Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-06

mediately report by wire the fact that
this train had run by his red signal. The
men who were employed upon this train
testified that If a. red signal was there
they did not see 1t. The testimony was
conflicting and contradictory between the
men on the train and those at the station
as to the character OF the signal displayed
when this extra train passed the block
signal station next preceding the one at
which it was alleged the danger signal
was disregarded.
Inquiry was made as to the care with
which employees in charge of trains and
engines and of ock-signal stations were
selected, and as to the thoroughness with
which their fitness for the positions was
tested and determined. Many young and
rather inexperienced men are employed
as block-signal operators, but 1t was not
shown that neglect or lack of experience
on their part contributed to this disaster.
IF the preponderance Of evidence as to
the condition of the signal at the last sig
nal station passed by this train before the
wreck occurred Is accepted, the men In
charge Of that extra train are thereby
convicted of having run by a danger and
positive stop signal. On the other hand,
II their own testimony as to the condition
Of the signal at the last signal station but
one which they passed before the wreck
occurred is accepted, they are thereby
convicted of having entered the block I'M
der a caution signal. which. under the
rules OF the company. required that they
run through the block with extreme care
and with train under full control, and of
having run through that block at a high
and dangerous rate of speed, especially in
view of the fact that at the time q dense
fog prevailed: which fact under the rules.
would require extraordinary care and
caution. Many references were made to
incidents or instances Of more or less i'm
portant attractions of rules by employees
and of absence Of rigorous discipline by
the company. This wreck was caused by
IIe. ov,1 eli Ic orf
Of the men in charge of the extra train.
inquiry did not disclose act or omission
on part of other employees or defect in the
operating rules of the company which
These men took charge of this train at
noon and the collision occurred about
o'clock in the evening.
President Spencer's Death.
AT about the same time there was a
rear collision of passenger trains in Vir-
sinia which aroused much discussion in
the press by reason of the fact that the
president Of the railroad on which the
collision occurred was himself victim
Of it, being killed while asleep in his
private car. This accident was investi-
gated by the corporation commission Of
that state. and from the report made by
that body it appears that the telegraph
OlOCk-S1RnaI rules were 0lSreSaTQeu Dy
the signalman at the entrance of the
block signal section; that the second
train was following, the first so closely
that the efforts of the f1agman of the
first to stop the second were unavailing:
that the management and discipline of
the signal stations were unsatisfactory:
that signalmen had been employed with
out sufficient experience and with only
slight examination as to their qualifica-
lions. The commission found that the
discipline was conspicuous!y lacking in
several of the operating departments.
The signalmen were under no immediate
supervision. The degree and knowledge
of experience of the telegraph operators
had not engaged the serious attention to
which this important question was enti
tied, and the general fitness of the oper
ators as to character and habits. both
before and after employment. was not at
tended to as the public interest required.
The record sheets kept by the signalmen
were not examined by any supervising
agent or officer, an omission which de-
stroyed in a large measure the element
OF safety which these sheets are intended
to provide. The signalmen were in the
habit of exchanging work with each 9TH
er. resulting In men remaining on duty
eighteen hours at time.