VIM J Dawson. superintendent OF
the intetrurban lines, told Of talk he
had with Motorman Meade, now In the
hospital in Ann Arbor
Meade seemed to be In bad shape
when I saw him." said the witness. Il
asked him what his orders were, and
he said he was TO meet some one at
Harris, but he couldn't remember
whether he did or not He claimed to
Dc dDtt VI ICInGthDtt stt| httW VI
what happened east OF Ypsilanti'
Dispatcher 6Iames Limited Crew.
Dispatcher Harrington began his
testimony Friday afternoon. He put
the blame for the collision on the crew
OF the limited car, Motorman lisa Fay,
who was killed, and Conductor George
Meade. now IN hospital In Ann Ar
Dor under guard.
According TO Harrington. the limit
ed was running without orders, which
means in general railway practice, TO
follow tho time card. The card pro-
vided for a meeting between the linn
tied and the local at Harris switch,
and Conductor Meade should have tele-
phoned from there TO the dispatcher.
Harrington testified that he received
no message from Meade. In addition
TO the directions Of the time card,
Meade was also warned by the dis
patcher when leaving Ypsilanti, SO
Harrington testified. to look out for
the local at Harris" Despite these
warnings. Harrington said, Meade ran
past Harris The local car stopped
at Smiths, NJ the card provided, and
received orders to meet the limited
az Burrill'e. The regular meeting place
was Harris. but the local was behind
time. and Harrfngton's intention was
10 have the limited stop at Harris and
receive orders To meet the local at
Burnll. but the limited ran past both
Harris end Burrills and the two cars
met near Smiths.
One of the features OF the wreck
was the great damage done to the linn
tied car. and the comparatively slight
damage Sustained by the local The